Which of the following is the first key step to automate a process?

The first key step to automate a process is creating a process blueprint. This foundational step involves documenting and mapping out the existing process in detail. A process blueprint serves as a guide for the automation effort, outlining the specific tasks, workflows, inputs, and outputs involved. By clearly defining the current state of the process, stakeholders can identify inefficiencies, redundancies, or areas that can be improved through automation.

This blueprint is essential for ensuring that subsequent steps, such as building the bot and running it, are aligned with the intended automation goals. It aids in setting clear expectations for performance and functionality, helping the development team to focus on relevant aspects of the workflow. Without this initial mapping, the automation efforts could become unfocused or miss critical components, leading to ineffective solutions.

Other steps, such as running the bot, building a bot, and monitoring bot performance, all follow the creation of a process blueprint and depend on the clarity and comprehensiveness of that initial document. Each of these subsequent actions is grounded in the insights and structure established in the process blueprint. Therefore, establishing the blueprint is fundamentally the first and most crucial step in the automation journey.