5 Common Software Automation Mistakes to Avoid

Want your automation project to succeed? Here are the 5 biggest mistakes companies make – and how to fix them:

Mistake	Impact	Fix
Automating Bad Processes	Makes problems happen faster	Fix processes before automating
Poor Testing	Systems crash in production	Test thoroughly in stages
Skipping Training	Teams don’t use the tools	Train staff before launch
Rushing Implementation	Money wasted on fixes	Plan carefully, start small
No Monitoring	Problems build up silently	Track and update regularly

Quick Stats:

• 30-50% of automation projects fail
• Companies spend 3-4x more fixing rushed projects
• 88% of employees say training is inadequate

Here’s the thing: automation isn’t "set and forget." You need a solid plan, proper testing, and ongoing maintenance.

But when done right? The results are clear:

• 30% reduction in work hours
• 90% faster customer service
• 46% lower support costs

Who this guide is for:

• Teams starting automation projects
• Companies fixing failed automation
• IT leaders planning new rollouts

Let’s dive into each mistake and learn how to avoid them.

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1. Trying to Automate Flawed Processes

Here’s the truth: when you automate a broken process, you just make it fail faster. A Nintex study shows this hits companies hard – 72% of people who quit blamed bad IT processes. Even worse? 40% of employees went behind IT’s back to use their own apps just to finish their work.

What happens when you rush to automate bad processes?

Problem	Impact	Result
Old Data	Wrong Auto-Responses	Angry Customers
Too Many Approvals	Everything Slows Down	Stuck Projects
Messy Workflows	System Breaks Down	Money Wasted
Bad Quality Checks	Same Errors Over and Over	Extra Work

Fix First, Then Automate

Before you spend a dime on automation:

• Write down each step in your process
• Find the bottlenecks
• Talk to your team about what slows them down
• Cut out extra approval steps
• Run the fixed process by hand first

"Want to avoid automating a mess? Build a smooth manual process BEFORE you buy expensive tech." – Bruce M., Author

When you fix processes first, you get:

Benefit	What It Means
Cut Costs	Fewer Mistakes
Better Results	Happy Customers
Speed Up Work	Things Get Done
Better Returns	Automation That Works

Think of it like this: You wouldn’t install a robot vacuum in a cluttered room. Clean up first, THEN let the robot do its job.

Start with one process. Fix it. Test it. THEN automate it. Yes, it takes longer – but it saves you from expensive headaches later.

2. Not Testing Enough Before Launch

Let’s talk about what happens when you skip testing: your automation project crashes and burns. Data from Sigma Software Group shows a painful truth – companies that cut testing corners spend 3-4x more fixing problems later.

Here’s what poor testing leads to:

Problem	Impact	Cost
System Crashes	Work Stops	Lost Hours
Wrong Data Output	Bad Decisions	Lost Money
Security Holes	Data Breaches	Legal Issues
Poor Performance	Angry Users	Lost Customers

You need these three testing phases:

1. Pre-deployment Testing

Run your automation through EVERY scenario you can think of. Good data, bad data, weird data – throw it all in there.

2. Test Environment Checks

Set up a mirror of your real system and look for:

• How fast (or slow) things run
• Memory eating up space
• Connection drops
• Security weak spots

3. Live System Monitoring

After launch, keep your eyes on:

• Is the system staying up?
• How many errors pop up?
• What are users saying?
• Is it running smoothly?

"Proof of Concept is not just another formality but an important step that can save time, money, and effort." – Olexiy Vovk, Senior Test Automation Engineer at Sigma Software Group

Here’s what you MUST test:

Test Type	What to Check	Why It Matters
Speed Tests	Response Times	Users Hate Waiting
Load Tests	Peak Usage	Prevents Crashes
Security Tests	Data Protection	Stops Breaches
User Tests	Real Usage	Catches Problems

Make Your Testing Better:

• Test the same thing multiple times
• Clock your response times
• Jump on failed tests right away
• Keep test scripts in sync with code
• Check results every day

Bottom line: Don’t wait for things to break in production. Test now, test a lot, and test everything. Your users will stick around, and your wallet will stay fuller.

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3. Skipping Staff Training and Support

Here’s a wake-up call: Gallup found that 88% of employees think their company fails at training. And when you’re adding automation? Poor training can turn your new system into an expensive paperweight.

Bad training hits your bottom line:

Problem	Effect	Cost Impact
Low Adoption	Teams keep old workflows	Dead investment
Bad Data	Input errors	Time and money fixes
Team Resistance	Project slowdown	Missed deadlines
IT Bottlenecks	Support team burnout	Extra costs

"Change scares people. They worry about how new tools will shake up their daily work – or if they’ll even have a job tomorrow." – Mike Kelly, CIO at Red Hat

Here’s How to Fix It:

1. Know Your Starting Point

Map out what your team needs:

• Current skills
• Knowledge holes
• Training priorities

2. Give Learning Options

Mix these together:

• Live practice sessions
• Video tutorials
• Written guides
• Group workshops

3. Back Your Team Up

Put these in place:

• Fast help channels
• Answer guides
• Tech support
• Progress meetings

Look at what works: When Stacy Potter (National Certified Continuing Education Provider for Massage Therapy) switched to automated grading, her team got faster feedback and cut down training time.

