How to Decide What to Automate First: A 3-Question Framework

Why This Matters

Most SMB leaders we talk to are juggling spreadsheets, disconnected tools, and a backlog of 'we should automate that someday' ideas. This guide gives you a simple framework to figure out what to fix first.

The 3-Question Filter

Before you greenlight any new software project, run it through these three questions:

• Is this costing us time every single week? One-off problems rarely justify custom software. Recurring ones almost always do.
• Can we measure the impact in hours or revenue? If you can't put a number on it, it's hard to prioritize — and hard to prove ROI later.
• Will this still matter in 12 months? Avoid building around a process that's likely to change soon.

How to Use This in Practice

List every recurring manual process across your team. Score each one against the three questions above. The highest-scoring items are your best candidates for automation, a custom tool, or a small AI agent.

Next Step

Bring your shortlist to a free discovery call — we'll help you scope the fastest, lowest-risk place to start.