Automation is often touted as the future of business, but it can be hard to picture what that looks like. So let's draw a clear picture. Automation is best thought of as digital workflow diagrams that guide clients, prospects, and staff down predefined paths in order to complete a specific goal.

Automation allows businesses to bring their Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) alive. Gone are the days of large, paper operating manuals. With automation, a business can run consistent and repeatable processes anytime, anywhere. In decades past, businesses were reliant on employees remembering every step in the process. Now, employees are free to focus on servicing the client and instead can easily follow the process set forth by the automation system. This means employees can spend time on what is most important and leaves the computers in charge of the tedious memorization.

A simple real world application of this technology can be seen in the case of renewing a lease agreement. When a lease is coming up for a renewal, the automation system can automatically notify the lessee via text and email of their renewal offer and ask them if they would like to renew. If the lessee indicates that they do want to renew, a task can automatically be generated for the property manager to prepare the renewal package. If the lease renewal is not signed timely, the automation system can automatically follow up with the tenant and remind them that their lease renewal is not yet completed as well as sending a reminder to the property manager. This ensures that the lease will not fall through the cracks and accidentally be allowed to expire.

In addition, if the lessee indicates that they do not want to renew, the system can automatically send a move out package to the lessee and notify the property manager accordingly. In this case, the automation minimized the property manager's workload by eliminating the unnecessary task of preparing the renewal package.