Ilia @ Bitskout

Hire A.I. for back-office tasks.

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

Do you remember a great interaction with your accountant? How was the experience? Even for services that we all have to do like bookkeeping, customer experience can be much better. Swing by Booth 1135 at AICPA and let's chat!

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

An accountant shortage in the US? According to states in 2019 -2021, 300,000 accountants quit their jobs. So probably it is true. Can AI help?
AI accountant makes a lot of sense, but if you look at what is outsourced, that's where the real issue is.

https://t.co/BmBz1ImLcm

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

An accountant shortage in the US? According to states in 2019 -2021, 300,000 accountants quit their jobs. So probably it is true. Can AI help?
AI accountant makes a lot of sense, but if you look at what is outsourced, that's where the real issue is.

https://t.co/BmBz1ImLcm

[Polish Startups @Polish_Startups]

Why are the Poles building startups elsewhere? @zosiawanat blames the local VC funds. https://t.co/GnpjPIfJ7Z

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

In computers, there are two ways to run a process - parallel and sequential. Most of the time, you try to make a parallel computation because it is more efficient.

If you build a process with humans involved, don't. Do step-by-step - less cognitive load, faster execution.

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

The concept of "well-formed task" (WFT) is critical to the next step in any process.

WFT has everything required to execute step 2. It is an API between process steps.

No due date? Are no logs attached? No hostname? No screenshots? Cannot move to the next step cause not a WFT.

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

Okay, so how do you build all these cool process diagrams and figure out outputs and inputs.

The best exercise to do in a team is to build statuses. Take support tickets, for example.

The status can be New, Open, Waiting for customer, Resolved, or Closed. Good place to start.

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

I've recently read a great article about why early-stage companies should avoid enterprise customers (unless that's your strategy day 1).

It is actually quite simple: enterprises have an abundance of time. This is precisely what startups do not have.

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

Well, it seems like #chatgpt prompting is now a new programming language.

There are courses, experts, pieces of training, and even certifications!

I guess even corporations now have a prompting L&D KPI.

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

If you have lots of counterparties in your business (like vendors, etc.), and they need you more than you need them, then go ahead and create that form to submit stuff to you.

In the opposite case, park that form idea. All vendors will send you emails, no matter what you do.

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

I think email notifications are like an API for non-techies. Tech people love APIs as you can easily integrate stuff.

Email notifications were invented for humans to integrate into processes. It is a standard protocol that everyone knows and accepts.

Don't fight it -embrace it!

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

I kind of have a feeling that despite an enormous amount of tools today for practically anything, companies are still run on spreadsheets and emails.

Not sure what to think about it.

#smallbusiness #smbtechnology #automation #backoffice

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

If you feel overwhelmed with all the news about AI and stuff, just chill. You are not missing out and you won't go out of business immediately.

Stuff is still getting done with Excel and Emails. Do your work and follow up.

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

Every automation I built up until today (more than 2000 already 😱) always starts with a simple question - How does information get into your company/unit?

You'd be surprised how many options are there in the wild. The first step - unite the input in a single location.

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

How do you start automating any process?

Essentially, any process has 3 steps - the input (how data/request arrives), "stuff-in-between"/processing, and the output (report/table row).

So start by fixing the input - there should be one way information gets into your company.

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

Okay, so you've created a mailbox, and all data goes there - what's next?

Now, figure out what is at the end of this process. What do you need to produce? A row in a table? A report? Generate a PO?

Once you define the output, you'll be able to connect it with the input.

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

One of the best automations you can set up for your company is understandable file storage.

Whatever innovations will happen next, they will all need data. And if your data is perfectly organized even as files, this will give you an edge.

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

I've been asked numerous times for advice about tools. I always advise to start with a spreadsheet - Excel or Google Sheet (if there is a choice required)

You can do powerful things in it and we are using only 5% of it.

The spreadsheet got a bad vibe for the wrong reasons.

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

Okay, there are two types of tools for project management out there: Lego-type tools or "my way or highway" tools.

As a user, I always prefer Lego-type tools for operations and "my way or highway" tools for compliance stuff (accounting, cybersec, etc.).

[Ilia @ Bitskout @bitskout]

We receive a lot of questions about how to build an accounting system for one's business. Or how to create an ordering system.

The first thing that you can do without anyone's help is to set up a single entry point for your system.