The Automation Illusion: Is It Always the Answer?

I truly believe that every decision we make—and when we make it—has a big impact on both life and business. In my 25 years in the industry, I've seen time and again how the simplest solutions can often be the most effective. What seems like a big problem to one person can sometimes be easily solved by someone with experience. On the other hand, a small bad decision can lead to bigger problems that are costly and complicated to fix.

One common issue I've noticed is that businesses are eager to automate processes without fully understanding the real problem or whether they even need a particular solution. Sometimes, business owners take advice that doesn’t really fit their needs, leading them in the wrong direction. It’s not unusual for companies to try to automate processes that don’t even exist, which ends up wasting time and resources. We’ve even had customers give us feedback that led us down the wrong path, showing that the customer isn’t always right. 🙂

Don’t Automate What Shouldn’t Exist

At Hexact, we often see businesses ask us to automate a process. Usually, we don’t know all the details or the specific needs, because customers don’t always share them, and it’s not our job to dig into it. Our focus is usually on getting the technical part done. But in these cases, we often find that the process is too complicated, with endless "if-then-else" situations—some of which don’t even happen in real life. These projects often fail, wasting time and resources for everyone.

This brings up an important point: sometimes the best solution isn’t automating a process but improving it—or even getting rid of it. A great example of this was discussed by Elon Musk in his 8+ hour conversation with Lex Fridman in their recent podcast. Elon talked about the importance of removing things that shouldn’t exist in the first place. I highly recommend listening to his original words for more insights (link here).

The Power of Insight

When we dig deeper into a business, we often find more important areas that need improvement, automation, or even a complete overhaul. These discoveries can have a big impact and add real value to a business. But finding these areas means going beyond just a demo call of Hexact products. We understand that Hexact isn’t designed to solve every problem, and sometimes the solution isn’t even software-related.

To better help businesses, my partners and I decided earlier this year to start a separate consulting service focused on finding what companies really need to meet today’s challenges. Whether it’s boosting sales, improving marketing processes, or finding the best ways to streamline operations, our goal is to offer tailored solutions and help with implementation. While Hexact products often play a key role in the solutions we provide, they aren’t always the only answer—or even the answer at all.

If you’re a business owner or solopreneur interested in our consulting services, I’m excited to offer a limited number of time slots for one-on-one free initial consultations. Simply book your first free consultation meeting here.