Not all tasks should be automated. If a task is completed infrequently or requires minimal effort, it is unlikely that automation will add significant value. 

How long can you work on making a routine task more efficient before you are spending more time than you can save? 

The following matrix outlines how much time is consumed when tasks are completed multiple times over a period of five years. A task that takes a day to complete can seem significant. However, if it is completed once a year, it might not be a candidate for automation. A task that is completed five times a day and takes 1 hour to complete consumes 10 months of effort over 5 years. Such a task is an obvious candidate for automation.

Figure 5.  Time spent to complete tasks and time saved through automation

This evaluation of tasks is fundamental to any determination about automation. It should be the starting point to any conversation about automation and should be completed before any evaluation of the automation options. Completing this analysis allows the organization to fully determine the scope of internal development efforts. It also allows an organization to determine whether vendor-provided software solutions such as VxBlock Central Workflow Automation will provide sufficient value to justify an investment in those solutions.