Map before you build
The most expensive automations are the ones built on an unmapped process. A one-week mapping sprint saves a quarter of rework.
Automation makes a process faster and less forgiving. If the underlying work contains ambiguity, duplication or exceptions nobody owns, software hardens those problems into the operating model.
Observe the real process
Do not begin with the documented workflow. Follow recent examples from start to finish and speak to the people doing the work. Record triggers, decisions, systems, handoffs, waiting time and exceptions.
The difference between the intended process and the observed process is where most requirements live.
Mark decisions and uncertainty
Automation is strongest around stable rules. Highlight decisions that need judgement, missing data or commercial discretion. Those points may need a human review queue rather than a model or a large set of brittle conditions.
Simplify before implementation
Remove duplicate approvals, unused fields and handoffs that exist only because systems are disconnected. Agree the source of truth and define what success looks like before selecting technology.
A short mapping phase produces a smaller, clearer build. It also gives the team a shared model for testing whether the finished system solves the original problem.
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