Automation 5 min read
Seven business problems we would automate first
If a business asked us where to start with automation, these are the seven problems we would look at first, and why.
Blog category
Automation
Where automation pays off, how to connect AI to the tools you already use and how to keep people in charge.
Automation posts
Automation 5 min read
MCP servers explained for business owners
MCP servers let AI assistants use your business tools. Here is what that means in practice, without the jargon, and what to ask before you connect anything.
Good automation removes repetitive work and keeps people in charge of decisions. These posts look at real processes, from inboxes and invoices to reports, and at the tools that connect AI to business systems. For the structured version, read AI automation vs traditional automation and browse our solutions.
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Related services
View all related services- Automation and Integrations CRM, payment and API integrations, MCP connections and workflows that stop people copying data by hand.
- Business process automation Map a process that runs on email and spreadsheets and turn it into software with clear steps and owners.
- Third-party integrations Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, accounting, shipping and marketing tools connected to your own software.
Solutions
View all solutions- AI automation and integrations Connect the tools you already use so data moves once, correctly, and AI reads the parts that arrive as text or documents.
- Approval workflows Requests, approvals and reminders in one place, with clear owners and deadlines instead of long email threads.
- Compliance tracking Track filing deadlines, licenses and obligations in one place, with reminders and AI summaries of relevant rule changes.
- Onboarding automation Every new hire gets the right accounts, documents, training and check-ins on time, tracked in one place.
Industries
View all industriesCase studies
View all case studies- Facility management platform Every request, inspection and cost for every building now lives in one place, with a clear owner and status.
- Payroll system for an IT services company Payroll is calculated from recorded inputs, reviewed once and sent as payslips in a single batch, with every change logged.
- Tax filing service platform Clients upload documents and see where their case stands, and staff work from one queue with deadlines and reminders.
Guides and articles
View all guides and articles- How to measure the ROI of AI automation Measure the return on AI automation with a baseline, the right metrics and honest accounting of costs.
- AI automation vs traditional automation How rule-based automation and AI automation differ, where each fits and how to combine them.
- How to automate payroll Turn a manual monthly payroll into a reviewed, tested process with accurate payslips and a full audit trail.
- No-code vs custom development Where no-code tools shine, where they hit limits, and when custom software pays off.
MCP servers
View all mcp servers- Home Assistant Home Assistant's built-in MCP server lets AI read the state of exposed devices and control them, such as lights, climate and covers.
- Make Make's official MCP server turns your Make scenarios into tools AI can run, and on paid plans lets it view and modify scenarios and connections.
- n8n n8n's official instance-level MCP server lets AI search, run, build, update and publish workflows and look up nodes and credentials.
- Zapier Zapier's official MCP server lets AI discover, enable and run actions across thousands of connected apps, with separate read and write tools.
Glossary terms
View all glossary terms- Workflow automation Workflow automation uses software to move work through a series of steps, such as routing, approvals and notifications, based on rules and events.
- Automation Automation is using software to perform a task or process with little or no human effort each time it runs.
- Business process automation Business process automation uses software to run a multi-step business process, such as approvals or onboarding, from start to finish with less manual work.
- CRM A CRM, or customer relationship management system, stores contacts, companies, deals and interactions so a team can manage its customer relationships in one place.
- No-code No-code tools let people build apps, websites and automations with visual editors instead of writing code.