In November, market research company Forrester released a report looking at the future of automation in 2019. According to Forrester, the robotic process automation market is expected to reach $1.7 billion in 2019 and $2.9 billion in 2021.And along with this market growth, the report predicts that automation will become a central component of business strategy, ultimately reshaping the way businesses operate.
In particular, Forrester foresees that increased automation will have the most major impact on customer service. In this areas, automation is poised to enable faster delivery of products, higher quality and dependability, deeper personalization, and greater convenience.
According to the report, 40 percent of enterprises are predicted to have automation centers and frameworks in place by the end of the new year. As a result, Forrester predicts 10 percent of jobs will be lost, but another 3 percent will be created.
Despite the potential impact increased automation will have on jobs, businesses are seeing positive results from automating their processes. According to a 2017 Forbes article, “Intelligent Automation typically results in cost savings of 40 percent to 75 percent, with the payback ranging from several months to several years.”
For company’s new to automation, the plethora of available solutions can be daunting. Some companies choose to overhaul and automate their operations on a large scale, while others might choose to automate individual processes one at a time. Either way, here are ten automation investments you should consider making in 2019.
Help Desk
Companies like Zendesk are automating the customer service experience by using artificial intelligence to provide consumer support through help desk portals that are accessible 24/7.
Knowledge Guides
Also in the area of customer service, knowledge guides can be used to help better manage inbound questions from customers and provide them with the necessary information.
Chatbots
Chatbots can be used to automate communications in a variety of areas from recruiting and hiring to social media management, freeing up human employees for other tasks.
Marketing
Companies are automating their marketing strategies to better target potential customers with data driven campaigns that have higher conversion rates than traditional tactics.
System Linking
Companies like Zoho are helping organizations link disparate systems by automating data management so workers no longer have to copy and paste data from one place to another.
Productivity
Employers can help their employees be more productive by providing them with automated solutions like calendar and scheduling applications that help them stay connected and work more efficiently.
Data Aggregation
There are automation tools that can roll up and aggregate data. For example, in the liquor industry, sales data from distributors and retailers can be combined and overlaid to determine the effectiveness of marketing programs.
Personalization
By utilizing artificial intelligence, companies can automate the process of personalizing the customer experience. AI can help develop customer profiles and tailor goods or service offerings to a customer’s unique needs.
Social Media
Automation tools give companies the ability to schedule and post across multiple social media platforms. They can also be used to determine which posts make the most impact.
Accounting
There are a number of accounting solutions that simplify financial operations. These solutions can be used to make payments, keep track of records and analyze costs and profits.
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At Treehouse Technology Group we provide service automation for a flat rate. We’ve worked with several groups to automate their processes and bring their organizations into the 21st century. If you’re interested in transforming your operation and want to work with a company with a successful track record, contact TTG for a free consultation. We specialize in helping companies develop robust solutions best suited for their specific business needs.
