Typing the same information into three files, chasing people by e-mail, compiling a report every Monday: these tasks eat hours without adding value. Automating them doesn’t necessarily require a big project.

1. Spot the right candidates

  • A frequent task (daily or weekly).
  • Clear rules, no case-by-case judgement.
  • Data that is already digital (spreadsheet, form, database).

2. Replace files with a form

The first automation is often the simplest: an online form replacing the e-mail and the shared Excel file. Data arrives clean, in one place, and can trigger what comes next.

3. Add an approval flow

A submitted request is routed automatically to the right approver, who gets a notification and approves or rejects in one click, and the requester is informed. No more chasing or files lost in an inbox.

4. Measure the gain

Record the time spent before and after. Those numbers justify the next step and show the team concretely what automation changes.

Practical tip

Don’t automate a process nobody understands. Draw it on paper first, simplify it, then automate the simplified version. AI can then help with sorting, summarising or pre-filling steps.