What Business Processes Can Be Automated? 156 Real Examples by Department

Introduction: The Ultimate Business Process Automation Checklist

Business process automation isn't just about replacing human tasks with software—it's about identifying the repetitive, rule-based activities that consume valuable time and redirecting human intelligence toward strategic, creative work that drives business growth.

After analyzing thousands of businesses across industries, we've compiled the most comprehensive list of automatable business processes. These 156 real examples are organized by department, with each process including automation potential, complexity level, and typical time savings.

Whether you're a small business owner looking for quick wins or an enterprise executive planning comprehensive digital transformation, this guide provides concrete automation opportunities you can implement immediately.

How to Use This Guide

Each process example includes:

• Process Description: What gets automated
• Automation Level: Simple, Moderate, or Complex
• Time Savings: Typical reduction in manual effort
• Business Impact: Primary benefit (efficiency, accuracy, cost reduction)
• Implementation Difficulty: How easy it is to set up

Automation Levels Explained:

• Simple: Can be automated in hours using no-code tools
• Moderate: Requires some setup and configuration (days to weeks)
• Complex: Needs comprehensive planning and integration (weeks to months)

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Sales & Marketing Department (28 Processes)

Lead Management & Generation

1. Website Form Lead Capture and Distribution

   • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/week | Impact: Response speed
   • Automatically capture leads from website forms and distribute to appropriate sales reps based on territory, product interest, or company size

2. Lead Scoring and Prioritization

   • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 5-8 hours/week | Impact: Conversion rates
   • Score leads based on demographics, behavior, and engagement to prioritize sales efforts

3. Social Media Lead Monitoring

   • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/week | Impact: Lead capture
   • Monitor social platforms for mentions, hashtags, and buying signals, automatically creating leads

4. Cold Email Outreach Sequences

   • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 10-15 hours/week | Impact: Prospecting efficiency
   • Automated email sequences with personalization based on prospect characteristics

5. Lead Nurturing Campaigns

   • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 8-12 hours/week | Impact: Conversion rates
   • Multi-touch nurturing sequences based on lead behavior and interests

6. Webinar Registration and Follow-up

   • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/event | Impact: Event ROI
   • Automated registration processing, reminder emails, and post-event follow-up

7. Trade Show Lead Processing

   • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 8-10 hours/event | Impact: Lead conversion
   • Process scanned badges, enrich data, and trigger appropriate follow-up sequences

8. Referral Program Management

   • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/week | Impact: Referral tracking
   • Track referrals, calculate commissions, and manage reward distribution

Sales Process Automation

9. Opportunity Creation from Qualified Leads

   • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 3-5 hours/week | Impact: Sales efficiency
   • Automatically create sales opportunities when leads reach qualification thresholds

10. Sales Pipeline Progression Tracking

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/week | Impact: Pipeline visibility
    • Update opportunity stages based on activities and automatically flag stalled deals

11. Quote Generation and Delivery

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 5-8 hours/week | Impact: Sales speed
    • Generate quotes based on product configurations and automatically deliver to prospects

12. Contract Creation and Routing

    • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 8-12 hours/week | Impact: Sales cycle speed
    • Create contracts from templates and route for appropriate approvals

13. Sales Activity Logging

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/week | Impact: Data accuracy
    • Automatically log emails, calls, and meetings in CRM systems

14. Follow-up Reminder Management

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/week | Impact: Follow-up consistency
    • Create automatic reminders for follow-up activities based on prospect interactions

15. Competitive Intelligence Gathering

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/week | Impact: Market awareness
    • Monitor competitor websites, pricing, and announcements for sales intelligence

16. Territory Assignment and Management

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 2-4 hours/week | Impact: Lead distribution
    • Automatically assign leads and accounts based on geographic or industry rules

Marketing Operations

17. Social Media Posting and Scheduling

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 8-10 hours/week | Impact: Consistency
    • Schedule and post content across multiple social media platforms

18. Content Distribution and Syndication

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/week | Impact: Reach
    • Automatically distribute blog posts and content across multiple channels

