Automation is a buzzword that’s hard to escape in today’s tech-driven business world. However, the path to effective automation isn’t as direct as plugging in AI and letting it run. A crucial but often overlooked step is the establishment of manual processes. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of manual operations in setting a solid foundation for automation, as discussed in a recent episode of Automate Your Agency.
In the rush to integrate AI systems, many businesses overlook the profound insights that can be gained from manual processes. Micah states in the podcast, "If you don't actually test your workflow manually, if you don't work out those issues, you don't understand all the nuances that are in place to make it work." Prior to automation, manual processes act as a testbed for discovering the intricacies of a task. This stage is essential in ensuring that all potential variables are understood and accounted for before integrating complex technology solutions.
Alane highlights the relevance of this approach in their own internal discussions, stating how a manual working model is "the most painful part because most people don't want to do that." Yet, these seemingly mundane manual processes are what reveal the "unknowns or things that you realize you don't want and want to change." When teams use a manual approach first, they can identify and iron out nuances, leading to a more effective automated solution.
Automating without groundwork is comparable to building a house without a blueprint. In the episode, Micah illustrates this pitfall: "Before we even try to do anything, we're like, let's automate it." This impulsive leap results in more complications down the road.
The duo recounts a specific example of a project that suffered from premature automation, leading to what Alane terms a "time-consuming" and "painful" redesign process. This sentiment stresses the critical nature of performing a task manually first to save both time and resources. As Micah illustrates, the fast tempo of automation without foundational processes "creates burnout" and often leaves teams scrambling. Emphasizing the significant advantages of initiating with manual tasks provides a buffer against these drawbacks, allowing for more accurate and efficient automations in the future.
One of the key strengths of performing tasks manually is the empirical data it provides, forming a concrete foundation for a data-driven approach to automation. Alane offers an example with her own podcast booking process, initially considering the time-cost minimal. The true insights, however, emerged when this data was contextualized: "The time for me to get back to the podcast host? That might be two weeks."
This delay impacts their lead generation cycle, providing a strong business case for the necessity of automation. By meticulously documenting the time and cost implications of her manual process over a year, Alane could make data-backed decisions that demonstrated the impact automation could have on her sales cycle. Micah affirms this, noting, "Your vision of what you wanted to automate and how you wanted it to work is probably different 12 months of doing it manually versus 0 months of doing it manually."
The narrative of automation is not one of shortcuts but rather of calculated progression. Concepts explored in the podcast episode remind us that the pathway to effective and efficient automation runs through the minefield of manual processes. Allowing for this phase reveals complexities and nuances, mitigates the repercussions of premature automation, and lends itself to creating informed, data-driven strategies.
Manual processes are not just precursors but integral components that inform and improve automation processes. As Alane and Micah aptly demonstrate, meaningful automation demands not just the injection of advanced technologies but the critical insights drawn from its manual counterparts. Taking the time to flesh out these steps ensures smoother, more efficient transitions and optimizes the potential of AI technologies within business strategies.
Alane and Micah tackle one of the most crucial yet overlooked principles in business automation: never automate a process you haven't done manually first. Through real examples from their own business, they demonstrate why the "manual first" approach saves time, money, and prevents costly rebuilds.
They share a detailed case study from Alane's podcast guest booking process, revealing how manual work uncovered hidden business value that would have been missed in premature automation. They explain how doing processes manually first reveals critical nuances, decision points, and the true ROI of automation projects.
This episode is essential listening for business owners who want to automate smart, not just fast.