Clunky Workflow: Is Your Team Slowed Down by Labor-Intensive, Manual Processes?

30% of workers feel manual or repetitive work is the biggest barrier to productivity, per ThoughtSpot and Sapio Research. These clunky workflows can slow down operations and hurt your bottom line. This article will explore these challenges and offer solutions to streamline your workflows.

Understanding clunky workflows

Manual processes are inefficient and error prone. Signs of clunky workflows include data entry errors, delayed orders, and high operational costs. For example, a small business supply dealer might struggle with manual inventory updates, leading to stockouts and overstocking.

The cost of manual processes

Manual processes eat up time and productivity. Employees spend valuable hours on tasks that could be automated. This not only reduces morale but also leads to higher labor costs and missed opportunities. Customers also suffer from delays and mistakes, resulting in poor service and lost sales.

Manual process to identify

Order entry and processing:

• Manually entering customer orders into separate systems (e.g., sales, inventory, and accounting) wastes time and leads to mistakes.
• Re-entering the same data multiple times causes potential errors and delays. For instance, one misplaced digit can lead to a shipping error.

Inventory management:

• Manually updating inventory levels across different systems is time-consuming and prone to errors.
• Physically counting stock and reconciling it with records in multiple databases is labor-intensive and inefficient.

Invoicing and billing:

• Manually generating invoices and entering billing information into separate accounting software creates delays.
• Tracking and following up on payments without automated reminders leads to missed or late payments.

Customer relationship management (CRM):

• Maintaining customer information in spreadsheets or disparate systems makes it hard to get a complete view of customer interactions.
• Manually tracking customer interactions and sales history is inefficient and prone to oversight.

Reporting and analysis:

• Compiling data from various systems to generate reports is tedious and error prone. 76% of SMB workers spend 1-3 hours a day simply moving data from one place to another, per Zapier, 2021.
• Manually analysing data to gain business insights is time-consuming, which can delay decision-making.

Purchasing and supplier management:

• Manually creating purchase orders and tracking deliveries leads to delays and potential errors.
• Updating supplier information and managing communications without integrated systems causes inefficiencies.

Shipping and fulfillment:

• Coordinating shipping details manually and updating tracking information in separate systems causes delays and errors.
• Managing returns and exchanges without streamlined processes frustrates customers and staff.

Customer service:

• Responding to customer inquiries and issues without a unified view of customer history and orders slows down response times.
• Manually tracking support tickets and follow-ups is inefficient and can lead to poor customer satisfaction.

Marketing and sales campaigns:

• Manually segmenting customer lists and tracking the effectiveness of marketing campaigns wastes time and reduces effectiveness.
• Entering sales data from campaigns into separate systems for analysis is inefficient.

Ecommerce management:

• Manually updating product listings, prices, and promotions is labor-intensive.
• Processing online orders separately from other sales channels leads to delays and errors.

Workflow and process management:

• Managing workflows through emails, spreadsheets, and manual checklists is chaotic and inefficient.
• Coordinating tasks and projects without an integrated project management tool leads to missed deadlines and errors.

Solutions to streamline workflows

Integrated software systems:

• Using ERP systems centralises data and automates processes, reducing errors and saving time.
• Benefit: Increased efficiency and accuracy across operations. A study by Aberdeen Group found that companies using ERP systems experience an average of 15% increase in productivity.

Automation tools:

• Automating repetitive tasks with CRM software and automated invoicing systems frees up time for strategic activities.
• Benefit: Enhanced productivity and employee satisfaction. According to a 2023 Gitnux Market Data Report, 75% of companies that utilise workflow automation say it boosts their competitive advantage.

Cloud-based solutions:

• Adopting cloud-based solutions allows for real-time access and collaboration, improving responsiveness and flexibility.
• Benefit: Better collaboration and faster decision-making A survey by Flexera found that 92% of organisations reported increased collaboration as a result of cloud adoption.

Don't let clunky workflows hold your business back

For over 30 years, ECI Solutions has been the trusted partner of business supply dealers, delivering innovative software solutions that streamline operations and drive growth. With a proven track record and a deep understanding of the industry, we’ve helped thousands of businesses like yours overcome the challenges of manual workflows.

ECI's industry leading Horizon ERP and integrated software solutions offer a complete solution designed to automate the manual processes that are bogging down your business. From sales and service to dispatch and distribution, our complete approach eliminates data entry errors, accelerates order fulfillment, and optimises inventory management. By partnering with ECI, you can focus on growing your business, not managing paperwork.