Creating Value using Automation

Tom Shaw

5 years: Software Developer and Content Creator

Automating tasks can save you loads of time, if used wisely. Join Tom Shaw and learn when we should automate things and also how to create your own automations. Tom uses real-world scenarios to show now it can potentially help solve routine tasks.

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Creating Value using Automation

8 mins 30 secs

Key learning objectives:

Understand when to automate a task and identify the key factors to consider
Outline the benefits of automating tasks in both your personal and professional life
Learn how to create a basic automation using no-code or low-code tools

Skills:

Technology-driven Advancement

Impacts:

Operational Efficiency

Overview:

Automation is a powerful tool for solving recurring tasks and saving time. But it is important to understand and keep in mind some key criteria for determining if a task should be automated or not. These factors include time, frequency, and cost. Using a restaurant scenario, Tom demonstrates how customer feedback collected can be automatically added to a mailing list using no-code or low-code tools. Such an automation can enhance marketing efforts and customer engagement.

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Summary

What is automation and when should it be used?

Automation is when machines or software applications are able to perform tasks without human intervention. This is perfect to do simple tasks that need to be completed multiple times, which allows us to then focus on other aspects of our life or work. However, it’s important not to automate everything automatically. We have some important factors to consider before automating tasks.

What factors should you consider when deciding to automate?

How long the task takes to complete manually
When the task needs to be completed
How often the task is done
How long it will take to set up the automation
The cost of running the automated task

If the time or cost involved in creating an automation is greater than the time you would save by automating, then it’s not worth automating. On the other hand, if automating saves you time overall, it’s a great solution.

Every automation starts with a trigger - an event or reason that initiates the automation. Triggers can be easy to identify, just think and ask yourself "What causes this task to need to be done?"

There are many similar automation tools available, each having different features. We need to explore which one works best for your scenario.

How can automation be used in a non-tech industry like hospitality?

In the hospitality industry, automation can be used to make the most of customer data. For instance, if a restaurant collects customer feedback via Google Forms, they can automate the process of adding customer email addresses to a mailing list. By setting up an automation, the restaurant can automatically send offers and marketing material to customers based on their feedback.

What is the benefit of automating a task like collecting customer emails for a mailing list?

Automating the process of adding customer emails to a mailing list saves a significant amount of time. If you were to manually log in and add new emails each day, it would take a couple minutes of your day, adding up to hours over time. By setting up a simple automation, you spend just about 5 minutes initially, but save yourself hours in the long run.

How does GDPR affect automating tasks involving customer data?

In the UK and EU, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ensures that an individual’s personal data can’t be processed without consent. For example, when automating tasks such as adding customers to a mailing list, you must ensure they’ve consented to receive marketing material.

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Tom Shaw

Tom Shaw is a self-taught software developer and content creator from Nottingham, UK. He began his coding journey in April 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdowns. He has since worked with various companies on diverse projects, honing his skills and expanding his expertise. Tom is also a content creator, sharing tutorials and insights on platforms like YouTube to demystify coding and make technology more accessible. His project, Code Planner, is a SaaS product designed to assist developers in organising and planning their coding projects.

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