Automation makes business operations easier and more flexible. Automation tools can be used to improve efficiency, speed up processes, and save money for small businesses.
In this article, Rapid Formations highlights 5 tasks every small business needs to automate. They discuss how this automation will benefit businesses and offer key software and tools to get them started. They will cover the following:
- Customer service
- Appointment scheduling
- Social media
- You can also find out more about recruitment.
- Supply chain management
Automation of customer service
Automating customer service processes will help you to be more efficient. Chatbots are one way to achieve this.
Chatbots are primarily used to create and filter tickets, answer common questions, and guide customers to self-help materials when human assistance is not required.
One of its most important features is the automatic response. Chatbots can respond immediately to customers, even if they are calling out-of-hours or if your live agents have a busy schedule.
Why is it important? A study by technology company Podium shows that conversion rates increase 8 times in the first five minutes. Nearly 90% of consumers expect a response in the first hour. However, over 40% of companies find these expectations unrealistic.
The longer you wait to hear back from someone, the less likely it is that they will become a customer. Chatbots can help you bridge the gap between your customers and customer service staff. They also allow you to serve more people more efficiently.
Chatbot Programs
Zendesk, one of the leading customer service software with chatbot functionality, is a popular choice. It offers proactive messages as well as reporting, omnichannel (connect your website, WhatsApp, and other customer service channels), and prewritten responses.
Scheduling appointments
Automating simple tasks such as booking appointments and scheduling meetings can make your business owner’s life much easier. You don’t need to keep comparing calendars or have endless conversations about availability to schedule a meeting.
Automating these routine tasks will help you and your staff stay organized and save time. This allows you to focus more on what matters. Automated appointment scheduling eliminates the need for administrative staff, allowing you to save money that could be used to develop your business.
You can automate your calendar to:
- Scheduling Links: Send the recipient a link that displays your availability and allows them to schedule (or change) a meeting at a time convenient to both parties.
- Automated reminders for appointments: Avoid forgotten meetings.
- App Integration: Connect your key apps for accurate, real-time schedules through your website and social media channels.
- Connect Your Team: All members of your team can access the same calendar to maximize visibility and efficiency.
Calendar Automation Tools
Caldendly is a popular app for business. You can create a link for scheduling, send reminders, and follow-ups, and route meetings automatically to the right people/team.
Social media automation
Social media is a fast-paced environment that can be difficult to keep up with. Automating this aspect of your business will free up your staff and make managing social media a breeze.
Automated posting allows you to manage your messages and follow-ups from customers and followers without having to log in to each social media platform.
Social media automation allows you to view and manage content calendars, track campaigns, and even use AI for curation of the best content to promote your business.
Social media automation, in addition to streamlining your content team and increasing your audience reach across all social media channels can boost your annual revenues.
Social media automation tools
Hootsuite is one of the most popular and best software for automating social media. Hootsuite lets you connect your social media accounts to free up time and schedule your posts all in one place.
You can also view comments and messages and reply to them. It includes automated captions, hashtags, and analytics that help you track social KPIs.
Orlo and Monday Marketer are also great tools for social media automation.
Additionally, you can learn more about hiring
The days of having to sort through hundreds and hundreds of CVs all looking the same are over. You can optimize your recruitment process with the right automation tools and quickly find the best candidates.
A candidate tracking system (ATS), also known as applicant tracking software, is a program that assists employers in sourcing and tracking candidates throughout the hiring process. It will sort through your CVs to help you find top talent.
You’ll want to include keywords in your vacancy description so that an applicant tracking system can find the best candidates. If you are looking for a writer of content, you may use keywords such as ‘SEO,’ ‘grammar,’ and research.’
The keywords you choose should include skills, education, and experience. The ATS will scan each CV, looking for these essential skills, and select the candidates who best meet your criteria.
Automating your recruitment process will save you money on a recruiter, time spent scanning CVs, and help you find qualified employees quickly.
ATS Software
Teamtailor, a leading recruitment software for small businesses, is highly rated. It is not only an ATS but also a tool that optimizes your job ads by using search engine optimization (SEO). You can manage your jobs (edit, delete, and archive them) and use vacancy templates for creating consistent job advertisements that match your brand.
Greenhouse and Pinpoint are also suitable ATS software for small businesses.
Supply chain management
Automating your supply chain can protect your small business, especially since the pandemic. Introduce technology into your supply chain to make your business more productive, agile, and accurate.
Automating your supply chain processes includes:
- Inventory Management –An automated system allows you to easily manage the stock control process. You will have a live view of your products, cash flow, production, and the items that are coming and going. This is especially useful if you operate more than one warehouse.
- Data Entry – Fasten processes by tracking orders through your supply chain, without having to manually enter data.
- TransportLogistics Software like GPS tracking and courier assignment allows you to optimize your product delivery.
- Finance Automate invoice processing to accelerate payments to and from clients.
Software for supplying automation
Software such as Netstock and Magaya is designed to assist SMEs in managing their supply chains. They have automation features such as supply and demand planning and production planning.
Comparator sites such as Capterra can help you to find the best automation software for your business.
The conclusion:
Here are the five key areas every small business needs to automate: Customer service, appointment scheduling and social media, recruitment as well as supply chain management.
Businesses should use automation in today’s technologically driven world to help them grow, evolve, and compete. Integrating automation into your business will also make a variety of processes more cost-effective, efficient, and productive.
Rapid Formations simplifies the process of forming a company. Rapid Formations allows you to register a limited company, open an account for your business, and remain compliant all from one place. Rapid Formations offers a range of packages at competitive prices to help you set up your limited company and manage it once the corporation is formed.