19. Email Marketing Campaign Management

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 6-8 hours/week | Impact: Engagement
    • Automated email campaigns based on subscriber behavior and preferences

20. Marketing Analytics and Reporting

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 6-10 hours/week | Impact: Insights
    • Compile marketing metrics from multiple platforms into comprehensive reports

21. Event Marketing Automation

    • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 15-20 hours/event | Impact: Event ROI
    • Manage entire event lifecycle from registration to post-event follow-up

22. Content Personalization

    • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 8-12 hours/week | Impact: Engagement
    • Personalize website content based on visitor behavior and characteristics

23. Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL) Identification

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/week | Impact: Lead quality
    • Automatically identify and flag leads meeting MQL criteria

24. Campaign Performance Tracking

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 3-5 hours/week | Impact: ROI visibility
    • Track campaign performance across channels and generate automated reports

25. Customer Review Management

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/week | Impact: Reputation
    • Monitor review sites and automatically alert for new reviews requiring response

26. Marketing Asset Management

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/week | Impact: Organization
    • Organize and distribute marketing materials with automated versioning

27. Affiliate Program Management

    • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 8-10 hours/week | Impact: Partner efficiency
    • Manage affiliate onboarding, tracking, and commission calculations

28. Brand Mention Monitoring

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-4 hours/week | Impact: Brand awareness
    • Monitor web and social media for brand mentions and sentiment analysis

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Human Resources Department (22 Processes)

Recruitment & Hiring

29. Resume Screening and Filtering

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 10-15 hours/week | Impact: Recruiting efficiency
    • Screen resumes against job requirements and rank candidates automatically

30. Interview Scheduling and Coordination

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 5-8 hours/week | Impact: Candidate experience
    • Coordinate interview schedules between candidates and multiple interviewers

31. Job Posting Distribution

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/posting | Impact: Reach
    • Post job openings to multiple job boards and social platforms simultaneously

32. Candidate Communication and Updates

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/week | Impact: Candidate experience
    • Send automated updates to candidates about application status

33. Background Check Initiation

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 1-2 hours/candidate | Impact: Compliance
    • Automatically initiate background checks when candidates reach final stages

34. Reference Check Coordination

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/candidate | Impact: Hiring quality
    • Coordinate reference checks with automated outreach and tracking

35. Offer Letter Generation and Delivery

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 1-2 hours/offer | Impact: Speed
    • Generate personalized offer letters and track acceptance status

Employee Onboarding

36. New Hire Onboarding Workflows

    • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 8-12 hours/hire | Impact: Onboarding experience
    • Complete onboarding process from paperwork to system access provisioning

37. IT Equipment and Access Provisioning

    • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/hire | Impact: Day-one readiness
    • Coordinate IT equipment delivery and system access setup

38. Benefits Enrollment Automation

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/hire | Impact: Accuracy
    • Guide new hires through benefits selection and enrollment

39. Training Assignment and Tracking

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 2-4 hours/hire | Impact: Compliance
    • Assign required training based on role and track completion

40. Workspace Setup Coordination

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 1-2 hours/hire | Impact: Readiness
    • Coordinate desk assignment and workspace preparation

Employee Management

41. Performance Review Scheduling and Reminders

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 3-5 hours/quarter | Impact: Consistency
    • Schedule performance reviews and send reminders to managers and employees

42. Goal Setting and Tracking

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/quarter | Impact: Accountability
    • Track employee goals and send progress reminders

43. Time-off Request Processing

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/week | Impact: Manager efficiency
    • Process vacation requests and update calendars automatically

44. Employee Anniversary and Birthday Tracking

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 1-2 hours/week | Impact: Employee satisfaction
    • Track important dates and send automated recognition messages

45. Expense Report Processing

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/week | Impact: Accuracy
    • Process expense reports with automatic receipt matching and approval routing

46. Timesheet Collection and Processing

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/week | Impact: Payroll accuracy
    • Collect timesheets and flag discrepancies automatically

