Task Automation 101 – Everything You Need to Know

 

Are you tired of performing the same business operations again and again? Then, why not automate them? The term “task automation” has become increasingly popular, especially in recent years. But why is that? Modern businesses look for smart ways to solve problems and maximize efficiency.

 

Task automation is one of the best and most effective modern solutions organizations adopt. Are you unfamiliar with this term? Then, you are at the right place. This guide will tell you everything about it. We will also discuss the best method to get task automation for your business. Let’s get started!

 

What is Task Automation?

Task Automation is the process of automating tasks using software, hardware, and modern technologies. The goal is to minimize human interference, especially for activities that require more effort and time.

 

Modern organizations have understood the importance of task automation. Today, businesses know that repetitive tasks require more resources, especially time and effort. In doing so, you also have more chances of errors, resulting in additional costs and delays. Hence, the primary purpose of task automation is to boost efficiency.

 

You might have heard of another term, RPA. It stands for Robotic Process Automation. Simply put, it has a similar framework, providing automation using high-end software and bots. The primary difference between task automation and RPA is that the latter is more advantageous for repetitive tasks. Alternatively, task automation is more about streamlining an organization’s workflow.

 

 

Benefits Of Task Automation

Now, we know what task automation is. Let’s look at some of its benefits in detail:

 

1.   Lower Costs

Task automation can cut down many additional costs for your business. That’s because repetitive tasks handled by humans are more prone to errors. And that directly impacts an organization’s streamlined processes. You will face delays and additional costs to handle such problems.

Also, look at it this way. Your business requires sending email reminders to your clients. Usually, an organization will hire an individual for this job. But what if you could save these resources, like office space, monthly salary, health benefits, etc.? Instead, you can let automation handle this process. For smaller businesses, saving these extra costs can be pretty helpful.

2.   Reduced Errors

Remember that a human can perform repetitive tasks continuously without any mistakes. Such errors can lead to more problems in your business, like slower business operations, inaccurate results, and data inconsistency. That is why task automation is a better approach to minimizing errors.

3.   Increased Productivity

You will experience a productivity boost in your business after automating the manual tasks. That’s because repetitive and time-consuming tasks can make the workplace unproductive. Employees will get exhausted repeating the same activities, resulting in inefficient business operations.

4.   Minimal Time

An employee has their limits regarding manual work. However, machines can handle any number of tasks and complete them in significantly less time. Remember that time is one of a company’s biggest resources. Hence, you will be benefitting the entire organization with this saved time.

 

 

Which Tasks Can Be Automated?

Let’s see some tasks that can be easily automated and made ten times more efficient:

 

1.   Recurrent Tasks

A recurrent task is one that requires to be completed several times in a specific timeframe—for example, social media posting.

Let’s say you have set your target for 3 posts in 24 hours. Then, you can automate social media posting. All you will need is to select the posts for the next day, and you are all set!

2.   Labor Intensive Tasks

A labor intensive task is one that demands more manual work. Since it requires more effort, it is ideal for automation. One of the best examples of labor intensive tasks is data entry.

A data entry job requires the individual to enter the given data in a sheet. Normally, there isn’t much decision-making in the process. That is why automation can handle it without any inconvenience.

3.   Trigger-Induced Tasks

Lastly, we have trigger-induced tasks. These are activities that require responses and reactions. The best example of trigger-induced task automation is AI chatbots.

They can handle incoming messages and queries on social media platforms and websites. Based on the input, they respond to the chat. Other trigger-induced tasks include email filtering and reminders.

 

How Does Task Automation Work for Business?

There are many levels of task automation in a business. Let’s look at some categorizations to provide a clearer picture:

 

1.   Collaboration Management

Many tasks in an organization require collaboration between its employees. That can be a special project or regular work. Generally, collaborative tasks can cause many time delays. That’s because they require different work steps like communications, planning, approvals, project management, etc. Automation can save time and create a more cooperative work environment between employees.

2.   Document & Data Management

A business has many important documents to handle in its routine work. However, the old paper approach might need to be more efficient. It can cause problems, like losing records. Plus, it can reduce employee productivity by a whopping 50%.

Instead, the modern automation approach is more effective. It lets feature-rich software store and organize your documents. This way, they are more easy to retrieve and manage.

Similarly, modern businesses rely heavily on data analysis. However, raw and unorganized data can also lead to many errors. That is why you need an additional workforce of data scientists, engineers, and miners. But, a small business might not have that much data to manage.

That is where RPA (Robotic Process Automation) comes in. It can handle data-related tasks like billing, inventory management, payment records, product details, competitor analysis, market trends, etc.

3.   Organizational Management

Automation can help with tasks essential in an organization. These can include routine activities in a business. Such tasks can vary depending on a company’s scale and workflow.

While task automation can carry out organizational tasks, you will still need some monitoring. This way, you can track each activity and its results, providing total transparency.

 

How to Implement Task Automation In Your Business?

Let’s say you want to implement task automation in your business. So, what’s the course of action? Follow the steps below:

 

1.   Identify Tasks

First, you have to identify tasks that demand more time and effort. These can be repetitive tasks like social media posting, data backup, billing, invoice management, etc. Make sure the tasks are applicable for automation.

2.   Select Automation Tools

Automation can be handled via many tools, including hardware, software, robotics, etc. The key is to understand your business scale and workflow complexity. Only then can you select an appropriate tool that fits your requirements.

3.   Equipping your Employees

Remember that your employees are new to automation. They might not understand the tools and their workings. Thus, it is best to educate and equip them with essential skills. It is a one-time investment that will prepare your team for the automation ahead. You can host workshops, distribute courses, etc.

4.   Testing & Implementation

Now, your employees and tools are ready. But you haven’t yet implemented them in your system. So, test the automation tools and see how they work in your organization. If everything goes smoothly, you have found the right automation plan!

5.   Monitoring

Automation is not over with implementation. This new change in your business demands continuous monitoring. Tracking your progress after task automation is highly recommended. It can highlight your organization’s strengths and weaknesses. Then, you can optimize the inefficient areas in your business.

 

Which Task Automation Tools to Choose?

You can choose a tool that aligns with your company’s goals and requirements. But note that you might not pick the best option. That’s because small to intermediate businesses may not have enough resources to afford premium services. Moreover, not all automation tools are reliable. Thus, research is required.

 

But what if there was a tool that could offer business-specific and customized automation and RPA tools at reasonable prices? And that is none other than Zippycoders. This automation service provider works with well-known partners like UiPath Software to deliver high-end systems.

 

Additionally, Zippycoders have solutions for businesses in almost every industry. They offer consultations that you can get to find the best solution for your organization. Moreover, our free price quote and 24/7 customer service can help you discuss ideas and get estimates for total costs from planning to implementation. Since Zippycoders doesn’t work with third-party service providers, you don’t have to worry about intermediary prices!

 

Conclusion

And that’s all there is to know about task automation. It is an excellent tool to upscale your business and expand its operations. You can make your daily routine tasks ten times more efficient and eliminate the need for manual effort. As a result, you get fewer errors, lower costs, and improved productivity. Implementing task automation is fairly straightforward. Consult a reputable service provider like Zippycoders and plan your company’s future!