Friday 10 December 2021

Your supply chain has a direct impact on the success of your business, and so managing it properly is essential. This may seem like an overwhelming task; often supply chains are made up of many small processes that need to work together to be effective. 

Automating some or all of these activities through the use of innovative technology can make supply chain management much more straightforward, and can offer your business a wealth of benefits.

1. It can make processes more visible

Many businesses find that the systems and applications used within their supply chain have been implemented separately over time, rather than being designed to work smoothly together. As these different technologies were introduced one by one to increase efficiency, they may have also led to the creation of silos and gaps, restricting the sharing of information and making it difficult to follow a process end-to-end.

Automating your supply chain can give you the ability to connect all systems and applications to a central dashboard where you can access all of the information they provide, in one place. 

This reduces the risk of losing or overlooking important data, and makes the processes within the overall supply chain more visible. It also offers your employees the ability to better serve your customers, as they can view all the information they need about an account or query very quickly. 

2. It helps you to keep up with the market

Connecting different systems within your supply chain through automation also allows you to respond to any external challenges swiftly and efficiently. 

This can be reassuring, especially in today’s market, where unexpected developments can require you to implement changes to the way your business operates at pace. Automation can provide you this flexibility, allowing your business to adapt to the changing marketplace and maintain a competitive edge.

3. It increases accuracy

Utilising manual, repetitive processes within a supply chain can often lead to human error. This may result in incorrect information being recorded, the need for extra time to be allocated to resolve problems, and the risk of potential delays for customers. 

Automating these kinds of processes within your supply chain will reduce human error and can improve accuracy within other aspects, such as inventory management and invoicing, contributing to enhanced overall efficiency, profitability, and customer satisfaction.

4. It allows you to prioritise staff time

As discussed above, key processes within a supply chain can be repetitive and time-consuming. Automating these simple tasks, such as recording and processing orders, receipts and invoices, will reduce the time employees need to spend carrying these out, and allow this to be re-prioritised according to your overall business strategy.

This could mean allocating more time for staff to analyse data and identify trends, develop informed market forecasts, or build and strengthen client relationships to secure future business. It can also provide more time for employees to share their ideas for enhancing ways of working, empowering them to shape the future of the business and contributing to staff engagement. 

5. It supports you to meet and exceed customer expectations

As digital technology evolves and customers are offered enhanced experiences in many aspects of their lives, their expectations for these to be delivered consistently grow. Many customers now expect fast deliveries, 24/7 customer service and the ability to return or change their order if necessary. 

Automation can help your business offer this kind of experience, as well as provide your customers with the opportunity to track their order or sign up for real-time updates, not just meeting their expectations but exceeding them. This will help to secure loyal customers and strengthen your ability to attract new ones, while increasing profitability.

Automating your supply chain can help your business to deliver a reliable service that contributes to increased customer satisfaction and supports you to secure future business. To discover more about how Solweb can work with you to automate your supply chain, contact us using the form below - we can’t wait to hear from you!

Friday 26 November 2021

Automated processes can help to save time, reduce margins of error, maintain consistency and increase security when implemented successfully. To ensure that this is the case, there are several steps that you can take to support this activity and fully embrace the benefits it can offer you and your business. 

Step one: Get senior leadership on side

Securing buy-in from your senior leadership team is essential. This group of people often hold the budget and influence what projects are prioritised within the business. 

You may find that recruiting a project sponsor within this team will help you to win over the rest of the group - especially if you can also demonstrate that there is support for your automation from key stakeholders within your finance department. 

Try to understand the motivation of those within your leadership function and explain how automating processes will not only support them to achieve their objectives, but also links to your overall business strategy. This will help them to see the benefits of automation, positioning them as ambassadors for your project and setting it up for success. 

Step two: Start small

If you’re just beginning your adventure into automation, or it is something relatively new for your business, your best bet is to start small. Trying to automate too much at once or starting with a long and complex process can be challenging; instead, take things back to basics and build from the bottom up. 

