Everyone makes mistakes at work. Whether it’s forwarding an email to the wrong person, entering the wrong order number, or shipping the wrong product, human errors happen. However, these common errors could disrupt business operations or the loss of highly valuable business data. For retail businesses, a single mistake could result in a significant loss of productivity and profit.
The term “human error” refers to the distinctive unintended mistakes people make by performing an action that does not conform to the already established practices, guidelines, or code of conduct in a business organization. While it’s impossible to eliminate human error, most of these errors are avoidable with the right risk management policies and systems in place, such as the automation of business process management by using ERP.
Understanding the different types of human errors makes it easier to take proactive steps in resolving the underlying cause. This article will examine some common human errors in the workplace and how an ERP system can automate tasks to curb common mistakes.
Human Errors Regularly Found in the Workplace
Most human errors fall into four categories: knowledge-based mistakes, lapses in memory, rule-based error, and slips.
Knowledge-Based Mistakes
The knowledge-based human error is a common mistake when there are no set company rules for addressing problems. When an inexperienced employee doesn’t have the answers to a problem and is unable to communicate with someone more senior, they may make a decision based on their limited knowledge and resources.
Lapses in Memory
Memory lapses can frequently happen, especially in busy or stressful work environments. Whether it’s forgetting to perform an important step in ensuring security or forgetting critical individuals in required communications, these lapses can seriously impact operational efficiency and data security. Failing to update records or reports is another example of this type of human error.
Slip Error
Slip error is a common error that comes from a lack of concentration and fatigue among employees. This mistake occurs when an employee accidentally mixes up sensitive information and documents, or performs the wrong task when trying to keep up with manual input. These mistakes can create a domino effect as other departments rely on the same inaccurate info or data in their work.
Rule-Based Mistakes
Rule-based human error can take place as a result of a change in a business’s owners. For example, after a merger, some old policies that don’t conform to the company’s current status might still be in place. This leaves employees incorrectly following the previous rules to complete their daily tasks. A different interpretation of the rules may also lead to errors.
Reducing Human Error with Automation
Many human errors are avoidable by automating most of your business’s repetitive tasks and backup system processes. Through enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems companies can promote smooth and efficient practices throughout their entire operations.
ERP systems like NetSuite, SAP, Odoo, etc. can be used to host an entire organization’s departmental functions under a single cloud-based platform. By having all your business operations on a single platform visible for every department head to see and audit, you can automate your daily business operations from CRM, sales, and invoicing to logistics.
Automation reduces the number of manual tasks your employees have to complete, which reduces the risk of human errors. Modern ERP systems are cloud-based and offer automation capabilities, meaning your employees can be less busy, less stressed, less likely to make disastrous errors that go overlooked.
Source: https://www.kodella.com/best-practices/human-error-why-a-little-mistake-has-big-business-impact/