Business Automation Tools: Why Do We Crave To Do Less?

What if repetitive tasks like sending emails, processing invoices and scheduling meetings can be handled without lifting a finger? This isn’t the future – it’s happening now with business automation tools. As technology advances, companies are leveraging these tools to streamline their operations, improve efficiency, and stay competitive. Automation is no longer a luxury reserved for big corporations, it’s a necessity for businesses of all sizes. In a market that rewards speed and accuracy, automation empowers businesses to do more, faster. Why do humans personify the paradox of ‘do less and achieve more’? This article provides not just an easy-to-understand overview of business automation tools, but also a deep review of our craving to do less work.

Business Automation Tools: Highlights

• Redundant and repetitive processes leave very little time for businesses to innovate and redefine their strategies. Such processes become a burden to the business, posing an obstacle in its digital development and transformation. 

• Business automation has evolved as the silent force behind the scenes that turns mundane and burdensome tasks into seamless operations.

• Business automation tools are reshaping the way organisations operate, allowing them to scale faster, minimise errors and streamline workflows.

• Global data and business intelligence platform Statista reports that the global spend on digital transformation is expected to touch 3.9 trillion USD by 2027. The current spend in 2024 is forecasted to reach 2.49 USD by the end of the year.

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(Image Credit: Statista)

• The statistics demonstrate a consistent steady rise in the global spend on digital transformations post the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• Notably, the research and consulting firm Gartner prefers addressing this phase of digitisation as ‘hyperautomation’ and not automation.

• In its 2021 report, Gartner had predicted that by 2024 three out of the highlighted 20 types of process-agonistic softwares will be adopted by organisations due to the hyper automation trend.

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• Gartner also forecasted a double-digit rise in the technologies market that drives the hyperautomation trend.

(Image Credit: Gartner)

• Cathy Tornbohm, Gartner’s Distinguished Vice-President analyst, noted in Gartner’s 2021 press release, “The shift towards hyperautomation will be a key factor enabling enterprises to achieve operational excellence, and subsequently cost savings in a digital-first world”.

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• In the ‘State of Automation Report 2020’, open-source automation and management platform Camunda indentified growth and efficiency as the key reasons why businesses are hopping onto the automation trend.

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(Image Credit: Camunda)

• The Camunda report also revealed the sharp rise in the urgency for automation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lack of process automations back then caused disruption in workflow, incurring losses on multiple fronts.

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(Image Credit: Camunda)

• With companies setting aside a fortune of their budgets for business automation, one is compelled to question what exactly is business automation and why has it triggered an overflow of research?

• Is business efficiency the real trigger to our drive for automation? Could there be a reason much deeper than what science can see?

What is Business Automation?

Business automation primarily refers to using technology to perform routine business tasks, processes or functions without human intervention. Automation tools help businesses eliminate repetitive manual tasks, speed up workflows and ensure consistency across different operations. Automation has evolved from simple software applications to highly advanced platforms powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) that are capable of making decisions and learning from data over time.

Also Read: The Future of Work: Navigating the AI Revolution

Automation can be used in various verticals of an organisation like customer relationship management (CRM), accounting, marketing and even human resources. Let’s review its impact on businesses. 

The Impact of Automation on Businesses

Business Automation is the key to unlocking speed, efficiency and innovation. Business automation tools are reshaping the way organisations operate, allowing them to scale faster, minimise errors and streamline workflows. From automating customer service to managing finances, these tools give businesses a significant edge. Here is a brief look at the advantages 

1. Increased Efficiency: Automation takes over time-consuming tasks, allowing employees to focus on more valuable work. Whether it’s automating email responses, generating reports or scheduling social media posts, employees can spend their time on tasks that require creativity, critical thinking and more human input, leaving automation tools to work up their magic.

2. Cost Savings: Automation reduces labour costs by minimising the need for manual work. By automating repetitive tasks like invoicing, payroll or data entry, businesses can operate with smaller teams, reducing their overhead expenses.

3. Accuracy and Consistency: Humans make mistakes, especially when performing monotonous and repetitive tasks. Automation ensures that processes are carried out with precision every time, reducing the risk of errors and improving the consistency of outcomes.