Compliance & Documentation

47. Employee Documentation Management

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 3-5 hours/week | Impact: Compliance
    • Organize and maintain employee records with automated retention policies

48. Compliance Training Tracking

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/month | Impact: Risk reduction
    • Track mandatory training completion and send renewal reminders

49. Employee Handbook Distribution and Acknowledgment

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/update | Impact: Compliance
    • Distribute handbook updates and track employee acknowledgments

50. Exit Interview Scheduling and Processing

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 1-2 hours/departure | Impact: Insights
    • Schedule exit interviews and compile feedback for analysis

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Finance & Accounting Department (24 Processes)

Accounts Payable

51. Invoice Receipt and Data Extraction

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 10-15 hours/week | Impact: Processing speed
    • Extract data from invoices using OCR and populate accounting systems

52. Purchase Order Matching

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 5-8 hours/week | Impact: Accuracy
    • Match invoices to purchase orders and flag discrepancies

53. Approval Workflow Routing

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 3-5 hours/week | Impact: Processing speed
    • Route invoices for approval based on amount and department rules

54. Vendor Payment Processing

    • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 8-12 hours/week | Impact: Efficiency
    • Process payments to vendors based on terms and cash flow optimization

55. Early Payment Discount Tracking

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/week | Impact: Cost savings
    • Track early payment opportunities and calculate savings

56. Vendor Onboarding and Setup

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 2-4 hours/vendor | Impact: Efficiency
    • Collect vendor information and set up in accounting systems

Accounts Receivable

57. Invoice Generation and Delivery

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 6-8 hours/week | Impact: Cash flow
    • Generate and send invoices automatically based on delivery or completion

58. Payment Reminder Automation

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/week | Impact: Collection speed
    • Send automated payment reminders based on due dates

59. Payment Processing and Application

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/week | Impact: Accuracy
    • Process payments and apply to correct customer accounts

60. Collections Workflow Management

    • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 8-10 hours/week | Impact: Recovery rates
    • Manage collections process with escalating actions based on aging

61. Credit Application Processing

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/application | Impact: Customer experience
    • Process credit applications and perform automatic credit checks

62. Customer Statement Generation

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/month | Impact: Customer service
    • Generate and send monthly customer statements automatically

Financial Reporting & Analysis

63. Monthly Financial Close Process

    • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 15-20 hours/month | Impact: Accuracy
    • Automate journal entries, reconciliations, and financial statement preparation

64. Budget vs. Actual Reporting

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/month | Impact: Insights
    • Compare actual results to budget and highlight variances

65. Cash Flow Forecasting

    • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 6-8 hours/week | Impact: Planning
    • Forecast cash flow based on receivables, payables, and historical patterns

66. Financial Dashboard Creation

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-5 hours/week | Impact: Visibility
    • Compile key financial metrics into real-time dashboards

67. Expense Report Analysis

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/week | Impact: Cost control
    • Analyze expense patterns and flag unusual spending

68. Revenue Recognition Automation

    • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 8-12 hours/month | Impact: Compliance
    • Automate revenue recognition based on contracts and delivery

Tax & Compliance

69. Sales Tax Calculation and Filing

    • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 6-8 hours/month | Impact: Compliance
    • Calculate sales tax across jurisdictions and prepare filings

70. 1099 Preparation and Filing

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 8-10 hours/year | Impact: Compliance
    • Prepare and file 1099 forms for vendors and contractors

71. Audit Trail Preparation

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 10-15 hours/audit | Impact: Efficiency
    • Compile audit trails and supporting documentation

72. Regulatory Reporting

    • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 15-20 hours/report | Impact: Compliance
    • Prepare required regulatory reports and filings

Banking & Treasury

73. Bank Reconciliation

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/month | Impact: Accuracy
    • Reconcile bank statements with accounting records automatically

74. Cash Management Optimization

    • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/week | Impact: Returns
    • Optimize cash placement across accounts and investments

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Customer Service Department (18 Processes)

