Before beginning your journey towards automation, it is essential to determine your desired outcomes. While some organizations place a higher priority on cost savings, others may be more interested in accuracy, customer experience, or vendor utilization. Once you have identified your goals, set concrete goals for how much time can be saved each month, how many processes can be automated, and how long it will take. You should also consider risks and opportunities, as well as establish a plan for how to measure your progress.
Creating an automation strategy is a critical step in executing an intelligent automation implementation. This strategy should outline the business goals and the automation technologies that will best meet those objectives. Ultimately, automation is a key means to improving outcomes. While there are many tools and techniques available, not every technology will be suitable for every use case. For example, RPA may be the best choice if you plan to integrate automation across platforms, while APIs and existing interfaces are ideal for other use cases. To determine which automation technology is right for your business, consider a scoring method and compare your goals to other organizational imperatives.
Lastly, an automation strategy should include your marketing communication efforts. Typically, these activities fall between promotion and sale. These could include writing blog posts, launching PPC campaigns on Google, or launching Facebook ads. In many cases, this process can be automated with the use of software. When implemented correctly, your marketing automation strategy should be synchronized and automated. The steps in an automation strategy should be simple enough for even a novice to implement.