4. Scalability: Business automation enables companies to scale their operations more easily. Automated systems can handle increased volumes of work without the need for additional staff. This speeds up growth in business.

5. Enhanced Customer Experience: From chatbots that provide 24/7 customer support to personalised email marketing campaigns, automation tools can improve customer interactions, ensuring timely responses and tailored services to clients.

6. Better Decision-Making: Many automation tools come equipped with data analytics and reporting features. This gives business leaders the insights they need to make informed decisions, optimise workflows and predict future trends.

Types of Business Automation Tools

There are countless tools designed to meet the specific needs of businesses, with automation’s growing popularity. Given below are some of the most preferred types:

1. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Automation:

CRM tools like Salesforce, HubSpot and Zoho are widely used today. These tools automate the management of customer interactions. They allow businesses to track leads, manage customer data, send automated follow-up emails and analyse customer behaviour to improve sales strategies. By automating these processes, companies can ensure that no lead is forgotten and that customers receive timely and personalised service.

2. Marketing Automation:

Marketing automation platforms like Mailchimp, Hubspot, ActiveCampaign and Marketo help businesses automate email marketing, social media scheduling and campaign tracking. These tools enable businesses to segment their audience, send targeted messages and also measure campaign performance without even lifting a finger. Automation ensures that your marketing efforts are consistent, timely and effective in nurturing leads and driving sales.

3. Accounting and Financial Automation: 

Tools like QuickBooks, Xero and FreshBooks are examples of tools that automate cumbersome processes in accounting and financing. They streamline accounting processes such as invoicing, payroll, expense tracking and financial reporting. By automating these financial tasks, businesses can ensure accuracy in their bookkeeping and make data-driven decisions based on real-time financial information.

4. Human Resources (HR) Automation:

HR platforms like BambooHR, Gusto and Workday automate employee onboarding, payroll, time tracking, etc. They benefit administration in HR. These tools also help businesses manage their workforce more effectively by reducing manual paperwork and ensuring compliance with employment regulations.

5. Project Management Automation:

Tools like Trello, Asana, and Monday.com are popular choices among project management tools for automation. They allow teams to automate project tracking, task assignments and deadline reminders. These platforms help teams collaborate more effectively, ensuring that projects stay on track and that everyone is aligned with the business’s goals.

6. E-Commerce Automation:

For online businesses, automation tools like Shopify, WooCommerce and BigCommerce provide features such as automated inventory management, order processing and customer communication. E-commerce automation can streamline every aspect of running an online store, freeing up a lot of time to focus on customer service and marketing.

7. AI-Powered Automation:

As artificial intelligence becomes more advanced, businesses are starting to use AI-driven automation tools like chatbots, predictive analytics and virtual assistants. Tools such as ChatGPT, IBM Watson and Google AI allow businesses to automate complex tasks like customer support, data analysis and even decision-making processes.

How to Implement Business Automation Successfully

While automation tools offer numerous benefits, implementing them successfully requires careful planning. Let’s explore step-by-step:

1. Identify Repetitive Tasks: Start by identifying the most time-consuming and repetitive tasks in your business. These are, typically, the most well-suited for automation.

2. Choose the Right Tools: There are many automation tools available, so it’s important to choose ones that are tailored to your specific needs. Research and test different platforms to see which one fits best.

3. Train Your Team: Automation tools require a change in workflow, so it’s important to train your team on how to use the new technology effectively. It is crucial that the intended team understands the benefits of automation and how it can boost their productivity as they will also be involved in its monitoring process. 

4. Monitor and Adjust: Automation is not a process that can occur and continue on its own. Regularly monitor the performance of your automated processes and make adjustments as needed to optimise efficiency.

The Future of Business Automation

The future of business automation is projected as fast-evolving, as advances in AI, machine learning and robotics will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible. We can expect automation tools to become even more sophisticated, enabling businesses to automate complex decision-making, predictive analytics and even customer interactions at an advanced level.

While automation may play a central role in driving future innovation and competitiveness in the business landscape, there are several factors that influence its success rate. The 2020 global survey by McKinsey sheds more light on its realistic ground.

