There’s a lot of buzz around automation – what it means, how one goes about it, and is it worth the time and investment? Automation can certainly help people and businesses get – and stay – connected, organised and more efficient.

When you need an extra pair of hands

Who wouldn’t want an assistant? Someone to hold together all the loose ends at work or home, doing all the mundane work so you can spend precious time doing higher-level activities or – just imagine it, nothing at all.

For example, with simple and affordable automation tools you can up your office financial game by setting recurring invoices to go out automatically and using online banking to pay recurring bills. This can save money by ensuring outgoing invoices are accounted for and that you don’t get charged late fees if you miss your payments.

Other popular work technology automation options include:

  • Pre-setting forms and creating templates to save time, eliminate errors and establish tighter quality controls
  • Enabling workers to do more from their own devices by making company data and resources accessible via the cloud, and using Xerox’s mobile apps for tasks.
  • Automating core office operations,  like using the  Xerox®eConcierge Supplies Assistant desktop app to track supply levels and order the right supplies automatically.

Taking things into your own hands

While automation technology is becoming ubiquitous with advancing business, there are aspects to consider before going all in. Evaluate what areas of your work could use some help, and which simply need to be made a hands-on priority.

Remember, automation should be viewed as an enhancement of processes you have already established and systems that you are familiar with and have regulated yourself. Determine what needs doing, if it is worth the investment, then move on to techniques to automate it.

According to the new Small and Medium Business Trends report from Salesforce small businesses using automation in some way are 1.6-times more likely to grow than those that do not.

When looking for new ways to automate your office, consider a Xerox® ConnectKey®Technology-enabled VersaLink printer . It combines functions like copying, scanning and emailing along with document management capabilities, and supports apps that can easily automate jobs that usually require a lot of manual input.

Info via Xerox, 2019