Busywork Is Not Part of Your Job Description
If your day is a blur of chasing signatures, re‑keying data, and nudging managers for approvals, you are not alone. The good news: modern office task automation tools now handle those repetitive steps quietly in the background, freeing you to focus on work that actually moves the needle.
Why Hidden Time Traps Lurk Everywhere
Manual contract routing, paper invoices, and spreadsheet‑driven reporting feel normal because “that’s how we have always done it.” Yet they drain productivity and introduce errors that ripple across the business.
Automation Made Approachable
Applied Innovation’s workflow and robotic process automation solutions slot into the systems you already use. We believe technology should feel human, not hard. That means clear dashboards, drag‑and‑drop design, and friendly experts who guide your team each step of the way.
7 Everyday Tasks Ready for Automation
1. Contract Routing and Approvals
Remember the last time a contract got lost in someone’s inbox for three days? Oof.
With automated contract workflows, you can:
- Automatically route contracts based on department or dollar amount
- Track who’s reviewed and signed (and who hasn’t)
- Use digital signatures and audit trails for compliance
No more bottlenecks. No more “who has this now?”
Take a peek at our Interactive Contract Workflow Tour
2. Invoice Processing (Including Paper)
Invoices are one of the biggest time-sucks for office teams and one of the easiest to automate.
Here’s how automation helps:
- Scans and extracts data using OCR (even from scanned paper invoices)
- Validates invoices against POs and vendor data
- Auto-routes to the right approver and alerts them if they’re slow to act
Result? Fewer errors, faster approvals, and better visibility into cash flow.
3. Purchase Order Processing
POs shouldn’t require a magnifying glass and a headache to manage.
An automated PO process can:
- Auto-create POs based on spend thresholds or templates
- Match them with invoices and delivery confirmations (hello, 3-way match!)
- Flag discrepancies or duplicates before they cause payment issues
See our Invoice Automation in Action
4. Employee Onboarding
New hire? Awesome. Now cue the 12 different systems that need to be updated…or just automate it.
With onboarding automation, you can:
- Generate offer letters and tax documents
- Create user accounts and email access automatically
- Notify HR, IT, and Facilities, all from one workflow
- Assign compliance training or welcome packets instantly
5. Employee Offboarding
Offboarding isn’t just a checklist, it’s a compliance and security risk when done manually.
Automation ensures:
- System access is revoked the moment offboarding begins
- Equipment is logged and recovered
- Final pay, COBRA docs, and exit surveys are delivered
- IT, HR, and Finance are all in sync
6. Document Storage and Retrieval
If your file naming convention is “FinalFinalVersion2_ReallyFinal_THISONE.pdf,” this one’s for you.
With smart document automation:
- Files are named and stored consistently (automatically!)
- Metadata makes searching fast and painless
- Permissions and retention policies are built in
It’s like having a filing cabinet that organizes itself, accurately, instantly, and without ever misplacing a thing.
7. Dashboards and Self‑Updating Reports
Tired of building the same report every Friday at 4:30 p.m.? There’s a better way.
With automated dashboards, you can:
- Pull real-time data from your ERP, CRM, HR system, and more
- Visualize KPIs by department, region, or workflo
- Share reports automatically on a schedule, no more manual emails
Now leadership always has the data they need, when they need it.
Case Study: ADAC Automotive
Paper‑heavy contract processes were stalling ADAC Automotive’s Contracts Division. By rolling out Applied Innovation’s Document Workflow Solution, the team eliminated off‑site storage, cut retrieval time, and unlocked new capacity for high‑value work.
Read the full ADAC Automotive case study
Key Takeaways
- Automation eliminates busywork, errors, and bottlenecks.
- Most processes can be automated in weeks, not months.
- Your team gains time to innovate and serve customers.
Ready to Automate?
Ready to identify quick‑win automations you can launch in the next 30 days? Let’s chat. Our experts will map your processes and deliver a tailored roadmap – no obligation, just clarity.