Introduction
In recent years there has been a surge in demand for business process automation (BPA) in businesses of all sizes. Since small and medium businesses (SMBs) often have lean teams and resources, they can derive significant benefits from automating their processes. In this article, we’ll cover the 10 key benefits of BPA to your SMB.
What is business process automation?
Business process automation refers to the use of technology to automate the completion of tasks that would otherwise require human action. BPA shifts the responsibility for completing routine work from humans to machines.
BPA uses rule-based logic to launch a series automated processes without human intervention. BPA is sometimes referred to as business automation or digital transformation. BPA is not just the deployment of technology, rather it completely transforms the way a business operates day to day.
BPA can benefit almost every function in your business. From marketing to sales to human resources to finance, automation enables you to get more done by working smarter, not harder. Processes that are repeatable, that require consistency and that need to be error-free can benefit from BPA.
Businesses of all sizes commonly implement BPA as part of their digital transformation strategy.
What are the 10 key benefits of business process automation?
Business process automation eliminates bottlenecks that result in lost time and revenue. The improvements in efficiency benefit every facet of a business — from increased productivity and compliance to better customer experience and performance.
Here are 10 key benefits of business process automation:
Saves time
Automating your business processes saves time and effort spent on manual work. It enables you to do more with less and gives your employees time to focus on higher-value tasks. Automating even one process can save several hours each day.
Improves operational efficiency
Business process automation delivers a host of operational benefits to businesses. For example, automated processes eliminate the need to ensure that a process is progressing from one step to the next.
BPA also assists with identifying issues and bottlenecks in process workflows. Addressing these issues will result in increased efficiency.
Improves productivity
BPA speeds processes so that work is completed faster, resulting in substantially improved productivity.
Standardizes operations
BPA helps you standardize processes, resulting in consistent outcomes. BPA also increases transparency and accountability. Since every task in a process is logged it provides an audit trail that enables you to see what was done, who did it and when.
Reduces costs
Business processes, when manually executed, can result in a significant waste of resources. Automating tasks minimizes operational costs thereby increasing your profit margins. BPA ensures that your resources are optimally utilized, and waste is eliminated.
Forrester reports that BPA has the potential to reduce operational costs by up to 90%.
Minimizes human error
Even your best employees make mistakes sometimes – especially when completing monotonous, repetitive tasks. They are human after all. Unlike humans, computers don’t get tired or distracted. Workflow automation greatly minimizes the risk of human error.
Improves employee morale
Repetitive manual tasks negatively impact employee morale. Eliminating manual tasks with automation tools frees your employees to focus on higher-value projects that motivate and empower them. The result? Happier, more engaged employees.
Simplifies document management
Manual processes make maintaining documents a challenge. Manually moving data is time-consuming and increases the chance of errors.
Document automation solutions, like Quadient Impress, completely streamline document management. Automation simplifies the organization and retrieval of data. Role-based access safeguards confidential information. Accurate information moves smoothly between processes.
Reduces compliance risk
Automating business processes simplifies compliance so that businesses don’t breach regulations and incur penalties.
BPA software records every detail of a process. This information can be used to demonstrate compliance during an audit.
Delivers best-in-class customer experience
Automation frees time your employees spend on monotonous tasks, enabling them to dedicate more of their time and efforts to meet the evolving needs of your customers.
Business process automation enables businesses to react faster, deliver personalized experiences and deliver consistent experiences across channels. This dramatically improves the overall customer experience and helps businesses differentiate themselves from their competition. One key aspect of this is the seamless CSV integration with your existing systems, which can significantly improve accounts receivable efficiency and data accuracy.
Conclusion
The automation of business processes is rapidly becoming a necessity for businesses of all sizes to ensure continued success. As we’ve covered here, automating business processes offers a plethora of benefits to businesses. Now is the time for SMBs to implement BPA to reap the benefits and better compete in today’s competitive landscape.