When is a process worth automating?
Efficiency question :
Many processes can be automated and generate an attractive return. The better question is therefore often not “Is this process worth automating?” but “Which automation should we start with?”
A good approach is to begin with projects that require relatively little development effort while delivering a rapid return on investment. The objective is to free up time, reduce certain costs and release resources that can then be devoted to other projects.
Rather than starting with a very large and complex transformation, it is often preferable to gradually build a culture of automation through small, well-defined projects that are limited in duration and require a reasonable investment for maximum benefit.
Key considerations:
To determine which process to automate first, consider both the effort required and the expected benefits. A highly complex process is not necessarily the one that will provide the best return.
It is also important to clearly define the scope of each project. Automation with clearly defined objectives, rules and expected results will generally be easier to implement, test and improve.
Challenges:
One challenge is resisting the temptation to automate everything at once. An overly ambitious project can quickly become complex, costly and difficult to implement.
The organization’s existing technology environment should also be considered. Whenever possible, avoid unnecessarily multiplying technologies and platforms that will later need to communicate with one another and be maintained.
Technology:
We generally favour technologies within the same ecosystem. Microsoft technologies, for example, are designed to work together and allow different tools to be combined according to project needs.
Excel, Power Query, Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, Dataverse, Copilot and agents can therefore play different roles in an automation while remaining within a coherent technology environment.
Developer's advice:
Do not evaluate an automation project solely by the number of hours it will save. The benefits can be much broader: improved data integrity, fewer errors, higher-quality reports, faster access to information and better decision-making supported by more reliable data.
It can also be very useful to speak with a company specializing in automation before development begins. A short discussion with an experienced developer can help define the project, select an appropriate technology and avoid spending time and money on an unnecessarily complex solution.
Feel free to contact SLV Expert to discuss your project with one of our specialized developers. An initial conversation can already help identify automation opportunities and determine which project would be most appropriate to tackle first.