Is Automation the Key to Operational Success?
Terry Ransom is a consultant at Ormandy; we sat down with him to learn about the role of automation in operational success.
Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself?
A: I am a richly blessed husband and father of five grown children. In the balance between family and career, I also enjoy making music, reading, and just about anything outdoors! My career journey has brought me from computer programmer/analyst all the way to executive management in a variety of businesses, from start-ups to multi-billion dollar, multinational firms.
Q: As a consultant, what's your role at Ormandy?
A: I consult with both internal and external customers to help optimize business tools, operations, and profitability.
Q: What advice do you have for companies looking to improve their operational success?
A: First, let's define success. A successful business has predictable revenue growth and expense reduction, efficient operations, and sustained profitability. To achieve success, as we have defined it, we need processes that generate revenues, track expenses, account for cash flows, and monitor operations. We also need to forecast sales, budget expenses, produce financial reports, pay employees, and purchase inventory and supplies.
Q: So, wouldn't automation be key?
A: Let's define automation. Automation is the use of technology in everyday processes to increase efficiency. But automating disconnected processes often causes mistakes, and increases stress. Employees have a hard time keeping up with automated processes that are disconnected; it's like Lucy and Ethel at the chocolate factory from that episode of I Love Lucy.
Q: Then, what's the solution?
A: Well, it's NOT the speed of automation. It is seamless integration that allows business processes to work together to make success possible.
As your organization explores software solutions, there are features you should look for.
Truly integrated automation is the key to success!
Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself?
A: I am a richly blessed husband and father of five grown children. In the balance between family and career, I also enjoy making music, reading, and just about anything outdoors! My career journey has brought me from computer programmer/analyst all the way to executive management in a variety of businesses, from start-ups to multi-billion dollar, multinational firms.
Q: As a consultant, what's your role at Ormandy?
A: I consult with both internal and external customers to help optimize business tools, operations, and profitability.
Q: What advice do you have for companies looking to improve their operational success?
A: First, let's define success. A successful business has predictable revenue growth and expense reduction, efficient operations, and sustained profitability. To achieve success, as we have defined it, we need processes that generate revenues, track expenses, account for cash flows, and monitor operations. We also need to forecast sales, budget expenses, produce financial reports, pay employees, and purchase inventory and supplies.
Q: So, wouldn't automation be key?
A: Let's define automation. Automation is the use of technology in everyday processes to increase efficiency. But automating disconnected processes often causes mistakes, and increases stress. Employees have a hard time keeping up with automated processes that are disconnected; it's like Lucy and Ethel at the chocolate factory from that episode of I Love Lucy.
Q: Then, what's the solution?
A: Well, it's NOT the speed of automation. It is seamless integration that allows business processes to work together to make success possible.
As your organization explores software solutions, there are features you should look for.
- Systems and processes designed to work together, not just connected later as an afterthought
- Software designed for single entry, where info is entered once and utilized across all affected processes
- Databases that report from any time perspective as needed to "recreate" history
- Systems that are broad enough to include all of your business processes, yet agile enough to change as your business grows
Truly integrated automation is the key to success!