It costs
to let it go
From
manual workflows to IT automation
Automation
Lack of overview, too many "check-up" tasks, and the perpetual feeling of "I've forgotten something." It's at that point you think: "There must be some IT solution..." But the thought of investing in IT is barely finished before it's replaced by the thought: "Do I dare take the leap?" The risk is high, and "things are going quite well."
However, when everyday life resumes, and you find yourself having to run halfway to check on employees, or rush back and forth between the office and the production floor to keep up with whether order number 217 is finished - and when a new order can start.
When you have to remember if a delivery was a partial delivery, and therefore you've printed two identical delivery notes. Or when you can't find the customer's latest drawing or letter and "oops, have we run out of materials...!" Well, then it becomes NECESSARY to look for some IT that can help. Risk and "things are going quite well" shouldn't hinder the development, growth, and improvements in your production company.
The dilemma is that the IT industry has a worse reputation than used car dealers. And what meets you is a jungle of IT systems and hungry IT salesmen, all saying: "yes, we can handle that easily," "we'll just customize our system."
The solution lies in handling an IT investment with common sense – not through passivity. Below, I have listed 10 good pieces of advice to minimize the risks associated with an IT investment:
- 1. Ask someone in your industry. Inquire with colleagues about their experiences.
- 2. Has the IT supplier understood your business? Ask for a workflow description in the proposal; this typically reveals whether the supplier has listened to and understood your business.
- 3. Get a payment plan or fixed price. The risk should be at least equivalent.
- 4. Take references. Always get 1-2 references and inquire about collaboration and competence.
- 5. Paper first - then IT automation. If the process works manually and on paper, it's okay to "power it up" with IT. If the process isn't in place, optimizing it with IT will only make things worse.
- 6. If the salesperson says "yes, we can do that" to everything - be cautious!
- 7. Eat the elephant in bites. Limit your needs to 1-2 specific areas that need solving.
- 8. Make a business case. Put numbers on your savings/earnings. Convert, for example, TIME to DKK.
- 9. An advisor by your side. Someone you know or trust. Someone who knows about IT and can look at things objectively.
- 10. Allocate time. You know your business best, and it pays off to keep the supplier on their toes.