Selecting several simple, repetitive processes to automate to begin with will allow you to understand the process and show you the value automation can provide relatively quickly. You can monitor the success of this activity, then enhance it as you continue. 

Getting simple processes right to start with will not only save time when you look at more complex systems for automation, but will also make sure you’re on the path to success right from the very beginning of your journey. 

Step three: Collaborate to create

Collaborating with staff who will use automated processes is key to success. These are the people who work with the relevant information and systems every day, and therefore have the greatest knowledge of how they work and how they could be improved.

Start conversations with these teams early on in the process and make sure that they have an opportunity to review the way they currently work before automation begins. Bringing together teams from different areas at this stage may also be useful, as conversations between departments can often result in new ideas and the creation of solutions that influence innovative ways of working. 

Step four: Prioritise training

The process of automation isn’t complete until your teams are properly trained and understand how to use custom software. Ensure that the relevant training is prioritised over business as usual, and that staff have time to practise using new systems in an environment where they feel safe and supported.

Teams should also have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback about any changes that have been made, and take advantage of peer-to-peer support to reinforce learnings. 

Don’t forget to embed this training into your induction process and organise refresher training at regular intervals - automation offers so many benefits, but these will only be realised if the people who are making use of it feel empowered and supported by the systems they use. 

Step five: Celebrate small wins

As you continue on your automation journey, remember to record small wins and share them with your teams and the rest of the business. 

This is a really good way to highlight the progress you’ve made and spark conversations around further opportunities for automation. It’s also a great opportunity to thank staff who have been involved in the development of process automation and ensure that they receive the recognition they deserve for their contribution.

Celebrating these small wins as you go along will help to maintain motivation and momentum, and position your project in a positive light even before it has even been completed. This step can also start to educate others about the advantages of automation, securing support for future projects, and contributing to their success as well. 

If you’d like to find out more about how Solweb can help you with successful automation, contact us today.

Friday 12 November 2021

Marketing is a key function for any business, no matter your size or industry. You need to attract sales, leads and customers, then retain that interest to keep the business running, and that’s where marketing comes in.

The trouble is that marketing can be laborious. Repeated processes in planning and scheduling content, maintaining endless contact records, continuous relationship management and the merry go round of annual campaigns and projects; it’s a lot to keep on top of, and it makes marketing the perfect discipline for automation.

So how does marketing automation work?

We know that automation saves time and effort, because using software to automate marketing activities removes the need to repeat certain tasks, such as posting ad campaigns, social media posts or sending emails out. Scheduling in this way can also deliver a better experience for your audience, ensuring you reach them at a time that’s more convenient or preferable.

Using automation also allows you to coordinate messaging more effectively across different channels, strengthening your brand and your offer. Recent studies show that 80% of businesses that use automation tools experience more leads, and 77% see increased conversions.

From the point of learning about your company through an advert, article, conversation or post online, your potential customers will go through several steps before they finally sign on the dotted line and commit to a purchase or a contract. You want your marketing automation to ensure that journey is as smooth as possible, giving them the right information at the right time to build an effective relationship that can continue beyond the initial sale.

What marketing processes can be automated?

The industry for automated marketing is booming, and there are options for almost anything you can think of when it comes to promoting your business, such as:

• Social media posting and advertising
• Email marketing
• Lead generation
• Lead nurturing
• Customer relationship management
• Monitoring marketing performance
• Managing your strategy

How to make automated marketing work for you

Using automation is not a simple fix and systems must be used and monitored effectively to ensure your business can grow and your marketing activity can develop over time. As well as the ‘quick wins’ of automating your marketing, such as saving time, reducing duplication, and coordinating across multiple platforms, there are other long-term benefits too.

Automation can provide real time data and analysis of marketing performance, which means your staff can react to opportunities quickly. Not only can this support your strategy for marketing activity, but in a world where social media stories can evolve and go viral in hours, such capability could prove invaluable.

