Business automation in Africa: Where is it going and are you prepared?

Businesses in Africa are growing, and owners know that making the best use of their resources is what will put them on the path to success. One growingly popular technique is the use of business automation. In this article we will look at what business automation is, how companies and industries are applying it to their daily tasks, and what benefits they are gaining from this.

What is Business Automation? Why does it matter?

Business automation is a process that involves using tools, applications, software, and programs to undertake tasks that are repetitive or can be streamlined with automated functions – freeing up staff and resources to handle higher value opportunities, more complex tasks, and often a wider range of activities.

Whether you are looking to automate data collection, take the trouble out of complex billing processes, or manage your day-to-day needs, automation can make your budget go further, and help your business grow.

How is Business Automation growing in Africa?

Business automation in Africa are still in the early stages of adoption (although usage is steadily growing with the automation market for the Middle East and Africa set to grow at a CAGR of 5.21% by 2027, shared by Mordor Intelligence) and African technology is making good progress in developing solutions and new techniques that handle coverage, availability, and other challenges that are relatively unique to the area.

There are many different forms of automation, such as utilising a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) program (a tool that dramatically improves productivity, increases efficiency, and allows companies to grasp opportunities more effectively), and as business owners discover the benefits of automation, it is expected to become even more popular and widely used.

What are the benefits of Business Automation?

Some of the key improvements you can expect to see with the right automation process in place include:

• Cost reduction – Automated processes, once set up and operating correctly, do not generally require human intervention, which means reduced staff operating costs (both for the initial work and the ability to run the tool outside of working hours), and reduced costs related to human error.
  
• Increased availability – Automated responses allow for customer service regardless of the time of day or night, which may lead to higher conversion rates and sales.
  Auto-responses may also increase customer satisfaction, and help to reduce negative interactions.
  
• Optimised performance – When your systems are working together, and general queries or customer engagements are being handled at an introductory level, your team are available to work on matters that require their expertise and can focus more on the tasks that will generate higher income for your business, improve the company reputation, or reduce complaints.
• Improved employee morale and increased productivity – Answering the same basic questions over and over can be exhausting and can make your staff feel less appreciated. With automation covering Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), your team can be assigned work that gives them more motivation and satisfaction, leading to more productivity and higher morale.

How can the right automation and CRM help your business?

Whilst there is a lot of different automation available, for different segments of your business – how you handle your customers, deal with the data you collect, and make use of the information you have will make a dramatic difference when it comes to improving your bottom line.

A CRM is more than just a tool for keeping information stored, it can form an integral part of your data collection strategy and inform both your marketing and sales strategies.

The right CRM software will help you to:

• Operate from a data-driven approach.
• Identify your customer-base, and potential new target audiences.
• Manage your daily marketing and sales activities.
• Focus your promotional activities by customer segment.
• Determine where to focus your next campaign based on geographical data.
• Analyse existing campaigns and strategies to see what is working – and what is not.
• Create a chain of responsibility and manage resources.
• Generate targeted leads and follow up on opportunities.
• Improve customer satisfaction and reduce complaints.
• Make effective decisions based on real data and actual customer engagements.

Who is using Business Automation in Africa?

Although adoption of business automation in Africa has not been as swift as some countries, it has been growing and the companies making use of the programs are finding the process extremely beneficial to their growth and evolution.

Industries which have been adopting automation, and seeing success include:

• Agriculture
• Automotive
• Banking
• Utilities
• Mining
• Manufacturers
• Healthcare
• Retail

Companies who are dealing with online activities may find automation puts them ahead of their competitors, as it is still uncommon for African businesses to have automation systems in place.

Finding the right tools for the tasks and setting the infrastructure in place can make an enormous difference – but, as with all elements of business, knowing what to choose, how to implement it, and what you need to monitor and maintain matters.

How can we help you on your journey to success?

Making the right choice for your business is not as simple as just signing up for the first available program and expecting it to do the work – you need to know exactly what you need, how you plan on using it, and whether the tool is up for the task.

TEB Apps is a CRM and automation software that can be personalized to your unique challenges and provides solutions that are ready to be deployed to help you achieve your specific business goals.

You can request a demo at a time that suits you, and find out for yourself just how we can help your business take a digital approach that manages your business, gets you ahead of your competitors, and makes the most of your budget. Some of the key features of TEB Apps include:

• Automated manual tasks – From data-input, and lead assignment, to invoice creation and more, you can reduce your operating costs and increase your efficiency.
• Create a central data hub – With centralised data, and granular access options so only the right team members are seeing the right data, your TEB datahub will become the core of your data operation.
• Create bespoke reports – Our TEB filters and funnels will allow you to generate custom reports, that show the data you need, with the click of a button.
• Cost effective solutions – We are not a one-size fits all system, we will help you determine exactly what you need, and create different packages that suit your unique needs and your budget.