Business automation doesn't have to be complicated. At &7, we've helped dozens of Singapore businesses save time and reduce errors by automating repetitive tasks.

Why Automate?

Manual processes are costing you more than you think. Business automation can dramatically reduce these costs:

Time waste: Copying data between systems takes 10-20 hours per week
Human error: Manual entry leads to mistakes in critical business data
Missed opportunities: Delayed follow-ups mean lost leads and revenue

Start Small

You don't need to automate everything at once. Pick one repetitive task that:

Happens frequently (daily or weekly)
Follows the same steps every time
Doesn't require complex decision-making

Common Automation Wins

Lead Capture

When someone fills out your contact form:

Automatically add them to your CRM
Send a personalized welcome email
Notify your sales team
Schedule a follow-up reminder

Time saved: 30 minutes per lead × 20 leads/week = 10 hours/week

Invoice Processing

When an invoice is approved:

Process the payment automatically
Update your accounting system
Send a receipt to the customer
Generate reports for management

Time saved: 15 minutes per invoice × 40 invoices/week = 10 hours/week

Customer Onboarding

When a new customer signs up:

Create their account
Send welcome materials
Add them to your email list
Trigger onboarding checklist

Time saved: 45 minutes per customer × 10 customers/week = 7.5 hours/week

For most businesses, no-code tools like Zapier, Make, or n8n are perfect for getting started. They connect your existing tools without requiring custom development.

For more complex workflows, custom automation with APIs gives you complete control and can integrate deeply with your existing systems.

Next Steps

Identify one repetitive process
Document the current manual steps
Map the data flow between systems
Test with a small pilot group
Expand once proven successful

Need help getting started? Contact us for a free automation assessment.

Start by identifying one repetitive task that happens daily or weekly and follows the same steps every time. Use simple tools like Zapier or Make.com to automate it first. Start with lead capture, invoice processing, or customer onboarding - these have clear steps and immediate ROI.

Don't try to automate everything at once.

How much does business automation cost?

Simple automation with tools like Zapier costs $20-100/month. Custom automation development costs $3,000-15,000 depending on complexity. The key question is ROI: if you're spending 10+ hours per week on a task, automation usually pays for itself within 6-12 months.

Calculate time saved × hourly rate to determine if it's worth it.

Do I need technical skills to automate my business?

No. Tools like Zapier, Make, and n8n are designed for non-technical users. You can automate common workflows without coding. For complex custom automation requiring coding, you'll need to hire developers, but that's only necessary for unique business processes.

Start with no-code tools first.

What business processes should I automate first?

Automate repetitive tasks that happen frequently, follow consistent steps, don't require human judgment, and currently cause errors or delays. Common wins: lead capture and CRM updates, invoice processing, customer onboarding, report generation, and data syncing between systems.

Pick the most annoying task eating up your time.

How long does it take to set up automation?

Simple automations with Zapier take a few hours to set up and test. Custom automation takes 2-6 weeks for development and testing. Allow 2-4 weeks of monitoring after launch to catch edge cases and make adjustments.

Budget more time than you think for testing.

What's the ROI of business automation?

If automation saves 10 hours per week at $50/hour value, that's $26,000/year saved. A $5,000 automation investment pays back in 2-3 months. Track time saved, errors reduced, and opportunities captured to measure ROI. Most automations pay for themselves within 6-12 months.

Do the math before investing.

About &7: We build custom web applications and provide workflow automation services for growing companies in Singapore. From simple lead capture to complex system integrations, we turn manual processes into automated workflows.

Getting Started with Business Automation: A Practical Guide