How your small business can benefit from automation

Want to know how automation can help your brand? Automation isn't just for large corporations; it can help small businesses to increase efficiency.
· 02 December 2021 · 4 minute read

What is automation?

In a nutshell, automation refers to the use of technology to perform tasks with minimal human effort. More specifically, automation describes the tools, techniques, and strategies designed to minimise time spent on manual tasks. Basically, the more business operations you can automate, the more time you'll have to focus on other tasks.

Why now may be the time to think about automation

According to McKinsey’s research report ‘The imperatives for automation success’, the use of automation is growing in the business sector. The most commonly deployed technologies, according to respondents who participated in McKinsey surveys, are business-process-management platforms and robotic process automation. Given the number of businesses leveraging the power of automation, now may be the time for your small business to do the same.

The benefits of automation for small business

Automation might sound daunting, but it can help your business become more streamlined and potentially save you hours of time each day.

Here are some benefits your business may receive by automating daily processes, according to technology experts Microsoft:

  • Improved efficiency and productivity
  • Reduced time and costs
  • Simple data and document management
  • Process standardisation and compliance
  • Improved employee and customer satisfaction.

A strong automation strategy can help support your business goals

Your automation strategy will depend on your business objectives. For example, if you want to save time, automation software can help accelerate your business operations by replacing manual paperwork. And if you want help to manage your social media platforms, automation allows you to schedule posts and set up auto-responses.

Here, we speak to two business owners in different stages of their automation journeys. They share with us how they’ve been using automated technology and how they expect automation to impact their work in the future.

How Hagen’s Organics save time with automation

Ruby Hagen is assistant director of family-run business Hagen’s Organics in Melbourne. When the business first launched, Ruby manually organised deliveries in a spreadsheet. But as the business scaled up, the Hagen family needed a more efficient process. In automation, they saw an opportunity to improve the way they managed dispatching orders, mapping out delivery runs, and communication with customers.

“We introduced a new system called CartonCloud,” Ruby says, “which automates processes like the schedule of our delivery runs and also sends customers automated text messages when our delivery drivers are leaving the previous location.”

Automation now saves the Hagen’s team at least two hours each day, granting Ruby more time to further plan the business’s automation strategy.  

“One of the things we are working on with our POS and scale company is for our packers to work from iPads so they can scan products directly as they go, rather than working from a paper sheet,” Ruby says.

By continuing to automate daily business operations, Ruby hopes not only to save the team more time, but also to eliminate unnecessary paper waste.

How Pet Express Transport Services (PETS) plans to scale up with automation

Taimur Cheema is the director of PETS, a pet transportation business based in Sydney and Melbourne. When business paused during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, Taimur started researching how to update manual processes by adopting technology solutions.

“We’re looking at automating our calling system and also working with airlines to automate our booking systems,” Taimur says. “We want to develop a customer portal that will help improve customers’ experiences with our service, and we want to create a better system for our drivers.”

At the moment, the PETS system is entirely manual, but Taimur recognises things need to change if they want to scale up.

“It was always in the back of my mind to create [an automated system], but because we've been so busy working in the business, we haven't really had time to sit down and work on it,” Taimur says.

By working with technology solutions, the PETS team hope to save time in the future. “Automation will help to cut down hundreds of man hours on a monthly basis,” Taimur says.

PETS developed a two-part approach for the automation adoption process to make the transition as smooth as possible. “We have divided implementation into multiple phases,” Taimur says.

During phase one, PETS will automate and improve their internal systems. During phase two, PETS will integrate their new systems with those managed by external stakeholders. For example, the business plans to integrate their systems with quarantine and customs departments’ when domestic and international travel picks back up.

How to integrate automation in your business

When your business is ready to implement automation, it pays to do you homework. Ruby of Hagen’s suggests asking an expert or other businesses that have already adopted automated technologies for their advice.

“We were using a third-party delivery company who does what we're doing on a higher scale, and for a lot of other companies,” Ruby says. “I decided to call them to see how they manage it. They told me about CartonCloud and we adopted it a couple of weeks later.”

Taimur has also sought guidance from multiple sources while developing PET’s future automation strategy.

“We’ve been talking to the airlines, the quarantine department, the customs department, and also a few software developers,” he says.

Where should you start when developing your automation strategy?

It’s important to consider how to integrate automation into your business holistically. Start by reviewing your existing software and identifying whether you can integrate new systems of automation with what you already have.

Ideally, your various business systems – whether that includes ordering, accounting, scheduling, delivery or more – can all work together harmoniously.

This article does not necessarily reflect the views of Telstra or its staff.

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