ZAM

Killing Recurring Software Costs

Learn how to decide which department to automate first and kill recurring software costs with a custom operating system

I've spent years working with owner-operated businesses, rebuilding their operations from the ground up. One of the most common questions I get is how to decide which department to automate first. It's a crucial decision, as automating the right department can save a business thousands of dollars in recurring software costs.

Understanding Your Business

Before you can decide which department to automate, you need to understand how your business works. This means taking a close look at each department and identifying areas where automation can make a real impact. I've seen businesses try to automate departments that don't need it, only to end up wasting time and money.

  • Identify areas where automation can save time and money
  • Look for departments with repetitive tasks
  • Consider departments with high software costs

Evaluating Your Options

Once you've identified the departments that could benefit from automation, it's time to evaluate your options. This means looking at different automation tools and determining which ones are the best fit for your business. I've worked with businesses that have tried to automate with generic SaaS tools, only to find that they don't quite fit their needs.

That's why I always recommend building a custom operating system. This allows you to automate your business in a way that's tailored to your specific needs, rather than trying to fit into a generic template. It's an investment, but it's one that can pay off in the long run.

Making the Decision

So how do you decide which department to automate first? It's simple: start with the department that will have the biggest impact on your business. This might be a department with high software costs, or one that's struggling with efficiency. Whatever the case, the key is to start with the department that will give you the biggest return on investment.

For one of my clients, a ~200-employee owner-operated business, this meant automating their sales department first. We were able to replace 21 SaaS tools with a custom operating system, saving them thousands of dollars in recurring software costs. It was a game-changing decision, and one that has allowed them to focus on growing their business rather than just maintaining it.