Picture this: a mountain of paperwork, countless spreadsheets, and manual processes that seem to go on forever. Feeling overwhelmed yet? You’re not the only one. Many industry front-runners have struggled with these challenges, asking, “Isn’t there a more efficient approach?”
Good news: there is. Introducing business process automation (BPA), a strategic tool for those keen on pushing the boundaries of traditional operations.
If the idea of cutting operational costs, minimizing errors, and boosting efficiency has you leaning in closer, you’re in the right place.
What Is Business Process Automation?
More than just a fancy acronym, business process automation (BPA) is the use of technology to enhance and streamline recurring business activities. At its core, BPA is about optimizing workflows to create a more agile and responsive organization.
Think of your enterprise as a machine where every part has a purpose. Now imagine it running smoother, with no hiccups or delays. That’s the power of business process automation.
BPA doesn’t replace people. Instead, it complements human capabilities. It lets technology do the repetitive tasks so your teams can focus on creativity, strategy, and growth.
Why Is Business Process Automation Important?
As time is often equated with money, the benefits of efficiency can’t be stressed enough. Let’s dig deeper into the significance of business process automation.
Efficiency
Business process automation enhances human effort instead of replacing it. Imagine a scenario where routine tasks don’t bog down your team, allowing them to focus on the strategic and creative aspects of their roles.
With BPA, tasks aren’t just done; they’re executed flawlessly. It’s like equipping your team with a tireless digital assistant dedicated to efficiency.
Cost Reduction
Manual tasks, especially repetitive ones, can be costly and error-prone. Errors in manual data entry, delays in manual approval processes, and the time spent on such tasks add up. Automating these processes can lead to significant cost savings in the long run.
Organizational Improvement & Accountability
Business process automation isn’t just about doing things faster; it’s about doing things better. With digital records, managers and teams can track processes in real time. Wondering who approved a request or when a particular task was completed? BPA provides that clarity, ensuring every process is transparent and every individual is accountable.
Examples of Business Process Automation
Business process automation isn’t confined to a specific sector or department. Its versatility is evident in its widespread adoption. Let’s explore how different sectors harness their potential.
Employee Onboarding
The traditional onboarding process, full of paperwork and manual verifications, is cumbersome. Business process automation transforms this process entirely. With digital onboarding, everything is streamlined, from background checks to giving out equipment. This helps new hires settle into the company and their specific roles faster and more efficiently.
Invoice Processing
Delayed or erroneous invoices can harm a company’s reputation and finances. Business process automation provides a robust solution by automating the entire invoicing process. From creation and approval, to dispatch, automation ensures timeliness and accuracy. It’s a win-win, enhancing both vendor relationships and internal financial processes.
Payroll Processing
One of the most critical operations in an organization, payroll demands precision. Business process automation simplifies this complicated process. Whether it’s calculating varied salary structures or deductions or generating payslips, automation ensures employees receive their dues correctly and on time every month.
IT Troubleshooting
IT issues can disrupt operations. With business process automation, common IT problems can be instantly identified and solved. Automated IT tools can check for issues and fix them without human intervention, reducing downtime and boosting productivity.
Contract Management
Managing contracts manually, especially in large enterprises, is a recipe for chaos. Business process automation offers a streamlined approach where contracts are digitally stored and easily retrievable, and notifications can be set for renewals: no more misplaced contracts or missed renewal dates.
Sales and Marketing
In sales and marketing, real-time data and quick actions are key. BPA tools assist with tasks like tracking leads, segmenting audiences, and automating email campaigns. This leads to a more engaged audience, higher conversion rates, and an empowered sales and marketing team.
Types of Business Processes to Automate
Business process automation is not about automating every single task but choosing the most impactful ones. Some processes aren’t suited for automation. Here are some indicators that a process might be ready for BPA:
Indicators Suggesting the Need for Automation
- High volume of tasks
- Complex workflows
- Frequent errors
- Time-sensitive activities
- Need for operational cost reduction
- Inconsistent data entry
- Lack of scalability
- High employee turnover
- Regulatory compliance
- Multi-departmental involvement
By identifying processes that have these characteristics, businesses can prioritize their automation initiatives and achieve the highest returns on their investment.
Frequently Automated Business Processes
Business process automation is rapidly making its mark across industries. Its ability to improve operational efficiencies has made it vital to today’s business strategy. Here are the top 15 processes that are often automated.
Invoice Processing
By automating this, businesses can send bills on time, reduce the chances of late payments, and avoid manual errors that can lead to financial discrepancies.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
A digital tool records every interaction with current and potential customers, helping businesses provide personalized experiences and build stronger relationships.
Payroll and HR Onboarding
An automated system handles tasks like tax deductions and giving equipment to new hires to make their onboarding smooth and error-free.
Order Processing, Supply Chain, and Inventory Management
This ensures orders are completed on time, minimizes storage costs by balancing inventory levels, and streamlines the entire supply chain.
