Find out what to automate first in your business

List the repetitive work

Ask each person what they do repeatedly, and especially anything involving copying between systems. You are looking for tasks that follow clear rules and happen often.

Calculate the hours spent

Estimate the minutes per task and how many times it happens each month. This turns opinions into numbers you can compare.

A: Task   B: Minutes each   C: Times a month
D2:  =B2*C2/60        hours a month

Check how suitable each task is

Good candidates have digital input, clear rules and a low cost when something goes wrong. Be careful with anything involving legal, financial or safety decisions, and keep a person approving those.

Start with a small win

Pick a task with high hours and low risk, that you can finish in days rather than months. An early success builds trust and teaches you what automation really requires.

Measure the result

Track time saved and errors for a month, including the time spent checking and maintaining the automation. Use those real numbers to decide what to automate next.

Tidy up the process before automating it, so you are not simply speeding up unnecessary work.