Efficiency Through Automation: The Key to Unlocking More Time
If you could reduce the time and effort that it takes you to accomplish a task, how would you fill that time?
We’ve all struggled through a task and said to ourselves: “There has to be a quicker way to do this!” This is where efficiency through automation comes into play. Generally, the answer is that there is a quicker way to do it. But do you know how to make that happen?
Many times, the answer comes in the form of automation. Think of efficiency through automation as the key to unlocking more time. Automating processes or systems in your business is a powerful way to increase your efficiency. By increasing your efficiency through automation, you can spend the time you saved on valuable tasks. These tasks should add value to your business or personal life. Rather than focusing on repetitive processes and mundane tasks, spend your time effectively.
Ways to Identify Automation Opportunities
Start with a task audit. Make a list of the tasks that take up your time. Do you think there’s an opportunity to achieve efficiency through automation for those tasks?
Examine your current systems. Take a closer look at the systems you currently use. They may have features that can help automate tasks. Seek efficiency by learning these automation features. A quick call or online chat with the support team may answer your questions. They can also direct you to additional resources.
Research and Implementation Strategies
Learn from others’ solutions. Research new ways to handle a task that you want to automate. The internet is full of people with the same problems that you face. They may have found a solution to your problem. Use their hard work to make your life easier through automation.
Think creatively about processes. Consider new ways to do the same task. Instead of scrolling through data in your system, use the Find function. This helps you locate the information you need quickly. You can also use tools like Microsoft Excel.
Most systems can export data into Excel. There are multiple tools to slice and dice that data into a usable format. If you don’t know about sorting, filtering, or conditional formatting, reach out to someone who does. Learn about pivot tables and lookup functions too. You will be surprised at how quickly you can get a fresh look at your data. These functions exist in software that you probably already own.
Choosing the Right Systems
Learn from industry peers. Talk with other people in your industry about the systems they use. You may find that they have a solution to the problem you face. It can be difficult to know if the sales pitch from a software vendor is really as good as it sounds.
See what systems your competition uses. Ask if they’re happy with those systems. Changing your systems can be a big undertaking. However, if it gives you more information and makes your processes run more efficiently, it could be the right move.
Prioritize system integration. Make sure that your systems can “talk” with each other easily. If there are manual processes to move data from one system to another, you might need a more seamless system.
Choose multi-functional platforms. Look for systems that can do more than one thing. For example, your payroll system might be completely separate from your human resource management system. This means you may be entering data more than once. Systems that can take data from one entry point work better. They automatically direct it to multiple areas of the business. This brings enormous benefits to running an efficient operation.
Automating Information Distribution
Set up automatic communications. Look for ways to automate the distribution of information to your teams. Use your system’s ability to send automatic emails. Send daily or weekly information instead of crafting a new email each day. This is another step towards achieving efficiency through automation.
Getting Expert Help
There are numerous ways to increase your efficiency each day. Find new, automated ways to handle your business processes. At Rea & Associates, we work with thousands of businesses every year. We see what works, as well as what doesn’t work. That means we can recommend systems that work efficiently for you.
We’re here to give you the support and advice you need to automate your processes and take your business to the next level. Contact us today.