Support Ticket Management

75. Ticket Creation from Multiple Channels

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/day | Impact: Response time
    • Create support tickets from emails, chat, phone, and social media

76. Ticket Routing and Assignment

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-5 hours/day | Impact: Resolution time
    • Route tickets to appropriate agents based on skills and workload

77. Priority Classification and Escalation

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/day | Impact: Customer satisfaction
    • Classify ticket priority and escalate based on SLA thresholds

78. Auto-Response Generation

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/day | Impact: Response time
    • Send immediate acknowledgments and common solutions

79. Knowledge Base Article Suggestions

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/day | Impact: Resolution speed
    • Suggest relevant knowledge base articles to agents and customers

80. Customer Satisfaction Survey Automation

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 1-2 hours/day | Impact: Feedback collection
    • Send satisfaction surveys after ticket resolution

Communication Management

81. Multi-Channel Communication Coordination

    • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 6-8 hours/day | Impact: Consistency
    • Coordinate conversations across email, chat, phone, and social

82. Customer Information Retrieval

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/day | Impact: Efficiency
    • Automatically pull customer history and account information

83. Appointment Scheduling for Support

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/day | Impact: Customer experience
    • Allow customers to schedule support calls automatically

84. Follow-up Communication Scheduling

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 1-2 hours/day | Impact: Customer retention
    • Schedule follow-up communications based on case types

Quality & Analytics

85. Call Recording and Transcription

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-5 hours/week | Impact: Quality assurance
    • Record and transcribe support calls for quality review

86. Performance Metrics Tracking

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/week | Impact: Team management
    • Track agent performance metrics and generate reports

87. Customer Sentiment Analysis

    • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/week | Impact: Insights
    • Analyze customer communications for sentiment and satisfaction

88. Trend Analysis and Reporting

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/week | Impact: Process improvement
    • Analyze support trends and identify improvement opportunities

Self-Service Automation

89. Chatbot Implementation and Management

    • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 10-15 hours/week | Impact: Cost reduction
    • Implement chatbots for common customer inquiries

90. FAQ Generation and Updates

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/week | Impact: Self-service
    • Generate FAQ content based on common support tickets

91. Customer Portal Updates

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 2-4 hours/week | Impact: Self-service adoption
    • Update customer portals with relevant information automatically

92. Return and Refund Processing

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/week | Impact: Customer satisfaction
    • Process returns and refunds based on predefined criteria

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Operations & Supply Chain (20 Processes)

Inventory Management

93. Automated Reordering Based on Stock Levels

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 6-8 hours/week | Impact: Stock availability
    • Automatically reorder inventory when levels reach minimum thresholds

94. Demand Forecasting and Planning

    • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 8-12 hours/week | Impact: Inventory optimization
    • Forecast demand based on historical data and market trends

95. Inventory Cycle Count Scheduling

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/week | Impact: Accuracy
    • Schedule and track inventory cycle counts automatically

96. Obsolete Inventory Identification

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/month | Impact: Cost reduction
    • Identify slow-moving and obsolete inventory for disposition

97. Supplier Performance Tracking

    • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-5 hours/week | Impact: Supplier management
    • Track supplier delivery performance and quality metrics

Order Processing

98. Order Entry and Validation

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/day | Impact: Order accuracy
    • Process customer orders and validate against inventory

99. Order Status Updates to Customers

    • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/day | Impact: Customer communication
    • Send automated order status updates throughout fulfillment

100. Shipping Label Generation and Tracking

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/day | Impact: Fulfillment speed
     • Generate shipping labels and provide tracking information

101. Backorder Management

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/week | Impact: Customer satisfaction
     • Manage backorders and communicate expected delivery dates

102. Cross-Docking and Direct Shipping

     • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 6-8 hours/week | Impact: Efficiency
     • Coordinate direct shipping from suppliers to customers

Quality Control

103. Incoming Goods Inspection Scheduling

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/week | Impact: Quality assurance
     • Schedule inspections for incoming goods automatically

