The average worker spends more than five hours each week checking their email. Millennials, on average, spend around 6.5 hours in their inbox each day. Email, like many other office tasks, is a notorious time-waster. What else could your people do if they weren’t responding to leads or doing data entry in spreadsheets? 
The answer is likely “a lot more,” and both you and your employees know it. That’s where office automation comes into play. If you just asked, “What is office automation?”, this is the guide for you. We’ll answer that question and so much more.
Understanding What is Office Automation
When you think of automation, you likely think of robots working on a line in a factory. This image isn’t too far off. With office automation, technology streamlines the more time-intensive tasks in your business. Email is a great example. By automating, your employees could save time composing responses or even new emails. Imagine the sales team could send out follow-up emails automatically, instead of writing each new email. With office automation, you can do just that. Office automation systems are designed to support data workers. These team members likely spend a good deal of time sending out emails and tracking tasks.
Components of an Automation System
What should you look for in office automation systems? There are a few key components. The first thing you want to be sure of is that the system you choose is compatible with other software you’re using. If the two don’t integrate, the automation system won’t be able to pull the information it needs. Mobile compatibility is also important. You want to be sure your team members can access the system from anywhere. This helps them stay organized and on-task, even when they’re on the go. 
Some other key features include:
- Control over who has access to which components
- Reporting and analytics functions
- A simple workflow design
Keep in mind that automation technology systems are meant to streamline your workflows. This makes it easier for you to track and manage tasks. If the workflow design is complex, the system could be making it more difficult to see what’s going on.
Benefits of Office Automation
Now we’ve answered, “What is office automation.” The next question is, why should you invest in it? An office automation system has many benefits. Since these systems are used in managing documents, communicating, and scheduling, they streamline these time-intensive tasks. In essence, they make it easier to see who is doing what and when. 
Office automation can help you:
- Increase transparency
- Manage tasks and deadlines
- Streamline workflows
- Cut down on repetitive and time-intensive tasks
The biggest benefit is usually the boost to productivity. When time-intensive tasks are taken care of, your team can do the work that matters.
Adopt Office Automation Today
Even knowing the answer to, “What is office automation,” you may not be sure how to adopt it for your business. There is an easy way. Get in touch with us today to discuss how we can help you automate your office and get more done.
