In the digital age, there is no need for human workers to spend time doing tasks computers can do. For many years, automation technologies were feared as replacements for humans in certain work settings, but the reality is that automation is here to augment human skills. When freed from repetitive work, your human workers can leverage their unique skills to complete more strategic objectives.
Research from the International Data Corporation found that intelligent automation is growing as a business focus as organizations discover the power of automating certain tasks. It has the ability to improve operational efficiency, customer experience, revenue and profit growth, and more, according to the IDC.
Small businesses are poised to take advantage of automation, too. Here, we’ll explain how business process automation specifically can help your organization free up employees, support growth, and improve productivity.
What Is Business Process Automation?
According to Microsoft, business process automation (BPA) is the “automation of daily, repeatable business processes that are normally completed in manual settings.” Using BPA allows you to reduce or eliminate time-consuming paper-based processes and to simplify workflows throughout your business.
What exactly gets automated? Tasks in departments that deal with heavy amounts of documentation and raw data such as human resources and sales, to name just two. Processes like data entry, invoice creation, or sending follow-up emails are all examples.
What Happens to Your Business When You Implement BPA?
Businesses that opt for BPA implement software known as business process management software that delivers several benefits.
Improve Productivity
Automating repeatable tasks means you’ll have less room for error in your workflows—cutting the time humans have to spend going back over files and correcting data entry. You’ll streamline processes and accelerate workflows to get more done, faster, and with fewer headaches.
Simplify Document Management
BPA helps your business get away from manual, paper-based processes that require several human touches and prolong workflow completion. Software enables you to keep track of every file, ensure data is in the right places, and make it easy for the right parties to find and retrieve information when they need it.
Maintain Compliance
Speaking of staying organized, should your business have to undergo an audit, BPA keeps your files and processes compliant. BPA allows you to set rules for who gets access to what files and to track who makes changes or updates to documents. With build-in compliance assurance, you’ll have audit trails and the ability to demonstrate your regulation adherence.
Improve the Customer and Employee Experience
Faster workflows mean happier customers, and fewer repetitive tasks mean happier employees. Automation keeps your employees doing what they do best—freeing them from tedious, error-prone work. With more time to focus on your customers, your clientele will feel that renewed dedication.
How to Get Started with Business Process Automation
Microsoft’s business process management software Power Automate helps you achieve all these benefits and more. Power Automate is a solution that enables you to design and deploy the automation processes that best fit your business. It can help you do everything from streamlining human resources onboarding to managing employee requests, automating payment reminders, and orchestrating email campaigns.
As a 100% Microsoft-certified team, Point Alliance can help you figure out how your business can best leverage business process automation and determine the right way to configure a software solution like Power Automate. We’re focused on enabling small businesses to take advantage of powerful automation solutions so you can eliminate manual work and grow through technology. Get in touch with Point Alliance to learn more or start your automation journey today.
