Running a business often means juggling a mountain of tasks. It’s easy to wonder if you’re spending too much time on things that could be handled with automation. If you’re asking yourself which tasks in your business should be automated, you’re already on the right track. Automation isn’t about replacing people. It’s about freeing up your team’s energy to focus on what actually drives growth—like serving customers, landing sales, or building your brand. So how do you figure out what to automate first?
How do you spot the best tasks to automate?
Start by looking at anything repetitive. If you or your team perform the same steps every day, week, or month, automation is your best friend. Think about tasks like sending appointment reminders, following up on leads, sorting emails, collecting customer reviews, or posting to social media. If the steps rarely change, or don’t need creative input, put those at the top of your list.
A practical way to uncover automation opportunities is to write down what you do each day for a week. You’ll notice patterns and bottlenecks—these are great places to introduce automation.
Top tasks often automated by small businesses:
- Lead capture and follow-up: Tools like Surge by Thrive’s CRM and Lead Capture automatically collect leads from your website, forms, social media, and even ads. Automated follow-ups can boost conversion rates without you lifting a finger.
- Appointment scheduling: Stop the back-and-forth emails. Platforms with Calendar and Appointment Scheduling let clients book themselves and trigger automatic confirmations and reminders.
- Email and SMS marketing: Sending bulk messages, nurturing leads, or following up after a purchase is far easier with Email & SMS Marketing automation.
- Online forms and data collection: Custom Forms can instantly route inquiries to the right team member and feed data into your CRM or email system.
- Review requests and reputation management: Automate review requests after a sale or service, and keep your reputation strong with Reputation Management tools.
- Workflow and process automations: Build custom Workflow Automations that handle approvals, assign tasks, or notify your team as things move along.
Supporting Reference:
A Zapier study found that 88% of small businesses say automation allows them to compete with larger companies, and 66% say it frees up time for more important work [source].
What shouldn’t you automate?
Some things still need the human touch. Avoid automating anything that requires complex decision-making, creativity, or sensitive client interactions. For example, you wouldn’t want to automate personalized sales calls, customer complaints, or strategic planning. If your gut says a customer will notice the difference (and not in a good way), keep it personal.
How do you measure if a task is worth automating?
Ask yourself:
- Does the task repeat at least weekly?
- Is it prone to human error?
- Would automation speed things up or improve accuracy?
- Does it free up staff to focus on customers or revenue-generating activities?
If you’re checking “yes” to any of these, that task is a great candidate.
Which business areas get the most value from automation?
Sales and marketing: Automate lead tracking, appointment scheduling, follow-ups, and nurturing.
Customer service: Use AI chatbots to answer FAQs and route questions 24/7.
Operations: Automate onboarding, task assignments, reminders, and recurring invoices.
According to McKinsey, businesses can automate about 60% of all occupations at least partially, especially those involving predictable physical and administrative tasks [source].
How do you get started with automation if you’re not tech-savvy?
You don’t have to be a coder or hire a developer to automate most business processes. Platforms like Surge by Thrive are designed for business owners—no technical background required. Most automations are as simple as checking a box or dragging-and-dropping steps in a visual workflow builder.
Start with one process, like lead follow-up or appointment reminders. Test it, see the time you save, and build from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is automation expensive for small businesses?
Not anymore. Modern platforms like Surge by Thrive offer affordable monthly plans that pay for themselves in saved time and increased conversions. Even the smallest businesses can automate without breaking the bank [source].
Can automation integrate with my current website or tools?
Yes! Surge by Thrive connects with your existing site, email, and even third-party tools, so you don’t need to overhaul your tech stack to get started.
How can automation help my business grow?
By automating routine work, your team focuses on higher-value tasks. This leads to faster lead response times, better customer service, and ultimately more revenue.
How does Surge by Thrive help automate your business?
Surge by Thrive brings together everything you need:
- SEO Websites built to convert visitors
- Custom Forms to capture and route leads
- Calendars / Appointment Scheduling with automated reminders
- Workflow / Automations for custom processes
- AI Bots to engage visitors 24/7
- Reputation / Review Management to automate feedback requests
- Email & SMS Marketing for personalized, timely communication
- CRM / Lead Capture to keep every opportunity organized
If you’re ready to see how automation can help your business grow, contact us or request a live demo.