Nothing sucks the life out of an energetic workplace like repetitive, unrewarding jobs that aren’t even satisfying to accomplish. But, unfortunately, many such jobs have to be done. But there’s good news: we have automation to take on these jobs, improving workflow, efficiency, success rates, and employee engagement.
Luckily, a ton of automation software can be easily integrated into your workflow. The tricky part is pinpointing which jobs necessitate automation in the first place. So how do you do it? Consider these tips.
Consult Employees
Who better to ask about what jobs are too dull and repetitive than the employees themselves? They know the job better than anyone and can effectively communicate which tasks could benefit from automation.
Ask your employees which jobs are repetitive and unrewarding. Ask them how they think this repetitiveness affects the overall quality of their work and which tasks make them feel burned out. Employee engagement is crucial to keeping a functioning and efficient office, and having this insight can help you decide which tasks should be automated.
Look for Jobs With a Lot of Volume
One of the main advantages of workplace automation is that it can optimize the volume of work that can be done. Many employees of varying specializations face cumbersome workloads that are exhausting.
Look for jobs throughout your workplace that could benefit from workload management with the help of automation. Automated software specializes in simple, repetitive, and voluminous tasks, such as organizing huge directories, sorting through stacks of documentation files, and sending thousands of emails. Automating these tasks will take the weight off your data scientists’ shoulders and create a more efficient workflow.
Consider Which Tasks Take the Longest
Consider how long it takes to complete specific tasks. It’s important not to consider this factor exclusively but instead pair it with volume. Keep this combination of factors in mind: a large volume of repetitive tasks that take too long to complete.
If the team handling your web data extraction is taking a longer time than usual, they may have some blockers preventing them from finishing their tasks. But suppose this same team consistently takes too long to complete a repetitive task, negatively affecting the entire company’s results. In that case, this is a telltale sign that some automation is needed.
Automate Only Where Needed
Don’t integrate automation software simply for the sake of doing it. For example, suppose your employees perform a particular job flawlessly. In that case, no deadlines are late, and clients are satisfied with the service they’re receiving, so there’s no reason to integrate automated software.
Let’s say the client success team has developed a great rapport with your clients. You may harm your customer relations by integrating automated SMS or chatbot services and reducing the number of client success specialists. Automation would not be a viable solution and could jeopardize the customer retention strategies of your client success team. Essentially you’d be taking one step forward and two steps back, which is why it’d be better to avoid automation in this case.
Conclusion – The Right Automation for You
These are just a few ways to identify the potential for workplace automation and what to avoid in this process. Additionally, it’s critical to consider how implementing automated systems will affect your workplace, what advantages it can bring and what downsides.
After weighing the pros and cons of automated services in your workflow, consult your team and browse the myriad of tools to find the one that fits the bill.