The same can be said for budget management. Using automated systems you can quickly see if your digital marketing spend is yielding results, and adjust accordingly. This data can allow you to quickly recognise campaigns that are underperforming, remain agile to market changes, and stay ahead of competitors.

It’s important to remember that there can be downsides to automation, too. Digital processes can not replace human interaction, and the best strategies include a delicate balance of both. Customers can quickly see if they are talking to a bot or a person, and although tools like chatbots can be useful in managing enquiries online, for example, they cannot be relied upon to develop meaningful relationships in the same way.

We recommend that the best systems are custom built alongside your existing processes to ensure that you are using automation that works for your business, and your customers. This not only means that integrating with your day-to-day operations will be smooth, but that you can get the most from your investment and ensure the results are exactly what you need.

October 25, 2021

In March 2020, businesses across the world were forced to adapt their processes as we adjusted to the Covid-19 pandemic, working to maintain operations with many staff working at home and various lockdown restrictions in place.

For many, the quickest solution was automation, to ensure business could continue with remote management or even without human interaction at all. A global survey carried out by McKinsey in 2020 suggested that the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital technology by several years.

As conditions changed week by week companies had to rethink existing plans and respond at pace, injecting a degree of flexibility that might change the way many of us work forever. Indeed, many industries that might have never considered automation before have now introduced new solutions.

A new approach for many industries

One such example can be seen in the restaurant trade, which was hit hard by prolonged closures and needed to safely welcome patrons when doors were finally opened again. Pubs, cafes, and restaurants quickly installed apps that allowed people to view the menu, order, and pay online, minimising the need for person to person contact.

In the US, restaurant chain Arby’s is using a voice recognition system named Tori to take drive through orders, and McDonald’s is experimenting with similar technology. A similar outlet chain called White Castle has begun using robots to cook hamburgers and French fries, because according to the owner, “Robots, after all, can’t get sick or spread disease”.

The swift increase in online shopping during the pandemic has seen many stock warehouses bring in automated systems to manage the increase in demand. One of the largest online retailers, Amazon, has invested in automated systems that reduce the need for workers to walk up and down endless rows of shelves to fulfil orders, saving time by sorting and seeking products automatically and moving shelves to deliver the right items to waiting staff.

Globally, warehouses are expected to invest $36bn in automation this year, up 20 percent on 2020. Combined investment in the last two years has gone up $1.6bn against pre-pandemic forecasts, according to research group Interact Analysis.

What is the impact on staff?

There is an assumption that an increase in automation technology means a loss of jobs for workers, yet despite reportedly high rates of unemployment, many businesses that are now able to return to a form of normality are struggling to recruit. Vacancies in the UK, for example, hit a record high of 1.1 million between June and September 2021, according to the Office for National Statistics.

One of the main benefits of automation is that it can save worker’s time and energy in completing manual repetitive processes, boring tasks. Rather than making roles redundant, technology can allow a business to redeploy workers into more interesting work, making better use of staff skills and expertise. Solweb client Endeavour Specialty Chemicals found they were able to free up laboratory workers from admin tasks with automated systems, which delivers value to the company and the individuals themselves. 

There are many businesses which may have had automation in their plans for the future and the events of the past year and a half have provided the opportunity to accelerate these plans and adapt quickly to changes in market behaviour. It has forced a change in mindset that will permanently impact our approach to business, because resilience and flexibility is now more important than ever and automation can allow companies and teams to respond effectively no matter what challenges they face.

 In our blog posts we have previously talked about the different uses and benefits of automation in a variety of industries; however, we are firm believers in the power of showing as well as telling. With that in mind, we sat down with Shawn Dilley, Quality and Food Safety Manager from Endeavour Specialty Chemicals, to hear about his experiences.

