Process: Establishing Scalable Workflows
Automation without process optimisation risks amplifying inefficiencies. Successful automation begins with optimised workflows that are scalable and adaptable.
According to Forrester,
81% of decision-makers believe that AI-enabled automation will significantly enhance content-heavy processes over the next two to three years.
However, only 30% of organisations are currently leveraging these capabilities, indicating that many lack the foundational processes necessary to fully realise automation’s potential.
[1] Source: Forrester, The Fifth Annual Content Services Pulse Study, 2024 Edition
To prepare for automation, businesses must optimise workflows to eliminate inefficiencies. Poorly designed processes lead to bottlenecks and manual workarounds, which automation will only exacerbate.
A process-first approach ensures readiness by focusing on:
- Mapping workflows across the entire content lifecycle—from ideation to distribution.
- Streamlining approval and compliance steps.
- Equipping teams with collaborative tools and efficient workflows.
A combination of methodologies like Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) and Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (DMAIC) is essential at this stage. BPMN offers a visual representation of end-to-end workflows, making it easier to identify inefficiencies, while DMAIC, widely used in Six Sigma, provides a structured, data-driven approach to improve processes systematically.
McKinsey[2] emphasises that companies successful in automation treat it as a strategic priority, redesigning processes to align with automation and AI capabilities. We take this a step further and propose including the use of BPMN to visualise the current state and DMAIC to methodically improve processes before automation.
[2] The imperatives for automation success survey, August 2020
