Regardless of industry, every business has manual processes that are a part of their daily operations. The issue is that not only are these processes inherently error prone, but they also run the risk of data loss and can severely hamper productivity because they're just not efficient or scalable in any way.
The good news, however, is that every business can benefit from the business process automation of repetitive tasks and for most, that means converting those manual processes into a web application. Whether this is something you've considered in the past or you're just looking into the possibility for the first time, there are ten core benefits of converting these inefficient manual processes into web applications that you'll definitely want to be aware of moving forward.
Top 10 Benefits of Converting a Manual Process into a Web App:
1) Reproducibility
The most immediate benefit of finally embracing these web applications is that those error prone manual tasks not only become reliable, but reproducible - meaning that the job gets done exactly the same way every time, regardless of who is doing them.
Not only is this level of business process automation a great way to guarantee continuity across your enterprise, but it's also a perfect opportunity to eliminate risks from issues like human error as well.
2) Process Flow
Another major advantage of converting a manual process into a web application has to do with the new process flow that you'll suddenly have access to. Not only does this process flow become inherently well defined, but the actual task at hand also happens automatically.
In other words, this is a way to guarantee that the right person always gets the right piece of data at exactly the right moment in the process - thus generating superior end results across the board.
3) Data Integrity
One of the most important things to understand about data is that the insight you're able to glean from it is ultimately only as valuable as the quality of the data itself. This illustrates another one of the many benefits of converting a manual process into a web application - you're taking meaningful steps to preserve data integrity as much as possible.
With a web application, data validation actually happens at the point of data entry, making it far easier to enforce those important rules that your business depends on. You never have to worry about the quality of your data because everything is verified before people can work with it and act on it in the future.
4) Data Availability
Speaking of working with your data, by converting manual processes into a web application you're also creating a situation where your data is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
This means that all key stakeholders that need access to that data to do their jobs always have it, absolutely no exceptions. More than that, they have it on any device, from any location, at any time - creating a new era of productivity across your enterprise.
5) Reporting
Another invaluable benefit of converting manual processes into a web application comes by way of the superior analytical and reporting opportunities that are now available to you.
When data is buried in a world of paper, the insight contained on it is likely hidden in a filing cabinet somewhere. People can't act on it because it's essentially inaccessible. An online system with business process automation, on the other hand, gives access to that data that could not be accessed in aggregate ever before. This enables extensive reporting on the information, immediately raising its value to your company.
6) Collaboration
Regardless of the type of business you're talking about, any successful organization depends on its employees' ability to collaborate with one another. This is another area where web applications shine over manual processes - they allow remote teams to collaborate efficiently by creating an environment where every team member has access to the same information.
This is especially important during a period like the one we're currently living through, where more people are working from home than ever before. This is one trend that shows no signs of turning around anytime soon, and a web application could be your way to capitalize on it.
7) Data Security
Data security is obviously one of the most important priorities for any business, particularly during an era when cyber attacks are very much on the rise. But it's important to acknowledge that data security concerns exist in a world of paper, too - albeit from a slightly different perspective.
When all of your processes are still manual and paper-driven, that system can easily be destroyed with no backup copies to draw from. With business process automation, everything is easily backed up both onsite and off so that you can rest easy knowing that you'll never have to worry about losing essential information ever again.
8) Scalability
If you had to make a list of some of the major pain points that a lot of businesses face, an inability to scale at just the right pace would undoubtedly be right at the top. Part of the reason why people have such a hard time with this is because paper-based systems aren't scalable at all, simply because they were never designed to be.
A web-based application, however, is inherently scalable (provided that it has been well-designed in the first place). In other words, it can continue to evolve as your core business does the same.
9) Client Interaction
In addition to collaboration among employees, businesses also depend on their ability to work with clients on a regular basis. When all of your processes are still manual and are being completed on paper, it's difficult - and sometimes outright impossible - to do this.
But by converting that manual process into a web application, this is the type of issue that you don't have to deal with any longer. A web-based application allows you to include clients in the workflow process in ways that are simply not possible with a manual paper system. Not only is this a great way to improve the quality of work you're able to do for your clients, but it's also a way to help strengthen those relationships as well.
10) Integration
Finally, consider the fact that technology is at the heart of your business - and it's also at odds with those paper-based systems you rely on. Processes handled via paper exist exclusively there - on the paper itself. With a web-based application, on the other hand, everything can be integrated directly within other IT systems that your company uses on a daily basis. They can even be integrated directly with specific applications to break down data silos and help information move freely across your enterprise, likely for the first time.
There are always benefits to automate manual business processes
In the end, it's important to acknowledge that there are always areas of any business that can be improved. The key isn't to pretend they don't exist - it's to capitalize on them whenever you can.
Business leaders need only to look at which of their processes are currently manual and paper-based to identify those "methods" that are costing them time and money, all while limiting business performance and scalability. Thankfully, by converting those processes into a web application, you're freeing yourself from these and other restrictions so that you can focus on those matters that truly need you.
To learn more about the importance of eliminating human error in your operations, please download the eBook titled "How to Automate Business Process in 7 Smart Steps."