Endeavour Specialty Chemicals (ESC) is a company based in Northamptonshire which manufactures High Impact Aroma Chemical (HIAC) flavour ingredients that are used in flavour formulations for the food and beverage industry and has been a customer of Solweb for around 10 years.

Shawn told us, “We manufacture and supply hundreds of HIAC products and all of them have to be tested according to strict specifications that make them suitable for use food applications, and this generates a lot of analytical data that needs to be administered. We used to have numerous systems that we had developed ourselves over time, such as databases for the quality testing of products, managing different product specifications, and client information. These required a high level of manual data entry, were very time consuming to maintain, and of course frequently prone to errors”.

“Creating the Certificates of Analysis to send to our customers to support the products despatched each day used to be a huge task and could take half a day for Quality Control to complete. We wanted to develop a better solution that would save QC time and effort that could then be put to better use.”

After ESC installed 123insight ERP / MRP Manufacturing Software, Solweb was asked to develop a database-driven application to integrate with and work alongside the software and consolidate all of the different satellite systems that were being used.

Solweb created the QCDB system (Quality Control Database) for Endeavour Specialty Chemicals.  In addition to addressing their original requirement of a consolidated system that integrated with 123insight, it was then further developed to provide greater automation and efficiency to the company.

The QCDB system now carries out a range of functions that have made communications better and processes more effective, such as:

• communicating batch test results in the form of Certificates of Analysis and revised specifications to customers automatically by email
• moving stock across the system and linking to the dispatch team enabling them to print approval status labels for the materials based on the test results entered by QC
• enabling visibility of product test results and specification changes across the company via the QCDB Notification Window.

Shawn explained, “The difference for our staff in using these systems is huge, and I’d estimate that it saves around one full-time employee in terms of the hours we no longer have to spend on manual processes. We employ many specialist staff to work in our labs and previously they had to take on responsibility for some administrative tasks to ensure we could manage our databases, but now they are able to focus on the jobs they are qualified for.

“The automatic email function is a god-send and provides clients with a Certificate of Analysis upon distribution so that when they receive their products, they already have all the information they need. We used to have people manually entering the information to create the approval status labels which was incredibly time-consuming and prone to typographical errors, but all of that happens automatically now.”

ESC is a great example of the type of company that Solweb works with and provides tailored systems for on a daily basis. There are a number of products on the market that you can buy off the shelf to automate different areas of business, but none of them will fit with your existing workflows. We build your system from scratch, ensuring it meets every one of your objectives and aligns perfectly with the way you work.

When we asked Shawn about how a personalised system has worked for him, he said, “The QCDB system is completely bespoke. When we first started working with Solweb they took time to learn about each of our processes and what we wanted to achieve, before creating a product that integrated quickly and seamlessly. It’s central to our operation and it’s been an important factor in enabling the business to grow over the last 10 years.

“I have a named contact and I can call anytime with questions or issues, and the service is always fantastic. Any time we have had a problem – which isn’t often – it’s resolved very quickly and we don’t suffer any disruption in operations. Over time the system has been improved and upgraded to meet our changing needs, and I honestly couldn’t recommend the team enough.”

Well, that’s given us all a boost! If you are interested in finding out how a bespoke Solweb system can change your business, get in touch today.

September 21, 2021

How is artificial intelligence used in automation?

Automation has been making manual processes quicker and easier for decades, and the next move for many businesses is to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI). The use of AI alongside automation can open up endless possibilities for business transformation, by combining the rapid task execution of automation with machine learning and data analysis of AI and enabling your systems to not only do for themselves, but to think for themselves as well.

What is the difference between artificial intelligence and automation?

These two areas go hand in hand but are distinctly different. Automation is making hardware or software that can complete a process automatically and without human control or intervention. So, it may be machines putting together pieces of a car rather than teams having to do it by hand, the ability to switch your heating on or off using an app, or an accounts system that can match invoice totals with payments received to make your accounting quicker.