Insights from McKinsey’s  Automation Survey

A recent McKinsey survey sheds new light on the current state of automation, revealing valuable insights into adoption trends, benefits, and challenges faced by organisations. While many companies have begun implementing automation technologies, only a small portion have achieved their full potential. The findings emphasise that, although 70% of organisations have piloted automation in some capacity, less than 20% have successfully scaled automation across multiple departments. 

Automation is proving to be a critical factor in shaping business success, but getting it right requires a significant overhaul of both processes and workforce skills. Leaders in automation, referred to as automation leaders’, provide crucial lessons for others on how to meet automation goals and improve both customer and employee experiences.

Key findings:

1. Automation as a Strategic Priority: Companies that succeed in automation efforts are more likely to have made it a strategic priority, aligning it with their broader business goals. 72% of successful companies credit this approach, nearly four times more than less successful firms.

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(Image Credit: McKinsey & Company)

2. Focusing on People: Success also comes from addressing skill gaps. Organisations with effective automation focus on training and skill-building, with a higher adoption of ‘human-in-the-loop’ solutions, ensuring employee input improves automation over time.

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(Image Credit: McKinsey & Company)

3. Coordination Across Units: Automation leaders excel by coordinating efforts across business units, with a vast majority reporting process redesign and platform modernisation as key actions that ensure scaling success.

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(Image Credit: McKinsey & Company)

These insights demonstrate that automation is a powerful tool, but success depends on a comprehensive, well-coordinated approach that goes beyond simply implementing new technologies.

Our Obsession With Automation

After this brief insight into the crazy world of business automation, aptly titled by Gartner as ‘hyperautomation’, one is compelled to ponder the true value of this relentless pursuit?

In a world we live in is constantly wracked by crises. Despite this, businesses funnel trillions into technological sophistication, all to jusy stay ahead in a race that demands less human effort and more efficiency.

The irony is stark. We wish to remain at the top of the competition and yet innovate technologies that help us do minimal work. Why are we so drawn to ‘do less’? Why the consistent emphasis on ‘automating’ everything and the desire to have things work out on their own?

Could our innate desire to automate stem from something deeper, beyond the reasoning of technology and science? This is a question that would hardly occur to us, but it’s totally worth exploring. 

The Ultimate Reality Behind Earth’s Quest For Automation

Jagatguru Tatvdarshi Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj reveals the source of our desperate need and the compelling desire of wanting to work less and achieve more – our true origin.

The origin of all souls is from the one Supreme All-pervading God Kabir. He created us through the power of His speech in His eternal abode ‘Satlok’, also referred to as ‘Sachhkhand’, ‘Shashwath Sthan’ or ‘Satyalok’ in several scriptures. 

Sant Rampal Ji elucidates that Satlok, our true eternal home, is a realm of boundless abundance, where resources never deplete. Through the power of God Kabir, everything in Satlok is self-generating and imperishable. There is ample food, water and facilities that we cannot even fathom on Earth.

The concept of automation, therefore, is not an invention of science. It predates science and has existed even way before the word ‘science’ came into existence. It is a divine reality in Satlok. The unmatched power of God Kabir ensures that everything is automated in Satlok. The residents of the eternal abode never need to work or engage in any sort of rat race, for this is the abode of abundance.

What is the reason we were exiled to Earth, then? On this planet, we pride ourselves on innovating technologies like automation, but in reality, they are mere imitations of the effortless abundance we once experienced in Satlok. In Satlok, worship of the Supreme Creator was our only work and purpose. There was no sorrow and we all basked in the glory of God Kabir. 

Though this might sound like a tale from a distant fantasy, it is not. In fact, this is the ultimate truth of our existence – one we have long been unaware of. This reality, far from fiction, is firmly rooted in our ancient scriptures. It reveals a forgotten world of eternal abundance, where life’s essence is not toil or struggle but the divine worship of God Kabir.

Discover the truth of exile to Earth and way to go back to our original abode of abundance, through the unparalleled discourses of Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj on:

• Website: www.jagatgururampalji.org
• YouTube: Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj
• Facebook: Spiritual Leader Saint Rampal Ji
• Twitter: @SaintRampalJiM

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