Among the benefits of today’s advancements in technology is the reduced manual labor in performing various tasks. From sensor lights to website chatbots, it appears that automation is all around us. That’s even more apparent when it comes to business processes.
There’s no denying that tasks automation is a significant advantage. Not only does it not require manual input, but it also reduces errors and delays. Such tools offer various automation features that streamline workflows, resulting in enhanced productivity.
A Quick Comparison of the Best Tasks Automation Tools
| Best Task Automation Tools | Free Version / Trial | Starting Price | Best Suited For | Key Features |
| Salesforce | 30-Day Trial | $25 | Enterprise | Powerful CRM Real-time analytics |
| Zapier | Yes / 14-Day Free Trial | $19.99 | Small Business to Enterprise | Compability with thousands of apps User-friendly |
| Kissflow | Free Trial (By Request) | $10/user/month | Small to Medium-sized Business | App builder Case management |
| Cflow | 14-Day Free Trial | $7 /user/month | Small to Medium-sized Business | Intuitive UI No coding required |
Best Tasks Automation Tools
If your team spends a significant time doing repetitive tasks, like sending follow-ups or data entry, you have to invest in automation software. Here are some of the most recommended tools capable of handling different tasks automatically.
1. Salesforce
If you’re looking for a CRM or project management software capable of optimizing your tasks, Salesforce is arguably the best choice possible.
The software is designed to streamline the different aspects of your business, from the sales team to the IT department. Its integrated platform allows you to provide exceptional customer service and improved employee productivity.
Key Features
Automation for any business process is one of the key features of Salesforce. Here are some functionalities included if you choose to avail of its services.
- Workflow Automation Tool
Salesforce features Process Builder, a tool that delivers an intuitive point-and-click interface for business process automation. You can optimize workflow processes related to deals and other processes.
For example, you can auto-assign tasks or create automatic email alerts during certain sales pipeline stages. If you have newcomers to the team, you can guide them through qualifying conversations using automation.
- Flow Builder
Flow Builder is a very powerful tool available to a Salesforce Admin, offering equivalent capabilities as Salesforce developers. It lets you automate various business processes by creating apps called Flows, which gather, update, modify, and generate Salesforce data.
After that, it will make those flows available to the appropriate users or teams. Flows may execute logic, trigger Apex classes, connect with the Salesforce database, and guide users in data collection via screens.
- Digital Process Automation
This is a feature of Salesforce Flow that offers streamlined, industry-grade automation to help offer integrated solutions quickly via declarative tools. It is powered by OmniStudio and utilizes prebuilt process libraries and industry data models to enable IT processes to have end-to-end automation.
2. Zapier
Work automation across 5,000+ apps is how Zapier describes its services. While Salesforce automation revolves around its own platform, this tool is more about optimizing the other programs you use.
Well-known software companies, such as Slack and Shopify, use it to enhance their processes. With the help of Zapier, you can focus on more tasks while reducing work-related frustration.
Key Features
As one of the most recommended apps for automating tasks, Zapier will help you find ways to minimize repetitive tasks in the programs you use every day. These are some of its features worth highlighting.
- Lead and Customer Management
Zapier labels its automated workflows as Zap. You connect your preferred lead source or customer platform to your preferred communication tool by applying a couple of Zaps. It is possible to set up how your team gets notifications for every new lead, like from where they will most likely notice them (email alerts, SMS, or app notification).
- Calendar Events Tracking
You can apply Zaps to minimize or eliminate the chances of missing important meetings and events. The app allows you to update multiple calendar apps and communications platforms to ensure you and your team won’t forget or miss an event.
- Data Consolidation
With Zapier, it’s simple to apply automation that transmits data to a spreadsheet, saving you the time and effort of copying and pasting it manually. You may submit all types of information like filled-out forms to a spreadsheet app like Google Sheets.
- Social Media Management
If you’re in charge of handing social media posts across multiple platforms, it could be challenging to keep them all updated all the time. Reposting content can be a simple task, yet it may become cumbersome if you have to post several times on short notice.
However, if you set up a Zap, it is possible to have them all show the post you intend to share without manual input.
3. Kissflow
Creating workflow processes, case boards, and even apps are all possible with Kissflow. The cloud-based app is designed to automate various business processes and monitor company performance.
The best part? You don’t have to be knowledgeable in coding to experience the full functionality of this task automation tool.
Key Features
As an end-to-end workflow platform, Kissflow is designed to create and manage processes across multiple departments for small and large businesses. Here are a couple of its convenient functionalities.
- User Interface
One of the strengths of Kissflow is its user-friendly look and feel. You can get comfortable easily, thanks to the simple drag-and-drop interface. Accessing data from multiple devices is also possible, which means you’ll be working with speed and efficiency.
- Workflow Optimization
Creating powerful automation for assignments, notifications, and escalations is easier with Kissflow. Thanks to this app, you can expect to have increased speed and fewer errors in managing your tasks.
What’s more, you can integrate your workflows to other automation tools like Zapier to further enhance productivity. This app allows for cross-system orientation via its intensive and robust APIs. Task management is also optimized because of the task-level control over each of your processes.
- Collaboration
The program features process-based activity feeds for you and your team, ensuring an optimal collaborative workplace. Since the app is cloud-based, location won’t be an issue for those who will contribute to your work.
Kissflow offers storage space for your files so that you can share your documents with other team members. Moreover, smart alerts are available for you to get automatic, instant updates for any specific event or task.
4. Cflow
An easy workflow automation experience is what Cflow promises to its users. Whether you’re a part of the sales or HR department, the app can significantly boost your entire team’s performance.