Artificial Intelligence looks to develop machines or computers that think and act like humans, mimicking our behaviour and thought processing. As stated in the Britannica Group, it is a term ‘frequently applied to the project of developing systems endowed with the intellectual processes characteristic of humans, such as the ability to reason, discover meaning, generalise, or learn from past experience.’

AI can be applied using models that are fed into the computer to give the best probability of certainty for your given outcome, and the more data you feed in the more it improves. It’s a fast-growing industry, and in 2020 a record $15bn of venture capital was invested into UK tech companies, according to a report from Tech Nation.

How can artificial intelligence be used for business processes?

There are different types of AI, from machine learning right through to the development of robots that act and behave like humans, and this means that AI has potential applications for every industry. The beauty of it is that it can be designed in any way you choose to deliver time savings, greater accuracy in processes, and business improvements.

Algorithms can already look at data such as buying patterns and make suggestions to businesses or customers based on their data, but with AI these suggestions can become more intelligent and consider external factors to predict changes in the market, such as seasonal fluctuations.  

The NHS sees around 1 million patients every 36 hours, which means it has a wealth of health data available and is an ideal setting for AI development. In Cambridge, the Microsoft InnerEye system is being used to process anonymised scans of patients with prostate cancer, to identify and report upon tumours, which speeds up diagnoses and treatment.

Applying AI to automation can provide more stable ways to process data based on previous models and deliver better quality output. If your invoice processing is already automated, for example, you can develop AI to recognise patterns in invoices and payments and process them automatically. The system can learn to make decisions based on previous activity and account for differences such as invoice layouts or customer information, and also has the potential to make suggestions you might not have thought of based on previous activities or rules.

Are there any risks to using AI?

As with any technology, it can only be as good as the information used to build it, so if you are provided with poor input data it will not deliver the desired results. During the development of a new system, you will need a threshold of certainty to say ‘this is what we can trust’, and you will likely need some level of human intervention to check the data quality and to check the system performance.  

As developers, we believe we also have a responsibility to use technology safely. The data we are given and the abilities we have put us in a trusted position, and as well as using technology for the intended purpose, we must also take all measures to ensure customer data is protected and used securely.

There is an argument that sometimes a human may get an instinct or gut feeling about a decision, and that feeling can be right, whereas a machine can’t recognise those anomalies or follow an instinct. In this case, you can use automation in initial decision-making and then review the process while you build confidence in the decision-making process and analyse if the right data is going on or what needs to be adjusted.

As AI applications become more widespread, the industry will need to upskill and get faster as development and delivery. The capability is already there, and AI technologies are becoming more readily available. With so many possibilities AI is impossible to ignore!

August 25, 2021

No matter what industry you work in or the size of your company, your finance and accounting processes are vital. These make up the engine room of your operations and inefficiencies here could mean sales are lost, invoices become overdue, or employees and suppliers go unpaid, grinding business to a halt.

It’s no secret that businesses around the world are saving time and resources by using digital transformation in place of manual processing, but there are still many who rely on traditional methods that could soon see them fall behind.

Not only do faster processes give you a competitive edge in the marketplace, but day to day processes could hold companies back, too. The average UK SME is thought to be chasing around five invoices at a time, valued at an average of £8,500 per invoice and wasting an hour and a half every single day. With integrated accounts software those invoices could be processed and chased in a fraction of the time. 

Automated software can enable a flexible approach to business

Even in challenging times, as we’ve all seen over the last 18 months, accounting still needs to run efficiently. Using automated systems can mean that staff are no longer hindered by reams of paper records or endless spreadsheets and can access the information they need quickly and efficiently online.

Many have begun to make changes that create more digitally enabled businesses. Video calls are now the norm, file sharing technology means teams can work together from their own homes, and accounting software is just one of a range of technologies available to make your processes faster, smoother, and more efficient.

As the ‘returning to the office’ debate continues, many organisations are embracing the opportunity for change and a new way of working for their teams. A report from the World Economic Forum found that over 80% of business leaders say that they are speeding up work process automation and using it to expand the use of remote working.

