Most businesses, whatever their size, can benefit from automation. It makes the workplace safer by keeping people out of dangerous situations or harmful environments, and is usually more efficient, faster and more reliable than humans.

So, if your business is at the stage where you’re thinking about automation, but aren’t sure how to get started, here’s our handy guide to introducing automation to your business.

Think big but start small

As with most things in business, it’s best to start with something simple. Think about the easiest process in your business that takes up a lot of time and how you can automate it. Once you’ve done that, you can move on to other more time-consuming complicated processes. Plan ahead and don’t try to do too much in a small amount of time though, as it could get a bit overwhelming.

Make sure you fully understand your processes

Before you start automating anything, it’s vital you know exactly what you’re automating. Document all the steps involved, including any troubleshooting instructions. Understanding how processes work can help with any teething problems you might come across when first automating something.

Keep tight hold of quality control

This goes hand-in-hand with the previous point. Automation involves computers, so bugs will often be involved too, especially if your process is one the software hasn’t encountered before. A strict approach to quality control will help iron out any bugs and get things running smoothly. Keep checking everything’s working as it should be once you’re at this stage too.

Keep people involved

Automation is great, but you still need people too. Not only do they have a full knowledge of how processes work, they can get involved with testing of any automation and getting it implemented. Having your team involved from the outset will also help them embrace the changes you’re bringing in, which will make things easier in the long run.

Look for ready-made options

There’s lots of off-the-shelf automation programmes available for most business processes. These could save you money and the time and effort of getting something bespoke made just for you. Do your research to find the right programme for you – sometimes you might need more than one – and go through the testing procedures etc. mentioned above.

Use automation for a specific problem

You might be thinking about automation because you’ve got one particular process you’d like speeding up or making more efficient. This is a great starting-point for automating your business and can show you how you could apply it to other areas.

Think about the risks as well as the benefits

Of course, you should never do anything without considering the risks first. New computer programmes might make things easier for you, but they also give hackers a new way to try and access your system. Always keep your online security up-to-date and make things as secure as you can.

Pick your perfect partner

There’s lots of help out there, so you should have no trouble finding someone to partner with. Having an automation expert on-board can help you automate your business successfully now and in the future.