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Most teams have a handful of tasks that everyone does but nobody enjoys: copying order details from email into a spreadsheet, chasing unpaid invoices, sending the same status update every Friday. These are usually the best place to start with automation — not because they are glamorous, but because they are predictable.
1. List the repetitive work for two weeks
Ask each person to note tasks they repeat more than once a week, roughly how long each takes, and where the information comes from and goes to. Two weeks is usually enough to see the pattern without turning it into a project of its own.
2. Score each task on three questions
- How often does it happen? Daily tasks are better candidates than quarterly ones.
- Does it follow clear rules? If a person has to use judgement each time, automate the preparation, not the decision.
- What does a mistake cost? Tasks where errors cause refunds, delays or compliance problems deserve attention first.
3. Check the systems involved
Automation connects systems, so look at what you already use. Tools with an API, webhooks or reliable exports are straightforward to connect. If information only lives in someone's inbox or on paper, the first step may be capturing it in a structured form.
4. Start with one workflow and measure it
Pick a single workflow, automate it end to end, and keep a person in the loop for exceptions. Track how long the task took before and after, and how often the automation needs help. That evidence makes it much easier to decide what to automate next.
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Business Automation