How can automation help finance teams?

The list of benefits is fairly long, because there are many different ways that automation can support your finance team. You hired people for their skills, expertise, and insight, yet they spend big chunks of time double checking figures and updating spreadsheets. Don’t waste their talent!

• Save time by reducing manual tasks and allowing digital systems to do it for you
• Reduce the margin of error
• Improve data consistency with a single approach
• Make your data work for you with faster reporting and real time business updates
• Increase security with a central live record for all information

73% of IT leaders say that employees are saving between 10 and 50% of the time they previously spent doing manual tasks because of automated processes, and employees themselves believe they could save roughly 240 hours a year by automating tasks.

Your teams can use the time and energy they save on work that is more valuable to the company and for fulfilling to them as individuals, and with an automated software package you can deliver efficiency in a range of areas:

• Bookkeeping – make an entry once and ensure it’s accurate and accessible across the system
• Invoicing and accounts receivable – invoices and payments are automatically logged and payments matched, with automatic prompts for late payments
• Accounts payable – central storage of invoices received makes it easy to check with colleagues and arrange swift payment, updating business expenditure in an instant, too
• Tax compliance and reporting – streamline reporting with information ready in your system to upload and automatic tax calculations
• Payroll – always a huge task for businesses, employee payroll can be scheduled for prompt payment and work out differentials like pay rates, overtime, holiday or sickness entitlements
• Expense management – an admin task that always takes too long, and can be automated to reduce the need for filling out forms or tracking receipts

The final piece of the puzzle – accounts package integration

Having an automated account package is a great first step, but unless it integrates with your existing processes and systems it could create more work. An integration package will work with popular accounting tools such as Sage 50, Sage 200, Xero or Access Dimensions, taking all the data in the background and setting up fast and secure information sharing between your systems - without the need for any manual data entry or processing. Whatever your current processes or tools, the right integration package will ensure one piece of data can be accurately communicated to all relevant departments at the touch of a button.

You can take it a step further by choosing custom made software that not only links up your accounting tools but can also be developed to link with other systems such as stock inventory or sales. There are many possibilities for developing systems that are designed around you and your business, taking all the hassle and stress from manual processing.

Using automation in this way is like running a single data thread through your entire business that allows you to reach in and access whatever information you need at any time. You gain accuracy, control, speed and insight. The cost vs benefit equation is a no brainer for any business!

How does automation affect the environment?

August 17, 2021

As the use of automation becomes more widespread across the world, benefits are being realised in many different areas. Businesses can save time, effort, and money. People can be refocused in their roles and deliver greater value for the company. Supply chains become faster. The economy gets stronger.

But what happens to the environment as we continue to develop these new systems and technologies? It’s a question we should all be considering as we equip our industries for the future, so let’s explore how automation can support sustainability.

Are all automatic processes good for the environment?

A quick online search will reveal many different applications for automation that are good for the environment, such as switching from heavy duty operated machinery to electronic systems which produce far less CO². In buildings, an automated system might only turn the lights on when a person is detected in a room, or a thermostat could maintain a comfortable temperature that saves energy.

Changing how we operate as a society can and does create environmental improvements compared to processes used in previous years, but without careful management automation could also have adverse effects. Although in many cases we are switching our energy use, a sudden increase in demand for different energy sources and alternative resources can be detrimental.

The electric vehicle revolution has slashed emissions, prompted large scale behaviour change and is shifting an entire industry as we move towards a halt in sales of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030. This is all great for the environment, but questions remain over the current production and disposal of the batteries used to power electric vehicles.

One study has suggested that CO² emissions from electric car production are as much as 59% higher than in traditional internal combustion engine production, although the industry has the potential to make the process carbon neutral through ongoing technology development.

How can businesses use automation to drive positive change?

