14 Business Tasks That Can (and Should) Be Automated

Opportunities of Business Automation 

Automation has been a buzzword in the business world for quite some time now. With advances in technology, more and more tasks that were once done manually can now be automated. And it isn’t simply large enterprises that benefit from automation. Small businesses do as well. For example, Zapier found that 88% of small businesses indicate that automation allows them to compete with larger enterprises, reduce errors, and offer better customer experiences. 

Categories of Business Tasks to Automate

But what exactly are the tasks that small businesses can and should automate? There are a number that can be automated with the help of technology. This blog post will examine some of the lowest-hanging tasks that can be automated. Our examination will also explore some of the key benefits that automation can drive for businesses. 

1. Data Entry and Processing

One of the most tedious and time-consuming tasks for many businesses is data entry and processing. This can involve entering data from paper forms, electronic documents, or other sources into spreadsheets, databases, or other software applications. Fortunately, there are many tools and technologies available today that can automate this process, including optical character recognition (OCR), intelligent character recognition (ICR), and machine learning (ML) algorithms that can recognize patterns and extract relevant data automatically.

2. Accounting and Bookkeeping

Accounting and bookkeeping tasks can also be automated to a great extent. For example, many accounting software packages now include features such as automatic bank feeds, invoice generation and tracking, expense management, and payroll processing. These tools can help businesses save time and reduce errors, while also providing real-time visibility into financial data and trends.

3. Inventory Management

Inventory management, for organizations that sell a product, is another area where automation can make a big difference. By using automated inventory tracking and management tools, businesses can improve accuracy, reduce costs, and minimize waste. These tools can help with everything from tracking inventory levels and reordering products to optimizing warehouse layouts and predicting demand.

4. Customer Service

Customer service is a critical area for many businesses, and automation can play a key role in providing better customer experience. For example, chatbots and other automated customer service tools can help businesses provide 24/7 support and respond to customer inquiries more quickly and efficiently. These tools can also help businesses collect and analyze customer data, identify trends and patterns, and improve overall service quality. 

Nonetheless, businesses also need to be aware that some customer interactions require human engagement. For small businesses, allocating a resource to manage live web chat can be difficult. On-demand services like Davinci Live Web Chat can help small businesses scale to meet these business requirements without a huge cost expenditure.

5. Social Media Management

Social media is a powerful tool for businesses to reach and engage with customers, but managing multiple social media accounts can be time-consuming and challenging. Fortunately, there are many social media management tools available today that can streamline or even automate tasks such as scheduling posts, analyzing performance, and engaging with followers. By using these tools, businesses can save time and improve their social media presence and engagement.

And as with live web chat, some social media management cannot be automated and requires some human involvement. On-demand services like Davinci Live Receptionists can cover social media tasks that cannot be automated. 

6. Email Marketing

Email marketing is a highly effective way for businesses to reach and engage with customers, but it can also be time-consuming and complex. Automation tools such as email marketing software can help businesses automate tasks such as list segmentation, campaign creation, and performance tracking. These tools can also provide insights into customer behavior and preferences, allowing businesses to personalize their communications and improve engagement. To manage email marketing, Davinci Live Receptionists can provide the resources and expertise.

7. HR and Recruitment

HR and recruitment tasks can also be automated to a great extent. For example, automated recruitment tools can help businesses with tasks such as job posting, candidate screening, and interview scheduling. These tools can save time and improve the quality of candidates, while also providing real-time visibility into the recruitment process and metrics.

8. Project Management

Project management is a complex and dynamic area that requires careful planning, coordination, and monitoring. Fortunately, there are many project management tools available today that can automate tasks such as task assignment, time tracking, progress reporting, and resource allocation. These tools can help businesses save time and improve project efficiency, while also providing real-time visibility into project status and performance. On-demand Davinci Live Receptionists can provide the support resource-constrained small businesses need to manage projects.

9. Marketing Analytics

Marketing analytics is a critical area for businesses to understand customer behavior and preferences, track campaign performance, and optimize marketing strategies. However, manually collecting and analyzing data from various sources can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Marketing analytics automation tools can help businesses automate tasks such as data collection, reporting, and visualization. These tools can also provide insights into customer behavior and preferences, allowing businesses to make data-driven decisions and improve overall marketing effectiveness.

10. Sales and Lead Generation

Sales and lead generation are essential for businesses to grow and succeed. However, manually managing leads, qualifying prospects, and tracking sales performance can consume valuable time and engender complexities. Automation tools like customer relationship management (CRM) software can help businesses automate tasks such as lead capture, lead nurturing, and sales tracking. These tools can also provide insights into customer behavior and preferences, allowing businesses to personalize their sales approach and improve conversion rates.

11. Performance Management

Performance management is a critical area for businesses to ensure that employees are aligned with organizational goals and performing at their best. Manually tracking and evaluating employee performance can be exhausting and subjective. The right performance management software can help businesses automate tasks such as goal setting, performance tracking, and feedback collection. These tools can also provide insights into employee performance and development needs, allowing businesses to improve employee engagement and retention.

12. Order Processing

Order processing is a critical aspect of any business that sells products or services. Yet, like the aforementioned tasks, such can be tedious and time-consuming. Automating order processing can help businesses save time, reduce errors, and improve customer satisfaction. Order processing software can help automate order management, track orders, and even generate invoices.

13. Legal Documentation

Legal documentation is an essential part of many businesses, but it can also be complex and time-consuming. Automation tools such as contract management software can help businesses automate tasks such as contract creation, negotiation, and management. These tools can also provide insights into contract performance and compliance, allowing businesses to reduce legal risks and improve overall contract efficiency.

14. Website Management

The website of a business is critical to its brand reputation. Manually managing a website can stretch the knowledge and resources of a small business. Automating website management provides can save a business time, reduce workload, and improve the performance of the website. Using website management tools can automate updates, optimize performance, and make SEO recommendations. 

Getting Started with Business Automation

Per the above discussion, there are many business tasks that can and should be automated to improve productivity, save time and money, and enable businesses to stay competitive in today's fast-paced business environment. By leveraging automation tools and technologies, businesses can streamline routine and repetitive tasks, free up time and resources for more value-added activities, and make data-driven decisions to improve overall performance. While there may be some initial investment and training required to implement automation solutions, the long-term benefits can far outweigh the costs, making it a smart investment for any business looking to stay ahead of the curve.

At the same time, small businesses can turn to on-demand resources like Davinci Live Receptionists and Live Web Chat Services to supplement their teams and spearhead efforts to automate business processes.