Don’t automate everything at once
It’s tempting to automate every manual step you can find. But automating a broken or poorly understood process just makes the mess move faster. The goal is to pick the few changes that deliver real impact with manageable risk.
A simple prioritization framework
Score each candidate process on two axes: how much time and error it costs today, and how complex or risky it is to automate. The best first projects are high-cost and low-complexity — repetitive, well-understood, rules-based work like data transfers, routine reports, and notifications.
Build momentum with early wins
Starting with clear, low-risk wins builds trust and frees up time you can reinvest into tackling the harder processes later. Automation is a program, not a one-time project — early momentum makes the rest possible.