Automating business processes is becoming an essential part of any business transformation, but it can be difficult to sell the benefits of automation to leadership teams due to the potential costs and business disruptions. The key to securing buy-in is making certain all stakeholders—from upper management to individual employees—understand the purpose and importance of automation.
It is important to articulate why automating certain processes is advantageous for your organization. Identify what processes could benefit from automation, like reducing manual data entry or streamlining customer service communications. Show how automated processes can save time, increase accuracy, improve customer satisfaction, and help your company reach its goals more quickly.
Once you have outlined the benefits of automation for your particular situation, create a convincing argument about why automation should be pursued now rather than later. If there is enough interest in automating certain business processes, explain what resources will be needed and provide an estimate of the expected return on investment (ROI).
According to a 2022 KRC Research Report, 73% of IT leaders believe automation saves about 50% of the time. Similarly, 51% also add that automation can also reduce the overall costs by 10% to 50%. And approximately 30% of business leaders report reduced labor costs due to process automation.
One of the most straightforward ways to calculate the ROI of business process automations is to estimate the time and cost savings it will generate. For instance, if a new automation tool can reduce the time taken to complete a task from ten hours to five hours, the ROI can be calculated by determining the labor cost savings over time. Once you have implemented your first automation pilot, you should also measure productivity improvements and the business impact through internal and external surveys.
Another way to measure the ROI on a business process automation is to measure employee productivity and job satisfaction. Automated processes can free up employees' time to focus on value-added tasks, boosting their sense of fulfillment and promoting engagement. Therefore, technology leaders should observe changes in employee productivity levels, engagement, and job satisfaction after implementing an automation solution.
This includes examining how the automation solution has improved customer satisfaction levels, how it has enhanced service delivery, and how it has eliminated errors. By analyzing business impact, you can determine the success of the implementation and the ROI generated.
To receive full support from management and other stakeholders, it is important they understand exactly how any proposed changes might impact everyone involved and existing operational frameworks. Communicate in a consistent manner by providing clear explanations of any proposed changes, as well as realistic timelines for implementation and results expectations. Additionally, provide enough opportunities for feedback during the process of securing buy-in so that stakeholders are empowered in their decision-making roles.
Look for ways to make automating your business process easier by seeking out advice from experts or utilizing technology solutions designed specifically for this purpose, such as UiPath, WorkFusion, Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism, and Zapier, among others. Each of these platforms offer unique features and benefits to help businesses automate their processes and increase efficiencies.
Successfully introducing a small automation or startup project can build trust through incremental wins. It signals the potential for greater successes down the line. Here are ten tips for achieving leadership buy-in when starting on an enterprise automation journey:
According to a 2022 KRC Research Report, 73% of IT leaders believe automation saves about 50% of the time. Similarly, 51% also add that automation can also reduce the overall costs by 10% to 50%. And approximately 30% of business leaders report reduced labor costs due to process automation.
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