A recent McKinsey Global Institute study estimates that up to 800 million jobs globally could be affected by automation due to artificial intelligence (AI). That’s a significant statistic, but here’s the good news: automation isn’t here to replace us, it’s here to empower us. Automating repetitive tasks allows us to free ourselves up for more strategic, creative work.
Here are ten automation all-stars to supercharge your workflow and free you up to focus on what matters most, starting with digital business cards.
Popl Digital Business Card
The traditional business card can feel clunky and outdated in today’s digital age. Popl offers a sleek and modern alternative. This digital business card app allows you to create a dynamic contact profile that you can easily share with a tap or a scan. No more fumbling with flimsy cards or losing precious connections.
Popl seamlessly integrates your contact information, social media links, and even a portfolio website, all accessible with a quick tap on your smartphone. It’s networking for the 21st century!
Zapier
Think of Zapier as the duct tape of the automation world. It connects hundreds of popular web applications, allowing you to create custom workflows (Zaps) that automate repetitive tasks across different platforms.
Imagine automatically saving email attachments to Google Drive, or adding new form submissions to your CRM – the possibilities are endless.
IFTTT
Are you new to the automation game? IFTTT (If This, Then That) is a user-friendly platform perfect for dipping your toes into automation. With its library of pre-built “recipes” (automation for specific tasks), you can easily connect popular apps like Gmail, Dropbox, and social media platforms to streamline simple, everyday workflows.
Pabbly Connect
For the more automation-savvy user, Pabbly Connect offers a robust platform for building complex workflows.
It goes beyond simple connections, allowing you to manipulate data, filter information, and even schedule multi-step automation. Pabbly Connect is ideal for power users who crave ultimate control over automated processes.
Outfunnel
Outfunnel is an automation powerhouse explicitly designed for marketing campaigns. Schedule social media posts, manage email marketing sequences, and nurture leads with targeted email drips – all on autopilot.
Outfunnel frees you up to focus on crafting strategic marketing initiatives while automation takes care of the day-to-day execution.
Grammarly
We’ve all been there: hit send on an email only to realize a glaring typo or awkward sentence lurks within. Grammarly swoops in to save the day!
This AI-powered writing assistant acts as your grammar police, checking your work for typos, and spelling errors, and even suggests improvements to sentence structure and clarity. Grammarly integrates seamlessly with various writing platforms, ensuring your written communication is always polished and professional.
Slack
Gone are the days of endless email chains and missed messages. Slack offers a dynamic communication platform that keeps your team connected and conversations flowing.
Create dedicated channels for specific projects, departments, or even watercooler chats. Slack allows for instant messaging, file sharing, and integrations with various other tools, fostering a collaborative and efficient communication environment. Consequently, it will improve your team’s professional communication skills, its messaging format encourages users to be clear and concise in their communication.
Canva
Who says creating visually appealing graphics requires expensive design software or artistic expertise? Canva comes to the rescue! This user-friendly platform offers a library of templates, graphics, and design tools that allow anyone to create professional-looking presentations, social media posts, or even infographics.
Canva empowers you to add a touch of visual flair to your communication and presentations, even if design skills aren’t your forte.
Xero
Managing your business finances can be a daunting task. Xero simplifies the process with its user-friendly accounting software.
Track income and expenses, generate invoices and statements, and even reconcile your bank accounts – all in one place. Xero automates many accounting tasks, saving you valuable time and ensuring your financial data is always accurate and up-to-date.
Calendly
Playing the endless game of email tag to schedule meetings can be a productivity killer. Calendly swoops in like a knight in shining armor, offering a platform for you to share your availability and allow others to schedule meetings directly on your calendar.
Calendly eliminates the back-and-forth of finding a mutually agreeable time, saving you and your colleagues precious time and frustration.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many automation all-stars waiting to be discovered. By incorporating these tools into your workflow, you can free yourself from repetitive tasks, boost your productivity, and reclaim control of your precious time.
Consult widely before implementing any of the tools and monitor the performance to know if they suit your brand. Sometimes, you may have to change some processes to leverage the tools. Good luck!