With so much information to work through it can feel overwhelming and businesses could be forgiven for trying to take a safe option and simply stick to what they know. This will quickly become a problematic approach, however, because of the growing waste of time and effort that comes with avoiding automation.

Not only can companies speed up their processes and redeploy staff from monotonous tasks to more creative and valuable work but embracing digital technology and sustainable systems will have a knock-on effect on sales, too.

According to global research carried out by Neilsen, 81% of respondents said it was either extremely important or very important that the companies they do business with have active programs of work focused on improving their environmental impact. With so many consumers and businesses considering forward thinking and ‘green’ credentials in their buying decisions, any organisations that don’t look to make improvements will inevitably fall behind.

It’s easy to make a start with a few simple steps; by reducing office printing, recycling waste, using video calls for meetings instead of travel, digitising financial systems, and inspiring change through talking to employees about the need to improve your carbon footprint. We often find that clients are frustrated by current long-winded processes and want to make improvements but simply don’t know where to start, which shows it’s always a good idea to ask the experts!

Making positive changes and implementing new software can also give others a valuable insight into your business. By reporting on your improvements over time you can celebrate your transition and use this open approach to build trust with existing customers and attract new ones.

The first step is often the hardest, but your commitment to improvement and investment in the future can bring many benefits for you, your teams and the world around you. If you want to know more about how Solweb can bring custom built software automation to your business, contact us today.

28 July 2021

This is quite the question to open with, isn’t it? The last 16 months have been an absolute rollercoaster, and the effects have been widespread for businesses of all shapes and sizes.

A recent report from Simply Business estimated that the anticipated cost of the pandemic on small businesses and the self employed is around £126.6 billion and rising. There is no argument that for many the effects have been devastating, and yet for many others it has been a force for change; to adapt operations or begin new ventures to meet the rapid change in demand.

After the initial shock of the first lockdown in March 2020, when the whole country seemed to grind to a halt as we grappled with new restrictions and daily briefings, many in the business world quickly found their feet again and began exploring ways to continue trading.

The continuing effects of the pandemic have presented opportunities for new revenue streams and ways of working, but they have also thrown up some questions. If workers have to stay at home, how can you continue with tasks like accounts processing, production or delivery? And if travel restrictions slow the transportation of your stock, how can you adapt?

Using automation and bespoke software to drive change

We have worked with lots of businesses that had to furlough staff but needed operations to continue, and we have provided the solution with automation.

For some, the move to automation has been a challenge in itself; during times of financial pressure, it’s natural to try and protect your assets, but in order to make effective changes you need to invest. The companies we’ve seen achieve the most success have been those who embraced this concept and made investments in technology.

For every area of business there is a digital automation designed to save time and effort. We specialise in creating bespoke solutions for our customers that are designed to fit perfectly with their priorities and existing processes, and during the pandemic we’ve built and delivered:

• E-commerce websites to automate orders
• Systems to automate reports and enquiries
• CRM systems
• Systems to allow staff to manage stock levels using tablets
• Accounts package integration to link all existing data

Getting the most out of your business software

Your systems work with a transfer of data; the information you feed in, how it is processed and what is produced. Installing software alone will deliver you savings in time and cost, but in order to get the greatest value you need to use the data as well. Run the reports, analyse trends, compare results.

The analytics will show you what needs further improvement, where issues are emerging and where your successes are, and acting on this data will enable growth and continued improvement over time. Perhaps staff need refresher training, different shifts are performing at different rates or you have regular issues with invoice payments. Regular scrutiny of data allows you to predict these potential gaps in your process and mitigate the effects so your business can run as smoothly as possible.

With many of our customers, we find that implementing custom software solutions is a big part of the process, and we offer extra support during this process to provide education and training to staff, helping people to understand and embrace the change in business. Our role is to remove the barriers you see, to join you at the stumbling block and create digital solutions that give you the ability and confidence to move past it and keep going.

