3 Important Steps to Prepare for Automation

Do you shy away from the automation conversation because the change to your business seems too great? Automating your business can be a big undertaking, but you don’t have to do it all at once.

Here are 3 small steps you can take to prepare your company for automation.

Find champions for change

These days, everyone is talking about company culture. The companies experiencing the most growth are the ones with the best culture. And there’s a reason for that! A great culture is one that embraces change and growth.

When your team hears that you’re looking at paperless solutions and automation platforms, how do you think they will react? Will they be excited or resistant? Consider that team members who are resistant to change and growth aren’t good for the health of your business. They can hold you back from realizing the success you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

Here are some tips from Entrepeneur.com on building a strong company culture and filling your office with people who will embrace change and growth:

• Define your core values
• Promote strong leaders
• Hire people for cultural fit
• Be honest and transparent

Go paperless

Before you can automate anything, your documentation will need to be digital. Before automating, take the first step of going paperless.

Choosing the right system is key because you’ll be building your automated processes on this foundation. With so many options in terms of Document Management System providers, how can you know which to choose?

Look for a solution that is adoptable, customizable, secure, and integration-ready. Here are some examples of what NOT to choose, along with some questions to ask while you’re shopping: Right Idea, Wrong Software – Get Your DM Software Right the First Time Around.

Identify your greatest opportunity

Which of your processes has the greatest need for change? Here at DocuPhase, we see a lot of companies kick off their Enterprise Automation projects with Accounting Automation, but that’s not always the case.

For example, when KnowBe4, the world’s largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, decided to begin automating with the DocuPhase Enterprise Automation Platform, they started with their sales process.

Maybe for you, your greatest opportunity for improvement is in HR, Customer Service, or elsewhere. Remember, you don’t have to do it all at once. Identify your biggest pain point, and start there. A robust Enterprise Automation platform will allow you to move on to other departments and processes in the future.

Whatever you decide to do, remember that automation is a catalyst for growth. You don’t have to eat the elephant all at once. You can get started with simple, manageable steps like working on your culture, exploring paperless solutions, and identifying your greatest opportunity for change and growth.

Download our ebook, Not Your Mama’s Guide to Going Paperless, for more information about transforming to a paperless workplace.