Saving up time and resources is one of the top priorities of any retail owner. Aside from plainly earning and boosting up sales, being able to skip the hardest processes in the business is their greatest accomplishment.
On the modern time, almost anything runs and is developed with technology. Retail processes is of now exception to this. So instead of shedding unnecessary sweat and blood, some of these tasks can be automated to make life simpler and the processes smoother for you. But, how would you know what among these tasks can be automated? Of course, you cannot just invest without knowing where it is best to exert your resources. So, let’s help you out with some of the tips where you can start determining what tasks you can automate based on your business.
CUSTOMERS
Of course, most of all, they are the lifeline of your business. Without them, you won’t earn or won’t exist at all. So better start asking them whether it’s in person or through email, uncover areas of your business that customers might feel can be run more smoothly. Automating some tasks can address some of their pain points and streamline workflow — which frees up more of your time and helps out your customers.
EMPLOYEES
As your workforce and your staff, they help and aide you throughout your business process which makes them sometimes more familiar and exposed with the issues and problems with your system more than you are. Also, they can be full of ideas when it comes to being more efficient. Solicit anonymous feedback to draw out the most honest answers.
SCHEDULE
It is also important to keep track on your schedule. You can do this by performing an audit on your work activities. Write down every task you do over a week and the amount of time you spend doing them. Identify where you’re spending time that doesn’t direct benefit from your energy. What else can you be doing?
COMPETITORS
Lastly, be observant of your competitors. They are the one who’s always up for something that will make them better than you. Through them you can learn things that you can also consider for your own business. You can then develop these strategies to avoid being just a copycat but instead perform better in your business.
Now, apart from knowing these, you also consider other things before you automate tasks within your business. You start by asking some questions which can help you determine whether it will be helpful to automate it. The following listed below are some of the factors that most businesses consider when automating a task.
Repetitive – tasks that just goes over and over again and doesn’t require a person to do them is one of the tasks that you must automate instantly.
Simple- Easier and simpler workflows can be automated to give faster and better performance in your business.
Time and money Saver- You’ve got the magic words. If automating this can benefit you big time, then there’s no doubt in doing it. Just remember that it must always be worthy of its costs before doing it.
Scale-able- as your company grow, there are tasks that aren’t as plausible as you grow so it is better to keep them with little manpower. This is where automation takes place.