How do you demonstrate and promote the value and benefits of automation to your team or organization?

1 Identify the pain points and opportunities

Before you start automating anything, you need to understand the current state of your processes and identify the pain points and opportunities for improvement. You can use tools such as process mapping, value stream analysis, or business process management to document and analyze your workflows and find out where automation can make the most impact. You should also consult with the people who are involved in or affected by the processes, such as employees, customers, suppliers, or regulators, and get their feedback and insights. This will help you prioritize the automation projects that can address the most urgent and important problems and create the most value for your team or organization.

2 Define the goals and metrics

Once you have identified the automation opportunities, you need to define the goals and metrics for each project. What are you trying to achieve with automation? How will you measure the success and outcomes of automation? How will automation align with your strategic objectives and vision? You should set clear, specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) for each automation project. You should also establish a baseline for the current performance and cost of the processes, so that you can compare them with the results of automation and quantify the benefits and savings.

3 Communicate the value and benefits

One of the most critical steps in promoting automation is communicating the value and benefits to your stakeholders. You need to tailor your message and approach to the different audiences and levels of your team or organization, such as senior management, middle managers, frontline staff, or external partners. You should use clear, simple, and compelling language and visuals to explain what automation is, how it works, why it is needed, what it can do, and how it can help them. You should also address any concerns or objections they may have, such as the impact on their roles, skills, or jobs, and highlight the positive aspects of automation, such as the opportunity to learn new skills, focus on more creative or strategic tasks, or enhance customer satisfaction.

4 Showcase the results and feedback

Another way to demonstrate and promote automation is to showcase the results and feedback of the automation projects. You should collect and analyze the data and metrics from the automation tools and platforms, and report on the performance and outcomes of automation. You should also gather and share the feedback and testimonials from the users and beneficiaries of automation, such as the employees who have used or benefited from the automated processes, or the customers who have experienced improved service or quality. You should use various channels and formats to showcase the results and feedback, such as dashboards, reports, presentations, newsletters, videos, or case studies. You should also celebrate and acknowledge the achievements and contributions of the automation team and the stakeholders who have supported or participated in the automation projects.

5 Foster a culture of automation

Finally, to sustain and expand the value and benefits of automation, you need to foster a culture of automation in your team or organization. You need to create a mindset and environment that encourages and supports continuous improvement, innovation, and learning. You should provide the necessary resources, training, and incentives for your team or organization to adopt and embrace automation. You should also involve and empower your team or organization in the automation process, and solicit their ideas, suggestions, and feedback. You should also monitor and evaluate the automation projects, and identify the lessons learned, best practices, and areas for improvement. You should also look for new opportunities and trends to leverage automation and enhance your processes and workflows.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?