Can you believe that title? As most of you know, I have been helping companies automate since 2000. I can’t believe it has been 12 years and, in terms of middle market leveling automation technology (especially over the internet), 12 years is a long time.
Here is the point (you are welcome); As part of my learning and growing through the past 12 years I have had the distinct honor of doing many implementations and trainings. When I meet with the day-to-day workers of companies one of the first questions they ask is, “Will I still have a job?” I remember a specific situation in which I was on a call with a day-to-day AP worker and the controller. As I was finishing the initial introduction, explaining what automation is and how it will impact their company, I asked if there were any questions. The answer was, “No”… then I asked what their initial thoughts and reactions were. The AP person said, with nervous laughter, “If we do this… I am not going to have a job.” It may go without saying, but I didn’t hear much from that company after the initial call.
Here is the problem… middle manager’s want to automate, because they own the problems that paper creates. Day to-day workers do not want to automate because they fear that they will lose their jobs, and upper management doesn’t really know the full impact of the time, problem and effort that goes into the day-to-day process (read my “just do it for the children” blog for back up on upper management) because of this situation and years and years of rejection. I have come to the conclusion that those companies that have a “Plan” will not automate. Now, if you just read that and said some version of, “duh”… it’s true that some of the most powerful things in life and business are usually the simplest. So instead of stating the obvious, I have decided to do something about it… I have written my second book exclusively on creating a solid plan for automation which I call, “The Argument to Automate – How Innovation Can INSPIRE not Fire”. You can notice that INSPIRE is in all caps. In the book I use the word “INSPIRE” to help create the plan.
Check out this video… it explains more: http://www.costperinvoice.com/argument.html
Oh boy – let the games begin!
To get your copy of The 8 Pitfalls of Accounts Payable Automation – click here to buy.
For more information go to www.costperinvoice.com
thechriselmore.com 
Thanks for this post, Chris. My company encounters the “I don’t want to lose my job” argument frequently during automation conversations. One thing that departments need to remember is when processes change, so do job functions. With that being said, people’s roles might just be altered or shifted, not deleted. The efficiency process automation creates also opens up the doors for improvement, and if companies have the right people, they will recognize that and utilize their skills in other areas.
Sorry – Julia I missed this comment – I have found that if a company is under a certain amount of invoices – they can’t reduce headcount – so automation means to have a powerful reason!
Thanks for reading!