104. Quality Control Documentation

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-5 hours/week | Impact: Compliance
     • Generate quality control reports and certificates

105. Non-Conformance Tracking

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/week | Impact: Quality improvement
     • Track and analyze quality issues for continuous improvement

106. Customer Complaint Processing

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/week | Impact: Resolution time
     • Process quality-related customer complaints systematically

Vendor Management

107. Purchase Order Generation

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/week | Impact: Procurement efficiency
     • Generate purchase orders based on inventory needs

108. Vendor Invoice Processing

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 5-6 hours/week | Impact: Payment accuracy
     • Process vendor invoices against purchase orders

109. Request for Quote (RFQ) Management

     • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 8-10 hours/RFQ | Impact: Procurement efficiency
     • Manage RFQ process from creation to vendor selection

110. Contract Renewal Reminders

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/month | Impact: Contract management
     • Track contract expiration dates and send renewal reminders

111. Vendor Onboarding Process

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/vendor | Impact: Efficiency
     • Streamline new vendor onboarding with automated workflows

112. Performance Scorecards Generation

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/month | Impact: Vendor management
     • Generate vendor performance scorecards automatically

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IT & Technology Department (16 Processes)

System Administration

113. User Account Provisioning and Deprovisioning

     • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/week | Impact: Security
     • Automate user account creation and removal across systems

114. Software License Management

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/week | Impact: Compliance
     • Track software licenses and renewal dates automatically

115. System Backup Automation

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/week | Impact: Data protection
     • Automate system backups and verify completion

116. Security Patch Management

     • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 6-8 hours/week | Impact: Security
     • Automate security patch testing and deployment

117. System Health Monitoring

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-5 hours/week | Impact: Uptime
     • Monitor system performance and alert on issues

Help Desk Operations

118. IT Ticket Creation and Routing

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/day | Impact: Response time
     • Create IT tickets from multiple channels and route appropriately

119. Password Reset Automation

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/day | Impact: User productivity
     • Enable users to reset passwords through automated system

120. Software Installation Requests

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/week | Impact: User satisfaction
     • Process software installation requests automatically

121. Hardware Refresh Planning

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/month | Impact: Planning
     • Track hardware age and plan replacements automatically

Development & Deployment

122. Code Deployment Automation

     • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 8-12 hours/week | Impact: Development speed
     • Automate code deployment across environments

123. Database Backup and Maintenance

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/week | Impact: Data integrity
     • Automate database maintenance tasks

124. Environment Provisioning

     • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 6-8 hours/request | Impact: Development efficiency
     • Provision development and testing environments automatically

125. Log File Analysis and Alerting

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-5 hours/week | Impact: Issue detection
     • Analyze log files and alert on anomalies

Security & Compliance

126. Security Incident Response

     • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 6-10 hours/incident | Impact: Response time
     • Automate initial security incident response procedures

127. Compliance Reporting

     • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 8-12 hours/report | Impact: Audit readiness
     • Generate compliance reports across systems

128. Access Review and Certification

     • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 10-15 hours/quarter | Impact: Security
     • Review user access rights and certify appropriateness

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Legal & Compliance Department (12 Processes)

Contract Management

129. Contract Creation from Templates

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/contract | Impact: Consistency
     • Generate contracts from approved templates with variable insertion

130. Contract Review and Approval Workflow

     • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/contract | Impact: Review speed
     • Route contracts through approval process automatically

131. Contract Renewal Tracking

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/week | Impact: Risk management
     • Track contract expiration dates and send renewal alerts

132. Contract Amendment Processing

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 1-2 hours/amendment | Impact: Efficiency
     • Process contract amendments through approval workflow

Compliance Monitoring

133. Regulatory Change Monitoring

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/week | Impact: Compliance
     • Monitor regulatory changes and assess impact

134. Compliance Training Assignment

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/quarter | Impact: Training completion
     • Assign compliance training based on roles and requirements

135. Policy Distribution and Acknowledgment

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-4 hours/policy | Impact: Compliance tracking
     • Distribute policy updates and track acknowledgments

