Progress doesn't always equal productivity. When your team spends hours on low-value tasks such as manually processing documents, chasing approvals, and fixing avoidable errors, you might feel like you're making progress yet still fail to meet your business goals. Why? These chaotic processes often create the illusion of hard work without producing desirable results.
That's why, if you want operational reliability, you need an automated system that supports your team's unique workflows even when pressure mounts.
Six out of ten AP teams process invoices manually because it seems manageable. However, manual workflows that rely on memory to track document versions or endless email chains to coordinate approvals could bring your operations to a standstill if obstacles arise.
For instance, if your accounts payable (AP) team members receive numerous invoices and can't retrieve them because they rely on manual, paper-based processes, you might fail to pay vendors on time. When you can't pay your vendors promptly, you might erode your relationships with them and incur late fees.
With a resilient system, you can prevent these and other hurdles that could significantly impact your operations.
When you rely on manual workflows, you're constantly in flux. Your team spends substantial time and effort addressing problems such as searching for missing files, coordinating approvals, or fixing errors.
This leaves little time for tasks that drive business goals, such as developing new products or refining existing processes. Given that one in four AP teams faces staffing shortages, manual processes can significantly impact productivity.
Fortunately, you can improve team performance and go from reactive to proactive by implementing these measures:
Integrating these measures into your workflow can help your team withstand pressure, whether they're stretched thin or facing time constraints.
Relying on manual processes often leads to errors, delays, and duplicated tasks. Manual workflows also lack integration with essential business systems, such as CRMs, ERPs, and EHRs, resulting in disconnected operations.
When systems aren't integrated, data silos may arise. Data silos are isolated collections of data that are accessible only to a particular team, department, or system within an organization. If your data becomes siloed, your teams may struggle to collaborate and make data-driven decisions. This may disrupt critical workflows, leading to breakdowns.
Implementing an automated system that integrates with your existing business tools can eliminate repetitive, mundane tasks and ensure data moves smoothly across your operations management ecosystem.
Worldview's Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system can automate workflows and centralize documents, enabling teams to retrieve information quickly when needed. The platform also integrates well with multiple business tools, so you won't have to worry about teams working in silos.
For instance, using our ECM, your AP team can easily retrieve invoices from a centralized database instead of scrolling through long email chains. This can allow your team to route invoices to the correct approvers quickly, resulting in faster invoice processing.
As a team leader or manager, you set the tone for your team. If you're frequently pulling all-nighters, rushing to meet deadlines, and resolving preventable issues, you're creating a culture where chaos feels like productivity. But it doesn't have to be this way.
Here's how you can create a calmer environment:
Building a team that doesn't succumb under pressure might feel like striving for perfection. But it isn't. Instead, it's about creating systems that remain sturdy, even when workloads spike. By implementing automation and integrating your tools, you can reduce your team's reliance on chaotic, manual processes that reduce productivity.
Contact us today to learn how our solutions can help you build a team that stays calm under intense pressure.