What is Business Process Automation?

Business Process Automation or BPA for short. This was a buzzword a few years back with anyone and everyone claiming they were experts in this area. Maybe so. But to really realize its true potential you need to understand what business process automation is and why you will need it?

If you own/run/manage a business, take a look around yourself at the daily activities you perform to run your business effectively and efficiently. If you do observe closely, you will quickly notice that you (or your staff) do perform a lot of tasks that are generally repetitive in nature or they may be administrative tasks; tasks that you have to perform and are necessary to run your business.

Let me elaborate that with an example. A customer calls and enquires about a product you market. You tell the customer you will send a product brochure. You take all relevant information like prospect name, address etc. and walk over to your secretary. Your secretary takes the information, chooses the appropriate brochure, creates a covering letter, puts it in an envelope and mails it to your customer. Sounds familiar, right?

Well, what if I told you that process automation automates the entire process above using the Internet? And all with zero involvement from you? Or anyone else from your organization? Would that be cool? Let me help you visualize it.

Your prospect comes over to your web site, browses and is now seeking more information on a specific product. You have the prospect fill in all relevant information from within your web site. When the prospect submits the information, your web site will automatically save the information electronically in a database and send a personalized email to your prospect (i.e. thanking him/her for the enquiry and providing instructions to download the brochure). Your system can also follow up automatically after a few days with that specific prospect asking if they have any other questions or if you could be of any help.

This is, in essence, business process automation. You are automating the different business processes within your business. The beauty of automating this is the zero-involvement from your business. Let's take this a step further. If the prospect does decide to buy the specific product, they can purchase it directly from your web site (via a shopping cart). Your web site will already know what your prospect had received so you can "speed up" the process by simply collecting payment information over a secure line, process the transaction and then send new shipping details to your customer. The prospects details now go into the customer database (because you have converted a prospect into a customer). The order details automatically get sent to your order-processing department for order fulfillment. When the order is shipped, your order-processing department updates the "system" with ETA for the product. Your customer can now automatically track the status of their order. And you can actually get an overview of how many orders were received, shipped, transacted; all through a browser. Even if you were holidaying and were miles away from home/office.

Can you think of all the costs you have saved by automating routine, mundane tasks that have typically needed human intervention in the past?

That, in essence, is the power of automation.

Elvin Picardo
Delivering Net Results to Small Business
Author of numerous articles on Web Development and Internet Marketing
10723 159th St, Surrey, BC V4N 3J1 Canada
http://www.netmedian.com

Contact me

---

Most Franchises Are Small Home Businesses

Many of our nations 400,000 franchisees run their businesses out... Read More

A Portable Trade Show Exhibit Makes for an Easier Show

You can make your trade show experience much easier by... Read More

Creative Marketing Tips: Simple Things You Can Use In Your Business To Attract More Clients

The single most important activity you can do in your... Read More

Why is My Restaurant Not Full Every Monday Night?

In a quest for customers and to keep those customers,... Read More

Small Business Marketing - How Important Are Your First Words?

"What do you do?" It just might be one of... Read More

The Wrap on Ag Plastic

While driving through Pennsylvania farmland, you have probably noticed an... Read More

Have You Thanked Your Competitors Today?

Competition in the business world is often viewed as a... Read More

Collaborative Negotiating: A Win-Win Strategy

COLLABORATIVE NEGOTIATING:Collaborative negotiating is a win-win strategy that can focus... Read More

Simple Business Tactics Are Your Key To Success

In a world full of complications sometimes we overlook the... Read More

Why Do Most Online Small Businesses Fail?

Search Engines account for almost 90% of all web traffic!In... Read More

Image of Your Franchise Automotive Outlet is So Important

Image of your franchise automotive outlet is so important. Some... Read More

Starting An E-Commerce Business: Baby Steps

Starting your own e-commerce business can be quite the adventure.... Read More

11 Things Small Business Owners Can Learn From The Supreme Court

1. Have A Strong Constitution ? Justices deliver decisions by... Read More

Seven Common Mistakes Made By Small Business Owners

Most new small businesses won't be in business this time... Read More

Reduce Stress, Increase Profits By Incorporating Strategic Systems In Your Small Business Success

Whether you are an Entrepreneur or Business Professional there are... Read More

Financial Dose for Business

The goals of businesses have undergone much evolution from the... Read More

Starting a New Business in a Small Town

Q. I am a former pastor who left the ministry... Read More

Choosing A Business Thats Right For You

Q: I really want to start my own business, but... Read More

5 Good Reasons a Self-Employed Professional Should Take Vacation

So you think you're not justified in taking time away... Read More

Eight Ways To Improve Your Companys Cash-Flow ? TODAY!

Cash is the lifeblood of any business. As humans need... Read More

Patient Records - Your Responsibilities

As a practise gets larger & larger the associated problems... Read More

How To Accept Credit Cards

If you plan to do business online, then your website... Read More

How To Write A Business Plan

Writing a business plan is a fundamental step to ensuring... Read More

Racing the Competition

What is the Big Race all about when it comes... Read More

Temporary Staffing Agency: How to Start

The temporary staffing industry continues to expand, with yearly double-digit... Read More

Franchise Territories for Mobile Businesses; Why Limitations

In franchising an individual desirous of their own business will... Read More

Are You Using a Chess or Checkers Small Business Marketing Strategy?

Until the day I learned to play chess I loved... Read More

Grants vs. Contracts

Commonly folks have asked me what the technical difference is... Read More

Small Business Checks ? Money Saving Options

When you go into business for yourself, there are many... Read More

6 Ways Small Businesses Can Survive In A Crazy Economy

Contrary to popular belief, small businesses can survive a crazy... Read More

How to be Annoyed and Make Money

When do annoyances in a relationship become too much to... Read More

Growing Your Small Business Through Alliances and Joint Ventures

-- Beyond Cold Calling, "Warm" Calling and Sending E-mails --Many... Read More

Four Reasons Why Small Businesses Succeed (or Fail)

The American system of business management has been admired and... Read More