Key Features
Are you a part of an enterprise or running a small business? Either way, Cflow promises to revolutionize your processes. There are a few notable features of this automation app worth checking out.
- Form Builder
You can reduce recurring tasks with simple automation through the Form Builder. What you’ll like about it is that it is designed to accommodate almost every type of business process.
Basically, the program allows for comprehensive customization of forms to fit your business’ specific needs and preferences. You can group or rearrange group fields, create tables, or add more fields.
- Business Rules Engine
Creating a workflow with Cflow is easier because of its convenient one-click setups. On the other hand, if you want a more in-depth and complex rules engine, it is also possible. You can set multiple conditions, operands, and operators based on your business needs.
- Document Management
The app wants to take the challenge out of managing different documents that are due for signing. You can scan digital and physical documents and store them online or offline for later use.
By using respective tags, searching for specific docs becomes effortless. What’s more, the centralized workflow process allows you to keep track of any changes made to your files.
The Beauty of Tasks Automation
Any business owner will find no downsides to using automation tools, and they would be correct. No one can’t deny the impacts automation has on efficiency, accuracy, and overall productivity. The only remotely challenging aspect is picking the program that fits your needs.
Tasks Automation FAQs
1. What are the advantages of task automation in business processes?
Regardless of the size of the operation and the industry, productivity is one of the key aspects that determine profitability. If the majority of the processes are done manually, it usually translates to more costs and more risks.
For example, if you are operating a meat processing plant, you need more workforce if you don’t have a conveyor belt to transport the products from one machine to another. This is also true when it comes to office environments. Without tasks automation software, you will mostly need additional staff members to do tedious work.
Here are some benefits of relying on tasks automation tools to boost the quality of work.
Efficiency
One of the prominent dangers of manual tasks is human error. You may not be able to copy all the information provided on the document, leading to an incomplete and inaccurate report. Other times, you may forget to send follow-up emails to a potential client about a business opportunity.
Both of these examples can be disastrous, resulting in repetitive work and loss of income.
Automated tasks improve productivity and minimize mistakes by ensuring consistency and giving accurate, trusted output. The quality of work becomes more reliable and will be significant in the growth and success of the company.
Better Customer Experience
Optimal customer satisfaction is the holy grail of every business. Once your work becomes more consistent, error-free, and reliable, clients will be more than willing to conduct business with you now and in the future.
Gaining their trust and persuading them to patronize your offers becomes easier if your quality of work is impeccable.
Tasks automation is always a consistent factor for establishing a better customer experience. With organized and clearly available data, it is simple and quick to respond to and answer any client misunderstanding or issues. For example, chatbots could help resolve or address an issue in real-time.
Time-Saving
This is one of the primary goals of workflow automation. By freeing yourself or your team from repetitive tasks, you are more available to do other important work. You have the time to be more up close and personal with your clients, brainstorm new ideas, build a healthy work environment, do administrative tasks, and more.
With increased availability to focus on other processes, your work quality will significantly improve.
Data Security
If your organization still uses paper for keeping records, the security risk is nothing to scoff at. After all, paper documents are more prone to damage, loss, and theft than their digital counterparts.
Automating operations provide extra security safeguards that protect your most sensitive information. With the help of Digital Process Automation technology, you can store documents securely using different levels of protection, such as encrypted logins or password-protected files.
Improved Communication and Collaboration
The most productive business offices are usually those that have implemented automated workflows for their tasks. Mundane tasks have been significantly reduced, resulting in improved communication across multiple departments.
One distinct feature of tasks automation software is the ability to send updates and reminders to inform your team without manual input. This makes collaboration more efficient and organized.
2. What are some examples of tasks that should be automated?
There is a multitude of tasks that you can and should automate. One of the common uses of automation is email responding. You can set up an automatic reply for the most common inquiries you receive to help save time.
Backing up files is also achievable via automation. Apps like Dropbox are designed to save your documents and other files on a daily or weekly schedule on the cloud. This way, you won’t easily lose critical data.
A social media management tool usually has an automation feature for scheduled posts. For example, you can share an event post during a particular date for all of your accounts.
3. How to reduce repetitive tasks?
The best method to minimize repetitive tasks is using a good task automation software app. However, to get the most out of it, you have to optimize your entire workflow. Once you’re done, you may experiment with automating repetitive tasks using the new protocols in your chosen app.
You may further reduce tedious work by building inventive team charters, considering the latest methods for business processes, and collaborating with industry experts.
4. What are the primary types of business process automation?
There are four types of business process automation.
- Basic automation covers the most basic tasks that must be completed, such as setting a centralized location to store all saved data.
- Process automation is usually done by a dedicated program. It can be in regards to forms, data collection, or sales pipeline.
- Integration automation is about connecting one program to another to do tasks. An example is when your email list on Outlook receive reminders about a particular campaign from your CRM.
- Finally, artificial intelligence automation is combining your software tools with AI to have faster, more intelligent decision-making.
5. What is robotic process automation?
RPA is a type of automation that enables the creation, application, and management of software robots or “bots” that copy human actions. Its primary purpose is to automate some of the most tedious and repetitive digital tasks in office workplaces.
For example, bots can perform form completion, send follow-ups, copy files from one location to another, and update the database. Many companies favor the use of RPA in their operations because of its effectiveness in boosting work efficiency.
6. Will small companies benefit from task automation?
Any company will only benefit from automating tasks. As the world becomes more digital, it can be hard to keep up if you prefer to do things manually.
Automation tools are usually associated with large companies, as they have the resources to cover the subscription fees. Nowadays, you will find automation apps made specifically to help small business owners automate critical tasks. An example is automated payroll processing, which can be otherwise expensive if you choose to hire someone.