As we all move forward into the new normal, we’ve been considering the changes we’ve seen and our biggest reflection is that people are resilient. Despite some incredible hardships, business owners are looking to not only survive, but to thrive.

Why not book in a call to see how we could help you? We’re always on hand to help you work out how bespoke digital solutions could transform your business.

14 July 2021

Automation in business has been steadily increasing in recent decades, as more intelligent and effective solutions become available and more companies realise the long list of benefits to be realised from streamlining their processes.

No one could have predicted the devastating effect of the pandemic on business operations, but the rollercoaster of the last 16 months has driven the need to evaluate existing systems, develop new options for customers and pivot your offering. It’s highlighted an urgent need for resilience and flexibility, and for digital capabilities many simply did not consider before 2020.

We have seen years of digital transformation happening in the space of months as customer habits have changed and businesses have been forced to redesign their operations. From bricks and mortar shops developing ecommerce websites to machinery manufacturers creating augmented reality 3D models of equipment to provide maintenance and repair support virtually, developments are creative and rapid.

Where to begin with automation

Making the change to automation can seem overwhelming if you don’t know where to start, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. You need to know your business well, the detail of how you want to change what you deliver, and importantly, what clients need from you. From here you can drill down into the individual elements of your business, how they could benefit from automation, and explore the options available.

We often find our clients are frustrated with outdated processes and wasted time, money and resource. They know what improvements they want to achieve but aren’t always sure how to get there or what is available to them, so an important part of our service is to provide guidance and advice as business owners negotiate the choice of ready-made products and custom designed software. This is where the research stage is vital to ensure you understand the automation software on the market, how these can influence the outcomes you want for your business, and which solution could be the best for you.

You will find a long list of potential options that cover every business function:

• web design
• customer enquiries
• accounts
• resource planning
• data processing
• manufacturing
• packaging
• remote working
• speeding up supply chains

Automation allows you to redesign operational processes, creating efficiencies and reducing the risk of human error or delay. The possibilities are (almost) endless!

Be sure to prioritise system integration

Ensuring that the automation you choose will integrate with your existing systems is a key part of the puzzle and one we always discuss with clients because we understand how important it is. At Solweb, we specialise in creating custom software solutions that not only make your operations more efficient but are specifically designed around you and your business, so they integrate smoothly with existing processes.

Automation must be considered as part of wider workflows and needs to be used like a puzzle piece. Take time to examine the whole process as well as the smaller section affected by your planned automation and ask questions of how one move might affect another, to ensure benefits are felt widely and you achieve maximum effect.

A key requirement is to enable the interoperability of data when bringing in a new automation process or system, as well as new requirements for gathering or entering of data. This can be planned for with detailed preparation or resolved with a bespoke solution that is designed to align with existing data handling processes and managed within your business’ resources.

Whichever solution you choose, as more businesses use automation and digital processes to meet changing consumer and industry demand, more data is created along with a need for processing. An important team to work alongside is your IT services function, whether they are an external supplier or in house, so your whole operation is ready and able to make the switch to automation seamless and effective.

How does Artificial Intelligence (AI) fit in?

Artificial Intelligence is an improving area with significantly increased accessibility and performance in recent times. A survey by MIT Technology Review showed that 32% of business and tech leaders have accelerated their AI investment plans as a result of the pandemic, and it’s a technology we are already getting accustomed to in our everyday lives. Have you ever used a self-service checkout at the supermarket? That’s AI in action!

AI uses machine learning algorithms to continuously gather and learn from information that allows systems to perform effectively and carry out complex roles, tracking consumer behaviour and allowing you to make changes to meet developing needs. AI technologies can also be used in resource planning for finance, operations and human resources, or in supply chain management, so it fits well with automation in delivering benefits for a wide range of businesses.

However you choose to develop your business using automation, rest assured there are options to suit the needs of your operations and your customers. If you’re looking for an expert ear to listen to your ideas and to guide you through the benefits of automation, give the team at Solweb a call. We’re always happy to help.