What is Business Process Automation (BPA)

Definition of Business Process Automation

BPA can be defined as the use of technology to remove the need for manual work from people by having technology do it instead. It can involve the use of robotics to complete tasks, such as those in manufacturing plants. More often, it means using software platforms that automate electronic tasks like updating databases or automatically making orders for supplies.

BPA can benefit your business in several ways, including:

Cost savings: Anybody working in finance will tell you that keeping costs as low as possible is essential if a business is to thrive. This can be easier said than done, however, because some costs are for essential assets, such as staff. With BPA, you can automate many tasks, potentially making considerable reductions in staffing costs.
Speed: Menial tasks like updating a database can take time, and they can also be very cost-inefficient. Time-consuming processes are not only a problem in terms of man-hour costs, but they can also be a problem in terms of deadlines. BPA can finish otherwise time-consuming tasks in a fraction of the time it would take a person to do it. Not only does this help you meet your deadlines, but it could also help to expand your current capacity.
Accuracy: Even the most attentive people will make mistakes. Depending on the nature of the mistake it could turn out to be very costly or at least very inconvenient. Computers don’t make mistakes, however, and could perform the same function over and over millions of times without a single error. Thus, BPA can help to reduce human error and help everything in your business run a lot more smoothly.

Examples of Business Process Automation

Automation can help your business and your personal lives as well. One way that technology helps us is by taking on the tasks that would otherwise take manual effort, and a wide range of software and hardware has been made to that effect.

BPA can be used in a number of ways in various departments throughout just about any business. Here’s a look at some of the common examples of BPA you’re most likely to encounter.

Email Automation

Processing information received by email can be time-consuming, but BPA can help you manage email effectively. The necessary information can automatically be added to corresponding spreadsheets or databases, while files can also be automatically transferred.

Email automation also makes it a lot easier for you to send emails in bulk and to have emails sent automatically when certain criteria are triggered. Not only can email be automated, but automated cloud calling solutions are also available. This can leave you with reams of valuable data that can help your business thrive.

Order Entry Automation

Order entry can be a very time-consuming process, and errors are almost inevitable when humans are processing large volumes of data. Automating the process can help save a lot of time both in the order entry itself and in having to rectify common quality mistakes.

Customer Support

Customer services are extremely important, but they are also very costly. It also takes time for tickets to be responded to, and rectifying issues like arranging for replacement orders are not always as straightforward as they could be. Plus, of course, people are likely to have queries round the clock and having customer support staff working 24/7 is not feasible for many businesses.

These issues can result in customers becoming unhappy with how they are being serviced, and this can be bad news for any company. With BPA, however, customers can be attended to in good time, and their issues can be fixed much sooner. If your company produces vape juice, for example, and the wrong type of juice was sent, a replacement can be sent faster by an automated system than it could by a human. The result is happy customers that are likely to recommend you to other people.

With the strain on the supply chain caused by the recent global health crisis, there’s no room for added delays. A recent survey found 94% of manufacturing leaders reported concerns about their supply chains. Shipping the correct product the first time—or sending a speedy replacement via automation—is especially important for customer satisfaction and your bottom line.

Online Marketing Management

Online marketing can be very profitable for your business, but again, it can also be very time-consuming. With BPA, however, it can become a lot easier. BPA can help ensure new content is posted to your social media channels at pre-scheduled times, helping to keep your social media accounts up to date. It can help to manage your marketing budgets and ensure your ads are running at the right time. BPA can take a lot of the menial work out of online marketing, allowing you to spend more time focusing on marketing strategy or other aspects of your business.

Automated Report Creation and Distribution

Reports can be extremely valuable in helping businesses make important decisions, but producing them and distributing them can take time. When regular reports are coming due, this can leave staff rushing to get everything done in time. Again, BPA can help to overcome these problems.

In some cases, reports can be created and distributed with a click of a button. BPA can also help to reduce errors and make sure the right people get the right information at the right time.

Guide to Business Process Automation

BPA can help to make your business run a lot more smoothly while also helping to improve your bottom line. It can remove a significant amount of the menial work, making your employees’ jobs more fulfilling. BPA can also help make essential business aspects like online marketing more effective, which helps to generate more revenue.

BPA is also often relatively easy to implement and can be up and running in just a short while. It’s something you should consider the next time you re-examine your business process. For a relatively small time and financial investment, it could soon have your business running more efficiently and more profitably.