Set a baseline and acceptance checks

What you will learn

• Record current volume and handling time.
• Define a correct output.
• Track exceptions alongside time saved.

The lesson

Before building, count how many items pass through the workflow in a typical week. Sample the time spent on a routine item, an incomplete item and a difficult exception. This gives you a baseline that belongs to your operation rather than a generic industry claim.

Acceptance checks describe the output your team needs: required fields present, destination correct, original source linked and an explicit review flag when information is uncertain. Measure how many items still need manual attention, not just how quickly the automated step runs.

Try this

Choose 20 past items. Record their category, handling time and outcome. Write three checks that every automated result must pass before your team uses it.