136. Audit Preparation and Documentation

     • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 15-20 hours/audit | Impact: Audit efficiency
     • Compile audit documentation and evidence automatically

Risk Management

137. Risk Assessment Scheduling

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 1-2 hours/week | Impact: Risk visibility
     • Schedule periodic risk assessments automatically

138. Incident Reporting and Tracking

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/incident | Impact: Response management
     • Track legal incidents and manage response activities

139. Insurance Renewal Management

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/quarter | Impact: Coverage continuity
     • Track insurance policies and manage renewals

140. Litigation Hold Management

     • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 6-8 hours/case | Impact: Legal compliance
     • Manage litigation hold processes and documentation

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Executive & Administration (16 Processes)

Executive Support

141. Calendar Management and Scheduling

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 5-8 hours/week | Impact: Executive productivity
     • Manage executive calendars and schedule meetings automatically

142. Meeting Preparation and Follow-up

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/week | Impact: Meeting effectiveness
     • Prepare meeting materials and distribute follow-up actions

143. Travel Booking and Itinerary Management

     • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/trip | Impact: Travel efficiency
     • Book travel and manage itineraries automatically

144. Expense Report Compilation

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/week | Impact: Expense accuracy
     • Compile executive expense reports automatically

Document Management

145. Document Version Control

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/week | Impact: Document integrity
     • Manage document versions and approvals automatically

146. Document Distribution and Tracking

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/week | Impact: Communication efficiency
     • Distribute documents and track receipt acknowledgments

147. Records Retention Management

     • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 4-6 hours/month | Impact: Compliance
     • Manage document retention policies automatically

148. Board Meeting Preparation

     • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 8-10 hours/meeting | Impact: Meeting preparation
     • Compile board meeting materials automatically

Facilities & Administration

149. Office Supply Ordering

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/week | Impact: Supply availability
     • Automatically order office supplies based on usage patterns

150. Visitor Management

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 1-2 hours/day | Impact: Security
     • Manage visitor registration and notification automatically

151. Maintenance Request Processing

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/week | Impact: Facility management
     • Process facility maintenance requests automatically

152. Space Utilization Tracking

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/month | Impact: Space optimization
     • Track conference room and workspace utilization

153. Event Planning and Coordination

     • Level: Complex | Time Savings: 10-15 hours/event | Impact: Event success
     • Coordinate company events from planning to execution

154. Vendor Performance Evaluation

     • Level: Moderate | Time Savings: 3-4 hours/quarter | Impact: Vendor management
     • Evaluate and score vendor performance automatically

155. Budget Tracking and Alerts

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 2-3 hours/week | Impact: Budget control
     • Track departmental budgets and send variance alerts

156. Communication and Announcement Distribution

     • Level: Simple | Time Savings: 1-2 hours/announcement | Impact: Internal communication
     • Distribute company announcements across multiple channels

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Implementation Strategy: From List to Reality

Prioritization Framework

Quick Wins (Start Here)

• Simple automation level
• High time savings potential
• Minimal integration requirements
• Clear ROI within 30 days

Examples: Email automation, basic scheduling, simple data entry, notification systems

Phase 2 Implementations

• Moderate complexity
• Cross-departmental impact
• Requires system integration
• ROI within 90 days

Examples: Approval workflows, customer communication sequences, reporting automation

Advanced Implementations

• Complex automation level
• Enterprise-wide impact
• Significant integration requirements
• Strategic transformation focus

Examples: End-to-end process automation, AI-powered decision making, comprehensive workflow orchestration

Department-by-Department Implementation Plan

Month 1-2: Sales & Customer Service

• Focus on customer-facing processes with immediate impact
• Quick wins in lead management and support ticket automation
• High visibility results that build momentum

Month 3-4: Finance & HR

• Automate high-volume, rule-based processes
• Significant cost savings opportunities
• Improved accuracy and compliance

Month 5-6: Operations & IT

• Complex integrations and system-wide processes
• Infrastructure for supporting other department automations
• Long-term efficiency gains

