Start with repetition, not ambition
The best first automation is rarely the most impressive one. It is usually a process that happens often, follows a recognisable pattern, and makes somebody stop what they are doing to copy, check, or chase information. Invoice approvals, new-starter setup, ticket triage, and moving form data into a system are common examples.
A useful workflow has a boundary
A process is a good candidate when you can name where it starts, what information it needs, what decision happens next, and what a completed result looks like. If every case is different, automate the predictable preparation and leave the judgement to a person.
Example: invoice approval
A lightweight workflow can receive an invoice, extract its fields, check the supplier and purchase order, route it to the right approver, and record the outcome. n8n, Make.com, Power Automate, or Zapier may all be appropriate depending on the systems involved. The important part is the control around exceptions, not the brand of tool.
Measure before promising savings
Before building, count how many items pass through the process, how long a normal item takes, how often it needs rework, and where it waits. That gives the team a baseline and makes it possible to decide whether the automation is worth maintaining.
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