Expense Tracking & Reporting
Employees can digitally send expense receipts for quick tracking and reimbursements.
Marketing Campaign Management
Automation tools schedule, monitor, and analyze marketing campaigns for better reach and engagement.
Help Desk & Customer Support
Automated ticketing systems categorize, prioritize, and assign customer queries for faster responses and solutions.
Feedback & Survey Collection
Automated surveys gather valuable customer feedback, making the process less intrusive and more efficient.
Event Registration & Management
Automate tasks like attendee registration, payment processing, and post-event feedback.
E-commerce Cart Abandonment
Automated reminders notify customers of incomplete purchases, increasing the chance of conversion.
Vendor & Procurement Management
Streamline buying processes, vendor evaluations, and contract renewals to get the best deals and maintain good vendor relationships.
Backup & Data Synchronization
Automated backups ensure data integrity and availability, while synchronization ensures consistency across platforms.
Recruitment & Applicant Tracking
From collecting applications to scheduling interviews, automation ensures the recruitment process is swift and no potential candidate is overlooked.
Compliance & Audit Reporting
Automated tools can track changes, manage documentation, and ensure businesses remain compliant with industry regulations, reducing the risks associated with human errors.
Performance Analysis & Reporting
Automatically gather data, analyze performance metrics, and generate reports for quick business insights.
How to Automate Business Practices
Implementing business process automation isn’t just about picking a tool; it’s about choosing a partner that understands your unique needs, complements your existing infrastructure, and prepares you for the future. This is where Kizen makes its mark.
Automate Business Processes with Kizen
Kizen stands apart in process automation. But what makes it the ultimate choice for businesses aiming for operational efficiency? Here’s how:
Custom Enterprise Neural Networks
One of Kizen’s standout features is its ability to create, connect, and deploy a custom enterprise neural network tailor-made for each client’s workflows & tech stack, bringing all crucial technology and data into one place. The result? Unparalleled automation and collaboration across teams, guaranteeing maximum value from that organization’s tech investments.
Rapid Deployment, Faster Results
While other platforms take years to deliver tangible value, Kizen delivers value within weeks and fully implemented in six months or less — even in the most complex industries.
Simplicity Meets Advanced Tech
Kizen is built on a modular infrastructure designed to handle the vast complexities of modern data and its integrations. This modular infrastructure, paired with intuitive no-code drag & drop builders, empowers every user —with or without coding knowledge — to deploy the full power of custom programming without ever touching a line of code.
This ensures our clients are equipped for today’s challenges and future-proofed against tomorrow’s uncertainties.
How Is BPA Related to RPA?
When exploring automation, you’ll often come across these two acronyms: BPA and RPA. Although both aim to streamline operations, their approach and focus areas differ.
Business process automation (BPA) primarily zooms out, taking a bird’s eye view. It looks at processes end-to-end, identifying areas that can benefit from automation, to streamline and optimize the entire workflow. BPA might use various tools and technologies to achieve its goal, from simple scripting to more complex integrations.
On the other hand, robotic process automation (RPA) is a bit more zoomed in. It focuses on specific repetitive tasks humans do on a computer like copying and pasting data.
What makes RPA unique is its ability to mimic these human actions without needing deep system changes. It’s like creating a digital robot that watches what a human does and then replicates those exact steps at lightning speed.
In essence, while BPA is the strategic commander planning the overall strategy, RPA is a skilled soldier executing specific tasks with precision. Both have unique strengths and, when combined, improve operational efficiency effectively.
How Is BPA Related to BPM?
Stepping into the broader spectrum, we encounter business process management (BPM).
BPM is a comprehensive approach. It doesn’t just stop at automation; it involves assessing, analyzing, and improving business processes to enhance flexibility, innovation, and integration in an organization. BPM looks at the “why” and “how” behind every process, ensuring each aligns with the company’s strategic goals.
Business process automation, nestled under BPM, is more about the “what.” It identifies which processes can be automated to boost efficiency, reduce errors, and save time. While BPM offers the strategy, BPA provides the tactical execution.
In a nutshell, business process management lays down the road map for an organization’s operational excellence, and business process automation is the vehicle that drives you there, fueled by tools and technologies like RPA.
Embracing BPA
The business landscape is constantly evolving, and leaders like you must be equipped with tools that address present challenges and anticipate future ones. We already know the value of business process automation, from streamlining operations and optimizing efficiencies to strengthening a company’s position in the competitive market.
Don’t let your business left behind. Explore Kizen’s suite of tools and elevate your business operations to unparalleled heights today.
Additional Resources
https://kizen.com/content/automation/enterprise-bpm/
https://kizen.com/content/automation/enterprise-rpa/
https://kizen.com/content/automation/enterprise-intelligent-automation/
https://kizen.com/content/automation/business-process-automation/project-management-automation/
https://kizen.com/content/automation/business-process-automation/workflow/
https://kizen.com/content/automation/business-process-automation/enterprise-automation/
https://kizen.com/content/automation/business-process-automation/sales/
