Nothing is ManualHow to Identify Processes That Should Be Automated
A process is a good automation candidate when it is repeated often, follows predictable steps, moves information between systems, and causes delays or errors when done by hand.
Start with the work people complain about
The best candidates are rarely hidden. Ask your team which tasks they repeat every day, which ones they dread, and which ones break when someone is away.
Check four characteristics
Score each candidate against these questions:
- Does it happen at least weekly?
- Are the steps mostly the same each time?
- Does someone copy data between systems?
- Does doing it late or wrong cost money or customers?
Map before you build
Write down every step, the system involved, and who does it. Most automation value is found in the handoffs between steps, not the steps themselves.
Want a quick read on your own process? Find what you can automate.