BPA, process automation or end-to-end automation
Business process automation, or BPA, is automating a whole multi-step business process, like onboarding a client or placing a candidate, across the apps and people involved, rather than a single task.
Business process automation is automating a whole process from start to finish, not just one step. Onboarding a new client, for example, might touch your CRM, Xero, ClickUp, email and Slack.
It usually mixes automation tools like Zapier, the automations built into your apps and a few human steps for decisions that need a person.
Done well, every step happens in the right order, nothing gets forgotten and everyone can see where each case is up to.
I map the whole process with the people who do it before touching any tool. Where does it start, who does what, where does it get stuck?
Then I build it in stages, starting with the steps that cause the most pain, and I make sure there's one place, usually ClickUp, where the team can see every case. When I hand over, every client gets a workflow diagram of their automations and a step-by-step guide to running them. That way the client owns it.
One process, several apps, a person at the key moment.
They overlap. Workflow automation often means automating steps within one workflow. BPA usually means joining up a whole process across teams and apps.
No. Small businesses often get the most from it, because a few people are doing lots of admin across lots of apps.
With the process that happens most often and causes the most chasing. Map it first, then automate it in stages.
I set these up and train your team, in your own ClickUp or Zapier account.
Book a callContact Jack - jack@withtoki.co.uk