In this episode of Tales from the Pros, Michael Georgiou and Eric Lawrence break down what software automation really means for growing businesses and how to know when an organization is actually ready for it. Moving beyond buzzwords, they share real-world examples of companies that automated successfully and others that wasted time and budget by doing it too early or without a plan. 

Drawing from years of hands-on experience, they discuss the warning signs that manual processes are slowing teams down, why disconnected systems create operational chaos, and how automation should support people rather than replace them. The episode also introduces a practical automation readiness playbook to help leaders audit operations, define ROI, and start small with high-impact pilots. 

If you are scaling a business or struggling with inefficiencies, this conversation will help you determine where automation fits, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to approach it strategically with clarity and confidence. 

🎯 Highlights You Won’t Want to Miss

• How to tell if your business is truly ready for automation
• The difference between automation and AI and why it matters
• Common operational red flags that signal inefficiency
• Why disconnected tools slow growth and increase costs
• How to audit workflows and identify high-impact automation opportunities
• The importance of starting small with pilot automation projects
• How automation improves compliance, scalability, and competitiveness
• Why automation should empower teams, not replace them 

🎧 Listen and Subscribe

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6QkUtrcNllUkqtq1fjlwnZ

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-pros/id1371067192

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Imaginovation/podcasts

• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/talesfromthepros

🗂 Topics We Cover

• What smart, practical automation looks like in real businesses
• Signs manual processes are costing time and money
• How operational growth can outpace systems and teams
• Why auditing workflows is the first step to automation readiness
• How to define ROI before investing in automation
• Common automation roadblocks and how to overcome them
• The role of leadership and team input in automation decisions
• Why automation is essential to remain competitive 

💡 Key Takeaways

• Manual, repetitive work is a strong signal that automation may be needed
• Automation must align with business goals, not trends or hype
• Disconnected systems create inefficiency, errors, and frustration
• Starting small with high-impact pilots reduces risk and improves ROI
• Automation frees teams from low-value busywork
• AI and automation are related but not the same
• A clear audit and roadmap prevent wasted investment
• Strategic automation strengthens long-term scalability and resilience 

⏱️ Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Practical Automation
• 02:22 Signs Your Business Is Ready for Automation
• 05:22 When Growth Outpaces Operations
• 07:53 Disconnected Systems and Tool Overload
• 10:36 Losing Competitive Advantage
• 12:30 The Automation Readiness Playbook
• 15:41 Involving Teams in Automation Decisions
• 18:12 Starting Small With High-Impact Pilots
• 20:35 Real-World Automation Case Studies
• 23:06 Common Automation Roadblocks
• 26:48 Automation vs AI Explained
• 30:25 Final Takeaways and Closing Thoughts