Four Tips for Small Business Automation
Today we’ll give you four basic tips for small business automation.
1: Embrace technology.
Most small businesses wait way too long to implement automation systems. If you’re feeling the weight of daily tasks slowing you down, it’s well past time to invest money in small business technology and software. Otherwise, you’re trying to save money by losing productivity and that equation never works out in your favor. Also, ensure that you invest time on the front end to set up your automation tools properly. This will ensure longterm success for your entire team.
2: Track time spent on tasks.
Set up a time tracking system for a day or a week or a month, to learn how much time is being spent on everyday tasks from mundane to critical, examined the time tracking data to learn which tasks should be automated immediately and which ones can wait for a later date. There are going to be lots of automation options that can improve your business. This type of planning gives you a clear priority list to start from.
3: Reduce the number of processes.
Even if, well, especially if you’ve been running your small business for a while, it’s time for some aggressive house cleaning on your existing marketing, logistics, sales, and customer service processes. Take two weeks to a month, and make it an absolute priority, reviewing everything until you’ve gone top to bottom. Schedule time with each team and walk step-by-step with them through their processes. It’s a near mathematical certainty that not only will you find processes that can be optimized, but a host of them that can flat out be eliminated altogether. Just like moving from one house to another, get rid of the junk you don’t want anymore before moving into new automation. The automation, in this case, is the new house and the processes are like a bread maker or a multi gym, I don’t know. I’ve may have forgotten to proofread this.
4: Secure employee buys in.
You can have the best automation software on earth, but if your team isn’t on board, you’re doomed from the start. Help your team understand not only how automation works, but how and why it will make everyone’s jobs easier and more effective. It’s very natural for team members to take the implementation of a new system as a sign that they are falling short somewhere. You no doubt have a great team, so take time to guide them through the functions of the automation, but also how the entire team will benefit. Give them confidence that they are being given a tool, not a replacement. Make certain that you bring the staff along for their automation ride step-by-step.
