In response to the talent pipeline issues and staffing shortages that pervade the accounting profession these days, automation has emerged as a solution that can rescue faltering productivity and improve efficiencies.

But how does one get started? Beginning the automation journey requires knowing where to start and how to take those first steps.

In the spring 2024 issue of NewsAccount, now available digitally, author Wesley Hartman asserts, in his article, “Automation Paralysis: Where to Begin,” that before embarking upon the automation journey, identifying a goal is a critical first step. One example might be the aim to automate the entry of new client information or synchronize data between two platforms.

Hartman notes that the best tasks to automate are structured, standardized, and scaled so that the best return on investment can be realized.

When taking your first steps toward automation, strategies fall into three tiers, which each merit exploration:

1. Existing software
2. Automation off the shelf
3. Automation specialists

The article explores each tier, offering examples and tips on navigating each. Hartman notes that low-hanging fruit can be a great place to begin one’s automation journey.

From there, businesses that are successful with automation initiatives have built a multitude of automations, a strategy that can maximize time savings, improve productivity, and reclaim lost capacity.

Wesley Hartman is the founder of Automata Practice Development, Chatsworth, Calif. Click here to read the full article, “Automation Paralysis: Where to Begin,” in the spring 2024 issue of NewsAccount.

The COCPA Technology Users Group (TUG) next meets on May 9. For more information, contact Stacy Svendsen.