How to start automation?

Automation refers to the implementation of technologies and systems that can perform tasks without direct human intervention. These technologies range from simple scripts and bots to complex intelligent systems. The primary goal of automation is to increase the speed of operations, enhance efficiency, and reduce the likelihood of errors.

Many people believe that automation and optimization are one and the same, but that's not true.

Optimization
Optimization is the process of improving an existing workflow to enhance its efficiency. During optimization, each stage of the process is analyzed, redundant steps are identified, and eliminated. The focus of optimization is on increasing productivity and eliminating waste.

The goal of optimization is to improve efficiency, save resources (time, money, materials), and boost productivity. Optimization strives to make the best use of available resources.


Example:
Company "X" conducted an analysis of its operations and found that the time spent processing client orders was too great due to excessive approval stages. They concluded that they needed to completely restructure the order processing procedure to reduce costs and improve the customer experience.

The main objective of automation is to make processes more efficient and less dependent on human intervention, which can help increase task execution speed and lower error risk.

Same example, but with automation:

After analyzing the client order processing, Company "X" decided to cut down on the time wasted during purchase approvals and opted to implement specialized software for order management.


Now, when a customer places an order through the company's website, the system automatically:

1. Registers the order and creates an electronic notification for the relevant department.
2. Checks the availability of goods in stock.
3. Places an order for supply if there aren't enough items in stock.
4. Sends a notification to the customer about the order status and estimated delivery date.

This allows Company "X" to significantly reduce the time previously spent on manual order management, decrease the likelihood of errors, and improve order accuracy. Additionally, the company can easily monitor and analyze order data, helping in making strategic decisions and enhancing customer service.

Every entrepreneur, faced with the task of developing an IT product, asks themselves: “Where should I start?” At this point, numerous opportunities open up before them, and making the right choice can greatly impact the success of their business. Remember what we've said about the importance of defining your goal. It becomes the starting point for determining the next steps.

If you already have a clear goal and have analyzed your business, the next question you should ask yourself is: “What do I want to achieve in the end?”

At this stage, two main directions can be highlighted: automating existing processes or creating an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) to test new ideas or hypotheses.

Automation primarily focuses on improving an existing process. It's preferable if you have specific operations that can be sped up. For instance, if your employees spend a lot of time on routine tasks that can be automated, such as managing CRM, generating reports automatically, interacting with suppliers, or handling electronic document flow, these fall under the realm of automation.

Often, entrepreneurs say, "Let's automate everything at once!" But is that really advisable?

Imagine your business is like a complex mechanism made up of many parts. Each part serves its purpose. Automation, in turn, represents the enhancement of these parts. If we replace all the parts simultaneously, the entire mechanism might simply grind to a halt.

On the other hand, an MVP, or Minimum Viable Product, is a way to test new ideas in the market. If you have a new direction or hypothesis and want to try it out without significant financial investment, creating an MVP is your best option.

To determine which path to take, return to your original goal, which we discussed earlier. If your aim is to optimize and increase efficiency, choose automation. However, if you want to test new ideas and gauge market reaction, start with creating an MVP.

An MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is not just a design or prototype; it's a version of a new product that allows the team to gather maximum feedback from users with minimal effort and in the shortest possible time.

Let's consider an example:
Suppose you're planning to develop a mobile app for online food ordering. Instead of diving straight into developing a fully-fledged app with every conceivable feature, start by creating an MVP. This MVP would include only essential features, such as selecting dishes, adding them to the cart, and payment. It wouldn't include additional features like reviews, restaurant ratings, or detailed order tracking.

Thus, with an MVP, you can test how much your app is actually needed by people, whether they're willing to use it for ordering food, and which features matter most to them.

Once you've received feedback and confirmed the demand for your idea, you can further develop the product, adding new features and improving existing ones.

Since every business is unique, the approach to automation must be tailored to each individual case.

1. Defining Goals and Analyzing Current Processes
The most crucial step is identifying the processes that are the most labor-intensive and require improvement. Conduct an analysis: Where exactly do you spend the most time and resources? These areas will become your top priorities for automation.

2. Finding Solutions
Explore the market and look for suitable tools and solutions to automate tasks. Consider integrating ready-made solutions or developing custom software if necessary.

3. Implementation
Select priority areas for automation and begin implementing the chosen solutions. Ensure proper training for your team to work with the new tools.

4. Monitoring and Adjustment
Establish a monitoring system to track the effectiveness of automated processes. Regularly analyze the data and make adjustments to improve performance and outcomes.

Creating an MVP is a way to understand market needs without building a complete product.

1. Defining Goals and Key Features
Start by defining the core value of your future product. What exactly do you want to offer consumers? Which key features should be included? What value does your product bring?

2. Prototyping
Develop a simplified version of the product, focusing on the key features. For example, when creating an online food-ordering service, strip away everything unnecessary and concentrate on the essence of the idea. This will help avoid unnecessary expenses.

3. Testing
Test the prototype with real users or your target audience. Collect feedback and data on how users interact with the product.

4. Improving the MVP
Based on the feedback and testing data, make necessary improvements and adjustments to the MVP.

5. Scaling Up
If the MVP passes the testing phase successfully and attracts interest from the target audience, consider scaling up the product by adding new features and expanding its functionality to match market needs.

Conclusion

Automation is an investment in the future of your business. Following the action plan, you can successfully initiate automation and improve the efficiency of your company. As our example shows, well-planned and executed automation or an MVP product can significantly enhance business operations and increase competitiveness.

If you wish to automate your business or develop your own MVP product, you can submit a request using the form below.