What Processes Can I Automate With DocuWare?

Insights into Workflow Automation: departments, processes, industries

As businesses navigate the ever-evolving landscape of digital transformation, several pressing questions often arise:

1. Which department in my organisation is the ideal starting point for implementing automation?
2. What processes should I automate first?
3. Are industry peers already leveraging automation and where do we stand in this digital race – leading the pack or playing catch-up?"

This article provides unique, data-driven insights from DocuWare's experience with over 3,000 customers in 2024. We provide answers to these pivotal questions and guide you through the journey of digital transformation with real-world examples and trends.

Whether you're looking to streamline operations, benchmark against industry standards or identify the best department for initiating automation, the following insights will illuminate the path to efficient and effective digital integration in your business.

Pioneers of digital transformation across industries in 2024

At DocuWare, we acquired over 3,000 customers in 2024. Based on their data, we know exactly in which departments our new customers are starting their digital transformation and workflow automation journey. The leading department is finance and accounting representing 61% followed by HR with 14%. Next are sales with 10%, services with 4% and QA with 3%. As we can see: no department can be complete without business process automation.

What are reasons why Finance and HR are at the forefront?

Finance departments have pioneered the use of automation to reduce costs. By streamlining processes such as invoice processing, financial reporting and payroll management, they achieve significant savings. Leading finance teams spend more time on value-added tasks such as financial planning, analysis and strategic decision-making. Automation frees them from mundane tasks, allowing them a focus on higher-value activities1.

HR departments are responsible for recruiting, onboarding, performance management and employee engagement. Automation simplifies these processes to ensure efficient talent acquisition and retention. As HR deals with complex compliance requirements, it’s critical to reduce the manual, error prone processes. Automation ensures accurate record keeping, timely reporting and regulatory compliance.

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Top 10 automated processes in 2024: a customer perspective

We know the answer from all new customers in 2024.

Here’s a list of the top 10 processes our customer automated in 2024:

1. Accounts payable process: streamlining invoice processing and payment workflows.
2. Purchase order process: improving the efficiency of procurement operations.
3. Sales order process: automating the handling and processing of sales orders.
4. Document distribution portal: facilitating efficient, centralised document sharing and access.
5. Employee file management: organising and managing employee-related documents effectively.
6. Customer file management: keeping customer records organised and easily accessible.
7. Legal compliance management: ensuring legal documents are managed in a compliant way.
8. Expense report management: simplifying the process of handling and approving expense reports.
9. Quality compliance management: Managing documentation related to quality standards and compliance.
10. Recruitment process: Streamlining the various stages of the hiring process.

Which departments are leading in document process automation?

2024 marked a significant year for digital transformation, with certain industries leading the way. These sectors have not only embraced automation but have set the benchmark for others to follow. The top industries leading this transformation include:

1. Manufacturing: innovating production processes with digital solutions.
2. Wholesale trade: streamlining supply chains and inventory management.
3. Professional, scientific and technical services: enhancing service delivery and innovation.
4. Construction: implementing technology for project management and design.
5. Health care and social assistance: revolutionising patient care and administrative functions.
6. Real estate, renting and leasing: digitising property management and leasing operations.
7. Other services (except public administration): diversifying the use of digital tools across various service sectors.
8. Educational services: transforming learning and management systems.
9. Transportation and warehousing: optimising logistics and distribution with digital technologies.
10. Administrative, support, waste management and remediation services: leveraging technology to deliver services efficiently.
11. Finance and insurance: redefining financial services with digital platforms.
12. Public administration: modernising governance and public services.

If you have any further questions, reach out to us!