Utilising workflow automation software to improve productivity and profit
When we think about the factors that could be affecting the profitability of our business, our mind often skips straight to the big-ticket items – sales, cost structures or inventory.
While it’s important to consider these bigger aspects, we often forget to think about other smaller inefficiencies that could be present – practices that have become part of everyday business that are innocuously adding up.
Your staff are a significant but vital business cost. However, if you’re not helping your staff to do their job as well as they possibly can, you’re lowering the return on the money you’re investing into them.
Poor productivity is exacerbated by disorganised business structures reliant on manual processes. By adopting an integrated business solution that offers process automation, you can once and for all rid your business of inefficiencies and re-focus on your big-ticket items.
Discover how you can benefit from an all-in-one ERP system by downloading the free margin and cost control e-Book
From little problems, big ones grow
There could be several mistakes you and your staff are making every day that you didn’t even know are affecting productivity. Processes you see as “normal” are actually adding up to significant and unnecessary costs.
Some of the more common ones I see are:
Using staff as data collectors
Correctly storing and analysing data is important for determining business performance – but the way many businesses go about it is clunky and inefficient. Storing information across different systems, databases and/or spreadsheets means your staff are wasting time just trying to access the data – let alone actually going through it. On top of this, you risk data being entered multiple times, incorrectly or not at all. Remember, you’re paying for this time – and your business is relying on this data.
Manual data entry is time consuming, expensive and error prone
Not establishing (or maintaining) best practice
Not establishing best practice processes can waste a lot of time and create inconsistency across the business. But even if you have spent the time establishing these processes, by not setting up a system that can communicate and enforce their use across all staff and procedures, you’ve wasted your time – and are allowing inefficient practices to continue to take place.
Wasting time and resources on manual processes
There are many tasks within your business that are tedious and time-consuming, but are incredibly important and necessary to keep everything running smoothly. By ignoring the option of automation and having staff undertake these processes manually, your business can face all sorts of issues that affect productivity and growth, including:
- Wasted staff time
- Higher wage costs
- Neglect of other tasks
- Lower staff morale
Eliminate inefficiencies by building a strong foundation
Checking, double checking and repeating every other job or process in your business will waste time and drive costs up exponentially – as well as frustrate everyone involved.
To avoid the economical and emotional costs of inefficient, manual processes, you need to establish a business environment where doublechecking isn’t required.
Automating previously draining manual processes by engaging an integrated business solution, will result in:
- A centralised, accurate and easily accessible data system
- A clear source of best practice and business procedures
- Visibility across all workflows
- Staff knowing exactly what they should be doing, why and how
- Increased productivity through the elimination of laborious manual tasks
Workflow automation increases productivity and decreases costs
Tick all your boxes with workflow automation software
Workflow automation software is an integrated business solution that can eliminate a lot of the problems that stem from staff inefficiencies that lead to poor ROI.
A well implemented workflow automation software that integrates all aspects of business – from financials to CRM to inventory and customer support – offers you the ability to:
- Easily identify inefficient processes, and correct them, saving you the costs of poor productivity
- Store and access all information in one system, so poor habits or confusion over procedure won’t be able to sneak back in.
- Empower staff to do their job – and do it well. Eliminating tedious manual tasks, gives staff the opportunity to excel at their job while helping the business succeed.
Finding the right software is key – each system is designed differently and ensuring full integration that supports your businesses and staff’s unique needs is paramount.
HARMONiQ is the first software in the industry that can be fully customised to your business. It provides simple but powerful capabilities that can grow and change as your business does – ensuring efficiency, productivity and profit opportunities can continue to increase.
Discover how you can benefit from an ERP system by downloading the free margin and cost control e-Book
If you would like to discuss how you can start leveraging integrated workflow automation software to achieve increased staff productivity and process efficiency in your business, please call me on (02) 9542 2000.
Author bio
Robert Butler is the Managing Director of Micronet Systems and is focused on helping business leaders overcome inefficient sales, inventory, and customer relationship management practices by leveraging cutting edge technology. If you want to gain better control of the sales processes in your business, click here to see how HARMONiQ Business Tuning Software can make a difference to your business, or click here to get in touch.
