How to Identify Automation Opportunities

Why Your Automation Project might be Doomed before it has even begun... After working with countless small businesses on process automation, one thing has become painfully clear: The number one mistake is trying to automate broken processes. 🚫 Here’s the truth: no matter how fast you make something broken go, it’s still broken. The solution? Start with the basics: 1️⃣ Map your processes, step by step. Understand what your process looks like now and define what it should look like. Visual tools like Miro or putting it on "paper" can help you visualize inefficiencies. 2️⃣ Identify bottlenecks that exist now. Find what’s slowing you down before you bring in automation. (Otherwise, you’re just speeding up the chaos.) 3️⃣ Automate for the greatest impact. Focus on areas that will create the biggest leverage for your team and business. 4️⃣ Continuously improve. Once automation is in place, regularly revisit and refine your processes to address new bottlenecks and opportunities. When done right, automation doesn’t just save time and money—it transforms your business. 💡 Here’s an example: We helped a client significantly reduce their onboarding time from 10 days to 2 hours by using Make to integrate Stripe payments, automated emails, and Tally onboarding forms. The result? Their team could focus on service and growth rather than repetitive onboarding admin tasks. Are your automations solving the right problems? Or do you need to rethink the process entirely? #automation #businessgrowth #processimprovement #efficiency #smallbusiness

8 out of 10 businesses are missing out on Ai. I see this everyday in my calls. They jump straight to AI tools without understanding their processes first. Then wonder why their "automations" create more problems than they solve. Here's the proven framework that actually works: STEP 1: MAP YOUR PROCESSES FIRST Never automate a broken process. → List every touchpoint in your workflow → Identify bottlenecks and time-wasters → Note who handles each step → Find communication gaps Remember: You can only automate what you understand. STEP 2: START WITH HIGH-ROI TASKS Don't automate because it's trendy. Focus on what saves the most time: → Data entry between systems → Client onboarding workflows → Report generation → Follow-up sequences One good automation beats 10 fancy tools that don't work together. STEP 3: BUILD YOUR TECH FOUNDATION Most companies use 10+ disconnected tools. AI can't help if your data is scattered everywhere. → Centralize data in one source (Airtable works great) → Connect your core systems first → Then layer AI on top STEP 4: DESIGN AI AGENTS FOR SPECIFIC PROBLEMS Generic AI = Generic results. Build precise agents for precise problems: → Research and data analysis → Customer support responses → Content creation workflows → Internal process optimization Each agent needs specific inputs and defined outputs. STEP 5: TEST SMALL, SCALE SMART Don't automate your entire business at once. → Start with one small process → Get team feedback → Fix bottlenecks as you go → Scale what works Build WITH your team, not without them. The biggest mistake I see? Companies hire someone to build exactly what they ask for. Instead of finding someone who challenges their thinking and reveals what they're missing. Good automation is just process optimization. Nothing more. The result? → 30+ hours saved per month on onboarding → Delivery time cut in half → Capacity increased by 30% → Revenue multiplied without adding team members Your competitors are stuck switching between apps. You'll be dominating with seamless systems. Follow me Luke Pierce for more content on AI systems that actually work.

Most automation fails. Not because of technology. But because it starts in the wrong room. I have led enterprise transformations that have delivered multimillion dollars in automation ROI and here is what I have learned: The secret isn’t in the tools. It’s in the truth. Here’s the 3-step playbook to turn automation into a revenue engine: ✅ Step 1: Follow the Bottlenecks Ask your teams: Where does work regularly fall through the cracks? These aren’t just annoyances; they’re hidden gold mines. Especially in finance, operations, and shared services. ✅ Step 2: Measure the Impact, Not the Effort Forget chasing “easy wins.” Instead, ask: → What’s the real cost of this inefficiency? → How much volume moves through it? → What’s the risk if it fails? High volume × high impact = high ROI. That’s your North Star. ✅ Step 3: Align With Business Goals The best automation doesn’t just improve a process. It accelerates the mission. Ask yourself: → Will this help us scale? → Improve customer experience? → Advance strategic priorities? 💡 Bottom Line: Automation isn’t an IT project. It’s a business investment. If you want ROI, focus less on the tools and more on the outcomes. Is your automation strategy driving measurable impact or just checking a box? P.S. If you could automate one process tomorrow, what would you pick? Share your comments below. --- 📌 Save to revisit later ♻️ Repost to help your network ➕ Follow Ganesh Ariyur for more insights on enterprise transformation. #DigitalTransformation #CIO #OperationalExcellence #EnterpriseTechnology #TransformSmarter