Automating Repetitive Tasks in Consulting Workflows

I turned the most annoying 20 minute task of my job into 20 seconds. Here's the step-by-step breakdown: For years, I've been drowning in business card requests. Emails at all hours, random texts, people stopping by my office - all asking for the same thing but never giving me complete information. I'd spend 15-20 minutes per request just coordinating between employees, our designer, and placing orders. It was literally the least important but most time-consuming part of my week. Working with Claude (Anthropic's AI), I built my first AI agent that completely automates this workflow. Now when someone needs business cards, they fill out a simple form in Teams. The moment they hit submit: ✅ Data automatically saves to SharePoint ✅ A ClickUp task gets created for our designer with all the details ✅ Task gets assigned with a 3-day deadline ✅ I get notified when it's ready for ordering What used to take me 15-20 minutes of back-and-forth now happens in seconds. Zero manual work on my end. The crazy part? This entire system was built in a few hours using tools we already had - Power Apps, SharePoint, Teams, and Power Automate. No coding required. Here's my biggest takeaway: AI agents aren't just for tech companies. They're for anyone tired of repetitive tasks eating away at time that should be spent on strategic work. I'm a marketing leader at an oil and gas services company, not a programmer. If I can build this, anyone can. What repetitive task is driving you crazy? Maybe it's time to automate it. Next up: I'm eyeing our expense reporting process 👀

I spent 3 hours building an AI automation yesterday. It replaced 20 hours of weekly busywork. But here's what nobody tells you about the AI revolution: The technology isn't the hard part. The mindset shift is. Last quarter, I watched my Chief Of Staff spend 4 hours copying data between spreadsheets. Same task. Every Monday. For 2 years. I asked her: "What if we automated this?" Her response broke my heart: "But then what would I do?" That's when it hit me. We're not just afraid AI will take our jobs. We're afraid it'll reveal how much of our "work" was never really work. Here's what I've learned playing with AI tools: ❌ AI doesn't replace humans ✅ AI replaces tasks humans shouldn't be doing ❌ AI makes you lazy ✅ AI gives you time to be strategic ❌ AI is complicated ✅ AI is as simple as having a conversation The real transformation? When you stop doing $10/hour tasks and start solving $10,000 problems. My CoS? She now spends those 4 hours: → Building client relationships → Spotting growth opportunities → Creating systems that scale Revenue impact: +47% in 60 days. Not because of the automation. Because of what the automation freed her to do. Here's my simple AI adoption framework: 1. Track your repetitive tasks for 1 week 2. Pick the most time-consuming one 3. Ask ChatGPT: "How would I automate [task]?" 4. Start with the simplest solution 5. Reinvest the time saved into high-value work The Hurricane Method isn't about working harder. It's about working on what matters. And AI? It's just a tool that helps you get there faster. Stop fearing the robots. Start partnering with them. Your future self will thank you. — ♻️ Share to help someone win back their time 👤 Follow Matt Savarick for more on building systems that scale

I remember the days when the only solution was to throw more bodies at the problem. Hiring more people, Spending more time, and still feeling like we were never caught up. And then came technology. AI, Machine Learning, Big data, (*insert buzzword*) They all promised us a smoother ride. They're quick, they're intelligent. But is it really a choice between human intelligence or more tech? Clearly, neither is the perfect solution. When every minute counts, the last thing you want is to waste time on tasks that could be automated. Here’s how you can start: 1: Identify Repetitive Tasks Start with the easy stuff. Look at your daily tasks. Are there repetitive actions that take up time? These are prime candidates for automation. The mistake many make is trying to automate complex processes right away. But starting simple gives you quick wins. 2: Choose the Right Tools The right tool can make all the difference. Not all tools are created equal. Some are too complex for what you need; others don’t integrate well with your existing systems. The key is to choose tools that match your specific needs and are user-friendly. 3: Set Clear Goals Goals give you direction. Without clear goals, automation efforts can drift. You need to know what you’re aiming for. Whether it’s reducing manual reviews by 50% in three months or cutting review time by half, make your goals specific and measurable. 4: Start with Low-Risk Processes Start small, think big. Don’t try to automate everything at once. Begin with low-risk tasks that won’t cause major issues if something goes wrong. This allows you to test your automation approach and make adjustments without significant consequences. 5: Test and Monitor Automation is not a set-it-and-forget-it solution. Just because something is automated doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Regular testing and monitoring are crucial to ensure that the automation is functioning correctly. Without it, you risk overlooking errors that can snowball into bigger problems. 6: Train Your Team Your team needs to be on board. Automation tools are only as good as the people who use them. Training your team on how to use these tools is essential. It reduces resistance, increases adoption, and ensures that everyone knows how to handle the automated processes. 7: Integrate with Existing Systems Keep everything connected. Your automation tools should work seamlessly with your existing systems. If they don’t, you’ll end up with silos of information that create more problems than they solve. Integration is crucial for a smooth workflow. 8: Measure Success Data drives decisions. You need to track the performance of your automated processes. Without data, you won’t know if your automation is effective or not. Measuring success allows you to make informed decisions about what to tweak, scale, or scrap.

7 Steps To Set Up A No-Code AI Agent In n8n (Have you ever wished you could automate tasks without writing a single line of code?) With n8n and AI tools like OpenAI, you can create an AI agent that automates processes, handles repetitive tasks, and even analyzes data. Here’s how you do it: ↳ Step 1: Install n8n Download and install n8n ↳ Step 2: Create A New Workflow Log into n8n, and click on “New Workflow.” This is where you’ll design your no-code AI agent. ↳ Step 3: Add Your Trigger (Node) Decide how your AI agent will start. For example, use a “Webhook” to trigger the agent when data is sent to a specific URL ↳ Step 4: Connect the OpenAI ChatGPT Step (Node) Add an OpenAI ChatGPT (prebuilt in n8n) step in your workflow to enable AI capabilities. Configure it with your OpenAI API key, which you can get from the OpenAI dashboard. ↳ Step 5: Design The Workflow Connect your trigger to the OpenAI step. Define the task the AI agent will perform, like summarizing data, drafting emails, or generating responses based on prompts. ↳ Step 6: Add Output Steps (Nodes) Decide where the results of your AI agent will go. For example: Use an “Email” step (node) to send outputs via email. Use a “Google Sheets” (node) to save data. Use a “HTTP Request” (node) to send outputs to another app. ↳ Step 7: Test & Run Run the workflow and test it. Once it works as intended, activate it so it runs automatically based on your trigger. (Within minutes, you’ll have an AI-powered agent working behind the scenes for your business.) It's as easy as 1,2,3 ... well almost ... more like 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 ;) Have you thought about how much time this could save your team? ____________________ AI Consultant, Course Creator & Keynote Speaker Follow Ashley Gross for more AI Agent advice