In 2020, Brexit marked the beginning of a new era as the UK parted ways with the EU, prompting businesses across Europe to prepare for forthcoming changes. The world awaited the immediate Brexit impact on businesses. However, the global COVID-19 pandemic soon took centre stage, overshadowing that event as organisations struggled to cope with the dual impact of these events on the economy. As companies navigate the challenges of a post-Brexit, post-pandemic world, automation has emerged as a critical tool for sustaining and managing operations.
In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that businesses and government agencies must embrace automation to remain competitive in the digital age. Effective information and data management are vital components of any successful organisation, and streamlined workflow systems can lead to improved efficiency, productivity, and cost savings, while also ensuring future readiness. The current pandemic has underscored the importance of digital systems, as remote workers rely heavily on technology to maintain business continuity. The Brexit impact on businesses is real, but there are some things that can be done.
Brexit impact on businesses: the transition phase
As the UK navigates the transition and businesses grapple with the rapidly evolving dynamics of the pandemic, organisations are seeking ways to establish a new order. Making the right automation decisions at this juncture can position your business to become more agile and evolved, ready to thrive in the ever-changing digital landscape.
The current environment is driving greater interest in business process automation, as Brexit restrictions and the impact of COVID-19 make it increasingly challenging to secure the resources needed to sustain operations. Automation can offer a faster, easier, and more cost-effective solution to these challenges, allowing businesses to create programs that can do the job.
For most organisations, the automation journey begins with non-core but critical systems, such as the mailroom that handles post and parcels. Initiating workflow automation in this department can transform information management systems and generate significant cost savings. XBP Europe’s Digital Mail Centers in the UK are already helping the government to deliver digital transformation across a range of citizen services. Increasingly, businesses are recognizing the need to digitise and prepare for eventualities such as COVID-19.
Document digitisation and automation in the mailroom
Government and public offices handle a vast amount of paperwork on a daily basis, including papers, forms, letters, claims, reports, receipts, manuals, and more. For instance, the UK customs office alone processes 55 million declarations annually, and this number is expected to surge to 255 million following Brexit, representing a staggering 363% increase in the volume of documents to be managed. Clearly, automation is the way forward.
Through mailroom automation, all types of documents, including paper-based ones, can be digitised, sorted, indexed, and made searchable to enable seamless workflow. This ensures that information is delivered to the right department or person in a timely manner, facilitating prompt decision-making and information gathering.
Creating data streams for information management
Digitised, searchable, and easily accessible data is the cornerstone of all information systems in your organisation. It’s not only about the data captured from paper documents but also about the information collected from various web portals, interfaces, and online data feeds. These data repositories become the central hub of business intelligence and insights, enabling organisations to transform how they address customer and public queries and meet their requirements. With the right data, you can keep a finger on the pulse of your organisation and make informed decisions.
Brexit impact on businesses: aftereffects
Brexit is expected to bring significant changes to the workforce. The new regulations and point-based immigration systems will compel businesses that rely on blue-collar workers to explore other options. Although the rules may eventually be modified (possibly in 2 to 3 years), the business need is usually immediate, and the solution businesses adopt now must be long-term.
Fortunately, automation can provide a solution. XBP Europe’s Digital Mailroom, with its software-driven robots, programs, and knowledge workers, can manage mailroom operations with six people, a significant reduction from the ten employees required traditionally. This can be further optimised. Alternatively, businesses can completely outsource their incoming documents to XBP Europe’s facilities located across the UK, EU, or other parts of the world. By making the right decisions, organisations can free up space, create smooth workflows, establish efficient information streams, and save considerable costs, time, and effort. In the current scenario where remote work is prevalent, Digital Mailroom’s digital delivery of paper mail is becoming increasingly important for businesses that receive critical, time-sensitive documents, including payments and payment advice, through the mail.
Opportunities beyond Brexit
The UK government has emphasised the importance of innovation to address workforce challenges, and XBP Europe, as a business process automation company, offers a wide range of solutions beyond just mailroom automation. Our software and services leverage technology platforms and automation modules to provide integrated end-to-end digital journeys for businesses across various industries.
The message we have been promoting for years aligns closely with the government’s stance. The impact of these historic events is not limited to the government alone but also extends to businesses and organisations. The decisions you make today will shape the future of your organisation.
To proactively tackle the Brexit impact on businesses and explore how we can help drive your business transformation, reach out to our team today.