Platform Selection Considerations

For Small Businesses (1-50 employees)

• Start with simple automation platforms
• Focus on no-code solutions that business users can manage
• Prioritize quick implementation and immediate value

For Medium Businesses (51-200 employees)

• Invest in platforms that can scale with growth
• Balance ease of use with advanced capabilities
• Plan for cross-departmental automation coordination

For Enterprise Organizations (200+ employees)

• Choose platforms with enterprise governance capabilities
• Plan for complex integrations and compliance requirements
• Establish centers of excellence for automation management

Measuring Success: KPIs for Process Automation

Efficiency Metrics

• Time Savings: Hours saved per week/month per process
• Process Speed: Reduction in process completion time
• Throughput: Increase in volume handled without additional resources
• Error Reduction: Decrease in manual errors and rework

Financial Metrics

• Cost Savings: Direct reduction in operational costs
• ROI: Return on automation investment over time
• Revenue Impact: Increased revenue from faster/better processes
• Resource Reallocation: Value of human time redirected to strategic work

Quality Metrics

• Accuracy Improvement: Reduction in errors and inconsistencies
• Compliance: Better adherence to procedures and regulations
• Customer Satisfaction: Improvement in service quality and speed
• Employee Satisfaction: Reduced frustration with repetitive tasks

Conclusion: Your Automation Journey Starts Now

These 156 business processes represent just the beginning of what's possible with modern automation platforms. The key to successful implementation isn't trying to automate everything at once—it's starting with processes that deliver quick wins while building the foundation for more sophisticated automation.

Every organization will have different priorities and constraints, but the fundamentals remain consistent: identify repetitive, rule-based processes; start with simple implementations; measure results; and gradually expand automation scope based on success and learning.

Platforms like Autonoly make these automations accessible to organizations of all sizes, providing the no-code tools necessary to implement sophisticated business process automation without technical expertise. The question isn't whether your organization should embrace automation—it's how quickly you can begin realizing these benefits.

The businesses that thrive in the coming decade will be those that systematically replace manual processes with intelligent automation, freeing human talent for the strategic, creative, and relationship-building activities that drive competitive advantage.

Your automation journey begins with selecting the first process from this list and taking action. Which of these 156 processes will you automate first?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I determine which processes to automate first?

A: Start with processes that are highly repetitive (performed daily), rule-based (follow consistent steps), time-consuming (take significant hours weekly), and have clear business rules. Our recommendation is to begin with simple automation level processes that save 3+ hours per week.

Q: Do I need technical expertise to automate these processes?

A: Most of the "Simple" level processes can be automated using no-code platforms like Autonoly without any technical expertise. "Moderate" processes may require some configuration knowledge, while "Complex" processes might benefit from technical support or professional services.

Q: How long does it typically take to implement these automations?

A: Simple automations can often be set up in hours or days, moderate automations typically take 1-3 weeks, and complex automations may require 1-3 months for full implementation. The key is starting small and building momentum.

Q: What's the typical ROI for business process automation?

A: Most organizations see positive ROI within 3-6 months for simple automations and 6-12 months for complex implementations. The ROI comes from time savings (typically 30-80% reduction in process time), error reduction (up to 95% fewer mistakes), and human resource reallocation to higher-value activities.

Q: Can these automations work with our existing software systems?

A: Modern automation platforms like Autonoly offer extensive integration capabilities with hundreds of popular business applications. Most common business software can be integrated without custom development, though legacy systems may require additional configuration.

Q: How do we measure the success of our automation initiatives?

A: Track key metrics including time savings (hours per week), error reduction (before/after error rates), cost savings (reduced operational expenses), and user satisfaction (employee and customer feedback). Establish baselines before automation and measure regularly after implementation.

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Ready to start automating your business processes? Explore Autonoly's automation platform and discover how easy it is to implement these 156 process automations without any coding required. Transform your operations from manual to automated and free your team to focus on strategic, high-value work that drives business growth.