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What is Automation in 2022?
Automation has been around for millennia in some form or another. From the invention of power looms to supply chain software, we've been automating repeatable manual tasks to produce goods and services faster.
Whether it is manufacturing, farming, or our daily lives, we've adopted automation to make our lives easier and more convenient.
If you look around, you will find that many daily tasks have been made easier for you by technological advances.
Automation has freed humans from physical tasks since the Industrial Revolution. But with the advent of software, we've witnessed the true potential of automation's power. Software has made it possible for us to delegate mental tasks to machines. After all, what is our workflows and processes' software, if not automation? What is brilliant about software technology now is that it has brought the power of automation into everyone's hands.
It has now made it possible for everyone from small businesses to individuals to harness the computing power of the cloud and achieve complicated automation that was previously only available to larger companies.
What do you have to gain from Automation?
- ⏳ Take back Time
- 🦾 Achieve Scale
- ✅ Be Error Free
Let's face it, the nature of work is changing. There is a lot more expected of a person. If you take a minute to think about what you do in a day, you'll realize there are a lot of tasks that are just primarily tasks or functions that can be categorized as housekeeping in business. The value they add to your output is maybe 10%, but the time they take up will be 50%; scheduling meetings, organizing data, and filing expenses are necessary, but it takes time. Automation helps you achieve all of that and yet take back your time for yourself.
A client has automated everything from scheduling meetings, recording sales calls, sharing meeting notes, to saving details on CRM using multiple tools. This leaves them time to focus on the service they are providing their clients.
You genuinely have maybe 4-6 hours to use productively in a day. It's essential to use this time wisely and do what you do best, which is core to your work. To achieve your growth goals, you either need more hands or more hours in a day. If you automate repetitive, menial tasks that give you the chance to grow, that would otherwise not be possible without hiring larger teams or working impossible hours.
Automation has helped another client double the number of cases they can handle.
It's only human to err. With an increase in tasks and speed required to achieve them, it's only humans that the potential for errors increases. Employing tools for your tasks enables you to increase your output and ensures the integrity of your production.
A bulk of data entry errors can be reduced by using automation tools.
Which are these Automation tools?
Zapier
Zapier is the most well known automation tool and it is so for a reason. It’s easy to understand and has integrations with many platforms making it the go-to tool for most users.
Make (earlier Integromat)
Once you are accustomed to automation and find yourself creating complex automations, Zapier may feel lacking in its ability to create automation rules. It can also get more expensive. That is where Make (Integromat) has created a clear differentiation. At its root it provides more flexibility without making you pay for it.
N8N
While N8N is younger than the above tools, it’s a strong contender. It’s open source, can be run locally and even allows desktop automation. It strikes a good balance between NoCode and LowCode. It may need some upfront time investment to automate but the benefits on pricing and complexity are high.
These are the tools in my repertoire, but these are not the only tools out there. There are many that cater to different use cases, domains, industries. All you have to do is to open your mind to automation and find multiple solutions.
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