The new year is an excellent time for businesses to reset and implement improvements. One of the best ways to upgrade your operations is through business automation. With a handful of targeted choices, you may be able to achieve a high ROI without the help of an IT team.
Why should you automate?
- Automation saves 32-55% of time on a range of repetitive tasks.
- Customer-facing processes offer the best immediate ROI.
- Most automation tools are no-code and user-friendly.
Why business automation matters heading into a new year
A new year is a time for a new start that builds business momentum. Early adoption, even in the frame of a single year, provides competitive advantages as well. If a business uses the calendar year as its fiscal year, then January is also the natural time to begin rolling out improvements.
Automation fits this model very well. Business automation meets customer expectations, especially in the post-pandemic world. Workflows at businesses, especially customer-facing ones, are now frequently automated. Nearly 80% of global companies employ significant business automation, and this creates expectations for smaller operations. Likewise, it anchors the market for service providers, who continue to grow their businesses by partnering with smaller organizations.
What is meant by business automation?
Business automation uses computer technology to manage repetitive tasks and streamline how they fit into larger workflows. Rule-based processes particularly lend themselves well to automation, freeing up humans to deal with more complex and strategic work. For example, many banks offer packages that handle payment processing, product comparison, and cash flow management.
What things can I automate at my business?
Automation works well in many customer-facing tasks that require the same steps every time. Here are a few examples that are adaptable for several types of businesses:
- Order confirmations and shipping updates
- Appointment scheduling and confirmation
- Invoice generation
- Customer or patient intake
- Follow-up surveys
- Loyalty programs
- Verification processes
- Reservation management
What makes a task worth automating?
Virtually any task that is repetitive and requires someone to perform it regularly is worthwhile for automation. It becomes an excellent candidate if it follows a set of clear rules that progress linearly toward a predictable outcome. Time sensitive tasks also fit the bill, especially if the customer needs help at a time of day when staff members are unavailable. Similarly, automation helps in cases where human errors are common, especially in coding received information.
In terms of early implementation targets, such tasks that take humans away from better revenue-generating activities are excellent choices. Likewise, automate repetitive business tasks that employees find annoying or boring, especially if they're tied to high burnout rates.
7 small business tasks to automate before the new year
Taking the initiative before the new year will get your effort on the right foot as January arrives. Consider automating these seven more basic business tasks now.
1. Customer inquiries
Customers tend to buy from whichever business responds first. This means you want to avoid creating a black hole of non-response because someone else might win that business by simple virtue of availability. Automate customer inquiry systems like:
- Email contacts suited to auto-replies
- Web forms
- CRM records and follow-ups
- Introductory communications, especially emails
2. Email follow-up processes
The reality is that many employees already somewhat automate this task by copying and pasting text. Automating the chain of processes that goes with maintaining your email list makes sense. Automated systems can easily integrate identifying information and traits for many customers. This allows you to grow and maintain contacts over months and years without significant manual input.
3. Appointment scheduling
Automated systems are often eminently superior in appointment scheduling. The system can present all the available calendar slots to a customer, allowing them to quickly find a time that works well for them. Automatic reminders also encourage people to show. Likewise, the top calendar systems easily sync with the current automation software.
4. Invoicing
Integrating sales and CRM systems allows you to streamline the process of generating invoices and sending payment reminders. Auto-acceptance of credit cards fits right into the system, making it easier for customers to pay and move on with their day. Improved payment performance also takes the burden off collections.
5. Social media and email campaigns
Even with a human in the loop, simply allowing them to generate campaign content and then schedule it for an appropriate time economizes the process. In email marketing, automation can also follow personalized triggers like recent purchases, birthdays, and personal milestones. On the social media side, automation maintains engagement without the constant crush of generating new content.
6. Data entry
In most cases, customers are already entering data into paper or web forms. There is no reason to include a second human in the process of collecting it. Automation can track web forms, email, and phone interactions, too. Centralizing all the information in a single CRM automatically also allows you to build a much more robust customer profile.
7. Internal task assignment
The assignment of many internal jobs follows a regular rhythm. When team members become available for assignments, the system can identify them and make sure it's spreading the load. Notifications and progress trackers also ensure the task is moving along smoothly. Likewise, they generate a trail that promotes accountability and coordination.
How to start automating business processes without feeling overwhelmed
Foremost, determine what your three most time-consuming tasks are and target them for automation. Many businesses score a quick win by automating with an email auto-responder, for example. Map your current processes before you roll out the system to the general public to see how well they automate. Build momentum by scoring wins and continuing to automate business processes down the chain.
Common mistakes to avoid with business process automation
Missteps will happen during the automation process. However, you can improve your rollout by understanding and avoiding the most common mistakes.
1. Automating broken processes
Business process automation amplifies existing problems if a process is broken. If there are inefficiencies and outright failures in the process, fix those before mapping them to automation.
2. Over-automating customer-facing activities
The personal touch still matters. Automation is great for verifications, acknowledgements, and logistics. Leave the more detailed work, especially anything that calls for empathy or judgment, to a human.
3. Insufficient testing and monitoring
You need to be sure your automations work flawlessly every time. If something in an automated business process breaks regularly during testing, assess whether there is a simpler solution or if the situation is a case for a human. Also, continue to monitor metrics, especially customer satisfaction, after you roll out your implementation.
What if automation tools cost more than my business can comfortably cover right now?
Many platforms offer free trials and starter tiers that are good ways to see if the expenditure on a particular solution is even appealing. As you work with these starter tools, track the hours you save against your rates. Use a loan calculator to figure out the benefits and whether a loan might help you address the costs.
Growth-oriented solutions tend to work best for both companies and loan providers. If automation frees up human hours for growth, there's a better chance a bank will appreciate the business case and support a loan. Treat this as an investment in business infrastructure rather than an expense.
How to qualify for a small business loan to fund automation upgrades
Lenders will want to see a clear ROI and implementation plan for automation. Document your current process and show where the time and cost savings are obvious. Learn the basics of how to present your case for getting a small business loan to support your case, such as projecting the expected payback time.
Automation readiness checklist to kick off 2026 strong
- Identify and document your most repetitive business tasks now.
- Research at least three automated platforms suited to each task.
- Block out time in January for hands-on research, setup, and testing.
- Position one team member to champion automating business processes.
- Set measurable and achievable goals in terms of hours saved, improved response times, and better revenues.
- Establish quarterly review periods.
- Budget for platform subscriptions and implementation support.
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