Jeremy Kaplan
The advent of the internet has created the need for fast services. Online consumers click their way through products, and if your business can’t deliver the performance and accuracy they expect, they will move to the next offer without any second thoughts. The same stays true for employees who expect companies to provide them with tools and solutions that streamline the workflow.
Of course, there still are and always be the slow crafts that cater to their clients’ taste for slow food, slow fashion, and artisanal products. But, since most business today happens online, the need for automating processes is becoming paramount.
Here’s a look at the trends that will impact business automation tremendously in the future. They may not all apply to your business right now, but you should keep an eye on them so that you don’t miss out on any opportunity to grow.
Speed, Give Me What I Need
We hope that the Billy Idol’s song will get stuck in your head now, because, as an online business owner, you cannot ignore the need for fast service. And here is where automation comes into play. By streamlining the bulk of your processes, you are speeding up not only your workflow but the interactions with your audience as well.
Without automation, the only way to keep up with demand would be to hire more people, or to extend the work hours, compromising quality and safety. Both solutions are costly and not effective in the long run.
Remote Work Is Becoming the New Normal
Corporate culture is going through a dramatic change. The classic work environment of the white collars is starting to become obsolete as cutting-edge digital solutions have made it easier for employees to work from anywhere and at any time.
Not only that employees are starting to demand flexibility, but companies are also beginning to understand that they have access to better and cheaper talent when they are not limited by proximity. Moreover, studies show that people who work from home are more productive than those who are stuck in an office.
The way we work is changing and so should the processes that enable our performance. Automation is, thus, necessary for improving remote communication and interaction.
Automated Workflows Can Generate Valuable Information
In this day and age, the data you collect from your users is perhaps your most valuable asset. What you do with it and how you use it can make the difference between a successful business and one that falls flat. Automation enables you to monitor everything simultaneously and with ease.
By automating your workflow, you can collect, analyze, and compare user data. That can give you an in-depth view of how your business is performing and the changes you need to make to improve and streamline your work. The businesses able to predict trends and leverage every opportunity have a clear competitive advantage.
Millennials Are Taking over the Workforce
Your customers aren’t the only ones who demand businesses to keep up with the new rules of the digital world. So do your employees. Millennials represent the largest generation in U.S’ labor force. One out of every three employees is a Millennial. This is the generation that grew up with the internet and expects businesses to cater to their needs, regardless of the side they are on, whether customer or employee.
If you want to attract talent and give your business a competitive edge, then you need to provide employees with the tools and interfaces they are used with and expect.
This list isn’t by any means exhaustive, but for now, it is important to grasp the direction that this is going towards and what you can expect in the future regarding automation. However, these major trends are sure to change the work environment fundamentally, so you should take notice of them.
