Data copied between applications, requests lost in emails, reports prepared by hand. I connect the tools you use and design workflows with clear rules, checks and error handling.
Tell me about the process you want to automate
Which task is the best starting point?
Automation is useful when a task is repeated, follows reasonably stable rules and involves handovers between tools or people. Before choosing a platform, I work with you to map what happens today: where the data comes from, who checks it, what needs to happen next and where work stalls.
Some examples of processes we can assess:
- Sales enquiries: collect data from the website, check the required fields, create a contact in the CRM and assign a task to the relevant person.
- Orders and documents: transfer information between compatible tools, flagging duplicates, incomplete data or updates requiring approval.
- Regular reports: collect data from defined sources and prepare a summary, keeping the sources of the information visible.
- Internal reminders: notify the team when a document is missing, a request has stalled or an operational deadline is approaching.
These are potential applications to assess for your situation. Estimating their usefulness requires knowing how often the task is performed, how long it takes, which errors recur and what would happen if it stopped working.
Integrations and AI: let the process guide the choice
Applications can be connected using APIs, interfaces through which programs exchange data, or the import and export features provided by the systems. I first check which access permissions and features are available: a closed management system or a subscription with specific limits can change the project.
To connect the steps, I design integrations that fit the process and the systems already in use. If your team needs an interface to manage cases, permissions and approvals, bespoke business software may be more suitable.
AI can help classify requests or prepare a draft from a piece of text. Its outputs need to be assessed and, where necessary, approved by a person. For operations with precise rules, such as copying an order code or checking a required field, I prioritise deterministic checks. The automation guide for SMEs explores potential uses in more detail.
What we define and what you receive
- Workflow map: starting point, data, people responsible, exceptions and expected outcome.
- Scope of work: systems to connect, access required, work included and external service costs to consider.
- An initial automation you can verify: a clearly scoped process for testing normal cases, missing data, duplicate runs and service unavailability.
- Transition to operational use: instructions, monitoring methods, error notifications and guidance on stopping or resuming the workflow.
Before development, we also agree where the automation will run, who will manage the accounts and how access credentials will be stored. You can learn more about how I work and read my developer profile.
How to assess results and maintenance
The comparison starts with a baseline: time spent on each case, the number of manual steps or requests left unhandled. After launch, we track the same indicators. We also count the time needed to supervise the automation: it is part of its operating cost.
A provider may change its APIs, and a business may change its rules or tools. Support, monitoring and updates therefore need a clearly defined scope. Automating a task that is rare or highly variable can cost more than simplifying it with a shared procedure.
A conversation with someone who understands the work
The collaboration involves both the people who understand the process and those who carry out the tasks every day. Analysis and reviews can take place remotely, sharing examples and checking together how the workflow should behave.
Questions about business automation
Do I need to change my business management software?
Not necessarily. The first step is to check whether your business management software supports integrations and what its limitations are. If it does not expose the functions needed, I assess alternatives and trade-offs before proposing development.
Is artificial intelligence necessary?
No. Many processes can be automated with rules, checks and connections between applications. AI only makes sense if it solves a specific part of the problem and we can check its outputs.
What happens if a step fails?
We define which errors allow a retry, which require an alert and which must stop the workflow. Error handling needs to be tested before everyday use.
What information is needed for a quote?
Describe the task, the tools involved, how often it occurs and the result you expect. An example using dummy data helps clarify the steps without sharing confidential information in your first message.
What task do you repeat every week?
Tell me how it starts, which tools it involves and where you lose the most time. With this information, we can assess a practical first step. Let’s discuss your business process.