3 Processes to Automate in a Small Business

As a business owner of a small company, you may have limited resources and time to manage your operations. This makes it essential to automate your processes to increase efficiency, reduce errors and save time.

Now, we know what you are thinking. The topic of automation may seem too expensive and advanced. Especially with research from McKinsey showing that only 25% of small businesses automated their processes in 2019.

However, last year automation became more accessible and affordable for small businesses, with statistics showing that 88% of small businesses have automated their processes in 2022. 

You may ask why you need automation in the first place.

Reasons for automation:

1. Data accuracy.

Inaccurate data can lead to various problems, such as incorrect reports, missed opportunities, and unhappy customers. On the other hand, achieving 100% data accuracy can be challenging, especially when relying on manual work as it is prone to mistakes and typos, which can lead to undesirable consequences. However, you can forget about it by automating data entry in your small business.

Moreover, automating data entry can also help you grow your business. For example, one of our customers was able to increase its revenue by 60% without any additional headcount, thanks to order management. By automating their order processes, they were able to work faster and more accurately, which led to increased customer satisfaction and repeat business.

2. Time-saving.

Automating processes not only saves time, but also allows employees to work on more important tasks that require their attention. This can help businesses to optimise their workforce and increase productivity.

3. Transparency.

Transparency is a key aspect of any successful business. When you have clean business data, you can make informed decisions based on actual performance metrics. For instance, by utilising Business Intelligence tools, you can truly understand how your business is performing and identify areas that require improvement. Furthermore, with order management, you can access detailed reports at any time in just a few clicks, allowing you to stay on top of your business and make informed decisions that will help you achieve long-term success.

Now that we have identified the main reason behind automation, let’s discuss three critical processes that small businesses should consider automating to improve their operations and customer experience.

3 processes to automate for small businesses:

• Order management.
• Customer service.
• HR processes.

Order Management.

3 Processes to Automate in a Small Business.

Order management is one of the most critical processes for any small business. Automating the data collection and entry process can help reduce errors and improve efficiency. According to Zapier, small companies automate 38% of processes connected to data. It helps them to improve efficiency, data security and collaboration between teams.

With an automated order management system, small businesses can accept and fulfil customer orders quickly and accurately. They can also track the progress of orders, manage inventory, and generate detailed reports. This ensures that orders are delivered on time, customers are satisfied, and the business is profitable.

Customer service.

3 Processes to Automate in a Small Business.

Customer service is essential in any business, but it is especially critical for small ones. Prompt and qualified support is necessary to show commitment to customers. Therefore, automation of order processes, such as order entry, order processing stage and live delivery updates, is essential to provide better customer support in small businesses.

With an automated customer service system, small businesses can provide 24/7 support to their customers. They can handle queries, complaints, and feedback efficiently, ensuring that customers are satisfied with their experience.

For example, one of our customers delivers orders on a daily basis. With hundreds of drivers and a large number of trucks, it became impossible to keep track of all the information, resulting in lost orders or delayed deliveries. To improve their delivery experience, we implemented our Order Management platform, specifically the Delivery Updates feature.

Check how this tool works in our blog post here.

HR processes.

3 Processes to Automate in a Small Business.

Human resources (HR) processes can be time-consuming and overwhelming for small business owners, especially when recruiting someone new. The manual job advertisement, writing down all your notes from endless interviews and trying to catch up with other aspects of the business can take up valuable time.

HR Automation can help small businesses automate their recruiting and onboarding processes. They can receive all their candidates’ information in one place and automatically drill down to the talents they’re interested in. They can also invite candidates for an interview and create reports in a few clicks. The best part is that it’s an inclusive tool as candidates can leave information via voice technology.

Check how it works in the video below.

Conclusion.

No matter how big or small your business, automation of processes is essential in 2023. It can help to save time, reduce errors, and improve customer experience. By automating critical processes such as order management, customer service, and HR processes, small businesses can improve their operations and profitability.

At Allsop Software, we offer a free-of-charge processes audit to help small businesses identify areas of improvement and possible ROI after automating tedious tasks. Book a free call with us today to learn more about how automation can help your business.