The Money Side:

What You Spend	What You Get
15% budget slice	Higher usage
Training hours	Less cleanup
Help resources	Smoother IT
Fresh updates	Better results

Don’t Make These Mistakes:

• Training before systems are ready
• Training after launch
• Skipping practice time
• No backup plan

Bottom line: A delayed launch with solid training beats a quick launch that crashes and burns.

4. Rushing Into Implementation

Want to burn money? Skip the planning phase of your automation project. Here’s what happens:

Rush Job Problems	What Goes Wrong
No defined goals	You can’t track if it works
Skipped testing	Everything breaks in production
Bad budget planning	Money disappears fast
No backup options	Systems fail with no safety net

"You must first define, design, develop and deliver automation. Do not rush the process because of your longer term vision. Automation takes time to build, deploy and implement at scale across your organizations." – Jack Wagner, Hawk Ventures

Let’s look at what happened at Investec bank. They tried to rush their automation. Their testing fell apart. But then they stopped, made a real plan, and cut their delivery time by 75%.

Here’s their winning formula:

Step	What They Did	Outcome
Plan First	Document existing systems	Clear roadmap
Test Right	Build CI/CD pipeline	Tests run 24/7
Connect Smart	Link old and new systems	Full system coverage
Roll Out Slow	Step-by-step launch	3-4x faster results

"The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency." – Bill Gates

Do These Checks First:

Look At	Key Questions
Process problems	Which parts break?
Team knowledge	Who needs to learn what?
Tech fit	Do systems work together?
Money math	What’s the total spend?

Smart Project Steps:

1. Document what you do now
2. Spot the problems
3. Test small fixes
4. Grow what works
5. Keep manual backups

Bottom line: Start slow to finish strong. Good planning saves both money and headaches.

5. Failing to Track and Update Systems

Most companies set up automation and walk away. Big mistake. Here’s what happens when you skip tracking and updates:

Problem	Result
No system checks	Errors build up silently
Outdated software	Security risks pop up
Broken test scripts	Tests fail without warning
Poor monitoring	Issues snowball before detection

Here’s what ZappleTech‘s CDO, Mikhail Bodnarchuk, learned:

"Check and update your test scripts often. Build updates into your schedule and set aside time to sync tests with your latest app changes."

Track These Daily:

Item	Check Frequency
System status	Every day
Test results	Every week
Bug patterns	Every month
Code updates	Every release

Fix These Now:

Issue	Solution
Test code	Add version control
System health	Set up monitoring
Team sync	Run weekly checks
Code updates	Match with tests

Want better updates? Do these 5 things:

1. Put test scripts in version control
2. Set up system alerts
3. Test updates in staging
4. Keep backups ready
5. Write down changes

Watch These Stats:

Number to Track	Why
Time system is down	Shows if it works
Tests that break	Spots problems
Update success	Shows system health
Speed changes	Catches slowdowns

Here’s the thing: Outside tools and custom code don’t always play nice with updates. Test EVERYTHING before it goes live. Pick your key numbers and share them. It keeps your team on track.

Skip the maintenance, and you’ll spend your days putting out fires instead of moving forward.

Conclusion

Here’s what successful companies do with software automation:

Step	Action	Result
Plan First	Map processes before coding	80% fewer errors
Test Smart	Run checks in stages	Catches 90% of issues early
Train Teams	Give hands-on practice	Staff uses tools correctly
Start Small	Begin with pilot projects	Shows what needs fixing
Check Often	Set up monitoring	Stops problems before they grow

Here’s what Michael Cowan from Jama Software says about it:

"Automation is a tool to reduce development and operating costs, while freeing up resources to work on more complicated things."

Want your automation project to succeed? Follow this checklist:

Before Starting	During Setup	After Launch
Map current workflow	Test in small batches	Monitor daily
Pick the right tasks	Train your team	Update scripts
Set clear goals	Document everything	Track results
Get team buy-in	Run pilot tests	Fix issues fast

But here’s something to think about. Gina Schaefer from Deloitte‘s U.S. intelligent automation practice puts it perfectly:

"Just because you can automate something doesn’t mean you should."

The numbers tell the story: IDC found that 75% of companies can’t find workers with the right skills. That’s why training is a MUST.

Key Numbers to Watch	Target
Implementation time	1-2 months
Cost savings	Track monthly
Error reduction	Compare to manual
Team adoption	Check weekly

Bottom line: Automation isn’t "set and forget." You need to:

• Keep your team’s skills sharp
• Update your systems
• Stay focused on your goals

That’s how you build automation that actually works.

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