The 7 processes worth automating first
· Ian Bensley
Not everything is worth automating. These seven high-payback processes are where most businesses should start - with the signals that make each a good candidate.
The fastest way to waste money on automation is to automate the wrong thing. Start where the payback is obvious. In most businesses, that's one of these seven.
1. Data entry between systems
If someone re-keys the same information into two tools, that's pure waste. Connect the systems and it enters once.
2. Lead follow-up
Every enquiry followed up within minutes, automatically. Speed-to-lead wins deals - see lead capture that converts.
3. Reporting
The weekly report someone builds by hand is a standing invitation to automate.
4. Document generation
Quotes, contracts and invoices generated from your data, not typed out each time.
5. Customer FAQs
An AI assistant that answers the same questions instantly and hands off the rest.
6. Onboarding
Client or employee onboarding is a checklist - and checklists automate beautifully.
7. Approvals and handoffs
Requests that sit in someone's inbox waiting to be routed are a classic bottleneck.
How to choose
Score each by hours spent, error rate and how rule-based it is. The readiness assessment does exactly this, so you build the highest-payback pieces first.
Ready to stop doing this by hand? Tell me what's slowing your business down and I'll give you an honest read on whether AI and automation are worth it for you - no pitch, no jargon.