In the age of digital transformation, where technology reigns supreme and automation is the buzzword of the day, it’s easy for organizations to prioritize the latest tools and platforms while overlooking the essential role that people play in the success of automation initiatives. While technology undoubtedly drives efficiency and innovation, it’s the human element that can truly unlock the full potential of automation.
In many organizations, the focus tends to be on finding the right technology solutions – from AI-powered chatbots to robotic process automation (RPA) platforms. Buyer’s guides abound, offering recommendations on the best tools to streamline processes and increase productivity. However, what often gets overlooked is the need to foster a culture that embraces automation from the ground up.
Introducing automation isn’t just about implementing technology, it’s about cultivating a culture of innovation. So, how can organizations take steps to encourage and build an automation-first culture?
- Champions of Change: People are the driving force behind any successful automation initiative. They are the ones who identify inefficiencies, envision new possibilities, and champion the adoption of automation tools within their teams. By empowering employees to become champions of change, organizations can tap into their creativity and domain expertise to drive meaningful automation efforts.
- Continuous Learning: Automation technologies are constantly evolving, and staying ahead of the curve requires a commitment to continuous learning and upskilling. Organizations can foster a culture of learning and growth by providing employees with access to training programs, workshops, and resources that enable them to acquire new skills and keep up on emerging automation trends.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Successful automation initiatives require collaboration across departments and disciplines. By breaking down silos and fostering cross-functional collaboration, organizations can leverage the diverse perspectives and expertise of their employees to identify automation opportunities, design effective solutions, and drive adoption across the organization.
- Celebrate Success: Celebrate milestones and successes along the automation journey to recognize the contributions of employees and reinforce the importance of automation within the organization. Acknowledging the efforts of employees who champion automation sends a powerful message that their contributions are valued and appreciated and can go a long way in fostering a culture of empowerment and engagement.
- Leadership Support and Alignment: Building a culture of automation starts at the top. Leaders play a crucial role in setting the tone, articulating the vision, and providing the resources and support necessary to drive automation initiatives forward. By aligning organizational goals with automation objectives and leading by example, leaders can inspire confidence and commitment among employees at all levels.
Drinking Our Own Champagne – How we do it at Resolve
At Resolve, being automation obsessed is deeply engrained in our culture and is, in fact, one of our core values. We believe that automation empowers our employees, partners, and customers to tackle complex challenges head-on. We are continuously looking to improve efficiency while also allowing ample room for creativity. One of the processes we automated across our own business units, as well as for multiple clients and stakeholders, is employee onboarding.
New hires today are expected to hit the ground running from the moment they start, especially in this landscape where businesses are under immense and increasing pressure to deliver high efficiency and maximum productivity. Yet, the onboarding process to set up a new employee with the systems, apps, and critical access they need remains broken or, at the very least, highly cumbersome for most companies.
An average onboarding process can span weeks and require actions by multiple teams and employees, which comes at a large cost to the company. Not only is this a waste of precious time and money, but if that employee should voluntarily leave (likely due to a poor onboarding experience), then it becomes even more costly.
Automation can streamline and completely transform the employee onboarding experience, making sure new hires are armed with everything they need to be productive and engaged on day one – all while ensuring compliance with enterprise security. To visualize what this automation process might look like in your organization, here’s a brief walkthrough of a sample workflow.
In conclusion, building a culture of automation requires more than just investing in the latest technology solutions – it requires a fundamental shift in mindset and behavior. By empowering employees, fostering collaboration, and aligning leadership support, organizations can create an environment where automation thrives, driving innovation, efficiency, and growth. After all, when people are empowered to harness the power of automation, the possibilities are limitless.
