How to brief an automation agency

A good brief saves weeks. It doesn't need to be long or technical. Here's what we'd love every new client to tell us on the first call.

The six questions

1. What task do you want gone?

2. Who does it today, and how often?

3. Which tools are involved?

4. What does 'done well' look like?

5. What must never go wrong?

6. How will you know it worked?

Bring examples, not specs

Screenshots of real emails, a sample invoice, a recording of a typical call. Real examples tell us more than any requirements document, and they reveal the exceptions early.

Be honest about the mess

Every business has a spreadsheet that shouldn't exist or a step that only one person understands. Tell us about it on day one. It's much cheaper to design around it than to discover it after launch.

Agree what success means

Hours saved per week, replies sent within a minute, invoices paid on time. Pick one number you'll check in a month. It keeps everyone focused on the result, not the technology.

You don't need perfect answers. Rough ones are enough to get started.