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Examples of Business Processes Worth Automating

High-ROI business processes worth automating first—before you boil the ocean with “digital transformation.”

May 1, 2026 | By Jeremy LaRose | 6 min read | Workflow Automation
Examples of Business Processes Worth Automating

Not every process deserves automation first. Start where frequency, error cost, and manual handoffs compound—usually where a spreadsheet and an inbox are doing jobs they were never meant to do.

Processes we see automate well

  • Lead-to-fulfillment handoffs where CRM, billing, and ops each maintain their own version of truth
  • Exception queues buried in email—returns, chargebacks, scheduling conflicts, missing intake fields
  • Weekly reporting rituals rebuilt from five exports every Monday
  • Approval loops that stall because nobody knows whose turn it is
  • Customer onboarding with duplicate data entry across tools

How to prioritize

Score workflows on frequency, blast radius when they fail, number of tools touched, and whether a decision-maker feels the pain. The winner becomes your first milestone with a workflow automation consultant—not the longest strategy workshop.

What good looks like after milestone one

One team stops maintaining a shadow spreadsheet. Exceptions surface in a queue instead of a thread. Leadership can answer a status question without scheduling a meeting. If spreadsheets are still in the mix, spreadsheet automation services are often the fastest first win.

Not sure where to start?

Tell us which workflow breaks most often. We will map the smallest reliable fix—and whether automation, integration, or custom software is the right first move.

Jeremy LaRose

About Jeremy LaRose

Jeremy LaRose builds custom software and workflow automation for ops-heavy teams at Herd of Nerds.