We are living in a digital age. The way we work, live and play has changed dramatically in the last few years with the rise of digital technologies. One of the most significant changes has been the way businesses operate. No longer do companies have to rely on manual processes and human labor to get things done. Thanks to big data and automation, tasks that used to require human interaction can now be handled by machines. Let's explore how big data and automation work together to make your life easier.
Operational efficiency is one of the main benefits of automation. By automating tasks that are time-consuming and/or require human intervention, businesses can save a lot of time and money. For example, let's say you run a digital marketing agency. In the past, you may have had to manually gather data from various sources, input the data into a spreadsheet, and then analyze it to see how your campaigns are performing.
Nowadays, there are software programs that can do all of that for you in a fraction of the time. All you need is a data source, such as Google Analytics, and an automation tool, like Zapier. With just a few clicks, you can set up an automated workflow that will collect data from your various digital marketing channels and store it in one central place. From there, you can use another software program, such as Tableau, to visualize the data and see how your campaigns are performing. This process would have taken hours or even days to do manually, but with automation, it can be done in minutes.
Automation also frees up employees to focus on more important tasks, which leads to increased productivity. In addition, automated processes are often more accurate than manual ones, which reduces the chances of errors. The benefits of automation are clear. But how does big data play into all of this?
Big data is simply a term used to describe large sets of data. In the past, businesses may have had difficulty gathering and analyzing large sets of data because they didn't have the right tools or enough storage space. But with advances in technology, businesses now have the ability to gather and store large amounts of data more easily. And with the help of big data analytics tools, they can quickly analyze that data to glean insights that can help them improve their business.
For example, let's say your organization has an e-commerce arm. You can use big data to track the behavior of your customers, such as what products they're looking at and what pages they're spending the most time on, and where they drop off. These data points tell you a story about your customers' needs and wants.
The sheer volume of big data can be overwhelming for businesses. That's where automation comes in. Automation tools can help businesses sift through all of the data and find the most important bits of information. With this information, you can use automation to create targeted marketing campaigns that are more likely to resonate with your audience. You can also use automation to personalize the user experience on your website and make recommendations for products that they might be interested in.
Organizational change management is another important aspect to consider when considering ways to drive automation in your business. Anytime there is a change in the way things are done, there will be some form of resistance from employees. It's important to have a plan in place to help manage the change and ensure that everyone is on board with the new process.
As you begin automating different tasks and workflows, spend time considering the new organizational design that will replace what is currently in place. In other words, if half of Joe's job is going to become automated with new technologies and software, then you must think about what Joe will do with the other 50% of his time once the chance is initiated. This will not only help Joe grow more accustomed to the shift, but it will also help the organization increase productivity across the board.
Big data and automation are two of the most important tools in the digital age. When used together, they can help businesses achieve operational efficiencies and improve productivity. If your organization is considering new technologies in an effort to automate workflows and increase productivity, reach out to us. You could also listen to our podcast for more tips and tricks on all things digital strategy in the new digital age we live in.
