The first mistake
Many teams try to automate the entire process at once. That usually creates a more complicated failure mode and very little leverage.
The better order
I would usually start with one of these:
- A workflow that repeats daily and is already delegated to multiple people
- A sync step between systems that is now done by copy and paste
- An inbound lead or data intake flow with inconsistent follow-up
- A reporting process that exists only because the core tools do not talk to each other
Why this matters in practice
The first automation should not prove technical sophistication. It should prove that the operating cost of the team can go down without introducing a second hidden system that nobody understands.