Managers at small and midsize businesses may perceive automation as too expensive to be feasible, but research has identified strategies that make implementing it possible even on a tight budget. A framework for evaluating the five main factors that can reduce — or increase — the cost of an automation project can help leaders make more informed decisions about whether process automation might be a viable and cost-effective option for their company. These solutions enable managers to provide updated information to sales and customer service personnel and to quickly react to potential delays — all for a technology investment that is often less than $300. Yet, most SMEs do not know where to start with automation or how to do it under their budget constraints and sometimes limited bandwidth for operational innovations.