Where to start with business automation

List the tasks people repeat

Ask each team which tasks they do every day or week that involve copying information, sending routine messages or chasing updates. You will usually find more than expected.

Score each task

For each task, estimate how often it happens, how long it takes, how often mistakes occur, and whether it follows clear rules. Frequent, rules-based tasks with a real error cost are the best first candidates.

Map one process properly

Pick the top candidate and map every step: trigger, inputs, systems, decisions and outputs. This often reveals steps that can be removed entirely before anything is automated.

Keep people where judgement matters

Automate the predictable steps and add review points where a person should check or decide, such as approving a payment or replying to an unusual request.

Use AI only where it fits

AI helps with unstructured input such as emails and documents, but it can make mistakes. Test it on your real examples and keep human review for important outputs.

Measure before and after

Record how long the process takes and how often it fails before you change it, then measure again. This shows whether the automation worked and helps you choose the next one.