Automation is everywhere. From finance to customer service, organisations are turning to automation to boost efficiency, cut costs, and stay competitive. But here’s the catch—not every organisation is ready for it.

Jumping into automation without understanding your process maturity is like slapping a turbocharger on a rickety old car. Instead of getting speed and efficiency, you’ll end up amplifying inefficiencies, creating chaos, and wondering where it all went wrong.

Before investing in automation, it’s essential to ask: Are your processes structured enough to support it?

What is Process Maturity, and Why Should You Care?

Process maturity refers to how well-defined, repeatable, and optimised your business processes are. It’s the difference between:

• A structured, well-oiled organisation where processes run smoothly and automation delivers real value.

• A chaotic, reactionary environment where automation magnifies confusion instead of eliminating inefficiencies.

Think of it as training for a marathon. If you can barely jog around the block, hiring a personal trainer (or in this case, an automation platform) won’t magically turn you into an elite runner overnight. You need a solid foundation first.

The Five Stages of Process Maturity

To assess readiness, consider where your organisation falls on this scale:

1. Ad Hoc – Processes exist, but only in people’s heads. Documentation? Consistency? Wishful thinking.

2. Repeatable – There’s some structure, but execution depends on who’s handling it.

3. Defined – Processes are documented and followed, but improvements are reactive rather than proactive.

4. Managed – Performance is measured, and inefficiencies are actively addressed.

5. Optimised – Processes are continually refined and ready for automation without breaking everything.

The higher your process maturity, the smoother your automation journey will be.

How to Check If You’re Ready

Not sure where you stand? Luckily, you don’t need a six-month consulting engagement to find out. A simple self-assessment can reveal a lot.

A quick way to get a sense of your process maturity is the Process Maturity Calculator. It provides a straightforward overview of whether your organisation is ready for automation—or if there’s some work to do first.

For a more detailed evaluation, our Business Process Maturity Evaluator GPT can guide you through a structured assessment, helping you pinpoint gaps, strengths, and next steps.

Why This Matters Beyond Automation

Process maturity isn’t just about automation—it’s about creating an organisation that’s:

• More efficient – Fewer delays, better resource utilisation, and lower costs.

• More adaptable – When processes are structured, change is easier to manage.

• More scalable – Growth is smoother when processes aren’t held together by duct tape and good intentions.

If your processes are inconsistent or undocumented, automation won’t solve the problem—it will just make it worse, faster.

Where to Start

If automation is on your radar, start by assessing your process maturity.

• Try the Process Maturity Calculator for a quick overview.

• Use our Business Process Maturity Evaluator GPT for a more in-depth analysis.

Understanding where you stand now will save you time, money, and frustration down the line. Because let’s be honest—nobody wants to automate a mess.