Business tips

Automation: the key to a more human business

April 4, 2024

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As consumer trends evolve, small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) must adapt to survive. Two main factors driving this need are the rising cost of living and the labour shortage. Automation could be the solution to help you tackle these challenges by boosting your company’s efficiency. It simplifies repetitive tasks, freeing up time for you to focus on more important tasks. Moreover, automation can reduce production costs by taking over certain manual tasks.

Today, Canadian consumers expect more from their shopping experiences, seeking consistent quality and efficiency, whether online or in-store. Automation can help standardize these experiences, providing a smooth transition of customer service from order to delivery.

Cutting costs

Over 75% of Gen Zs report that they often make their buying choices based on the lowest price¹. To help you stay competitive in the market, automation can cut your costs by increasing your efficiency, minimizing errors, optimizing certain processes, and improving your resource management. However, it’s essential to consider the initial costs of implementing automation versus the long-term savings.

Addressing labour shortages

Automation remains the best solution to labour shortages. It can support a range of administrative functions, from accounting and payroll to inventory management, or managing customer interactions during an online purchase. The growth of e-commerce was especially accelerated by the pandemic. A significant majority of Canadians expect to find and purchase goods and services easily online, with an experience similar to in-person shopping. Automating these services can drastically lower the likelihood of human error, thereby improving overall service quality.

Starting points

The initial step is identifying processes that could benefit the most from automation, like inventory management, order tracking, and billing. The next phase involves researching software solutions that are compatible with the size and specific needs of your business.

Examples:

Inventory automation: Use automated tools to prevent stock shortages and optimize product management. These tools offer real-time insights into inventory levels and purchasing patterns and can even automatically generate restocking alerts.
Automated customer service: Incorporate intelligent chatbots into your website and social media platforms to quickly answer frequent questions and improve customer service efficiency. These bots can also manage returns and track orders.
HR automation: Utilize software to effectively manage employee schedules, leave requests and performance reviews, reducing administrative tasks and fostering better internal communication.

Automation isn’t exclusive to large corporations. Embracing this technology helps not only meet customer expectations but also improve operational efficiency. Determine where automation could make a significant impact on your business and explore the solutions available. However, it’s important to thoroughly understand each process before automation, select the right solutions for your business, and ensure that automation does not lead to unexpected problems.

¹Article Les PME tardent à s’adapter aux nouvelles attentes, published on Le Devoir.

Cutting costs

Addressing labour shortages

Starting points

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