10 Must-Do Steps to Prepare Your IT Team for Automation Rollout (and Maximize ROI)

10 Must-Do Steps to Prepare Your IT Team for Automation Rollout (and Maximize ROI)

Adopting an automation platform like Identic can transform your organization — streamlining workflows, reducing manual effort, improving security, and unlocking serious cost savings. But to get the most out of any automation rollout, preparation is key.

We’ve worked with dozens of IT teams — from retail to legal to manufacturing — and we’ve learned what separates smooth, high-impact rollouts from the ones that stall. Here’s your field-tested checklist to ensure your automation initiative succeeds from day one.

1. Map Out High-Impact, High-Effort Tasks

Start by listing manual tasks your team performs daily or weekly — especially those that are:

• Time-consuming

• Error-prone

• Repeated for every new hire, termination, or vendor

Examples: user onboarding/offboarding, password resets, provisioning apps without APIs, compliance tasks.

2. Identify “Problem Apps”

Every org has them — systems without APIs or centralized control.
Think: browser-based portals, 'old school' aka legacy apps, OEM tools, marketing or industry-specific apps.

These are the best candidates for automation because they typically drain the most time and slip through the cracks.

3. Involve Stakeholders Early

Pull in voices from IT, security, HR, and department heads.
Their buy-in ensures:

• You get a complete picture of workflows

• You avoid last-minute surprises during rollout

Plus, stakeholders can become champions when they see how automation benefits their teams.

4. Clean Up Your Identity and Access Data

Before automating, review:

• Existing user roles and access privileges

• Dormant accounts

• Shared credentials or outdated provisioning methods

This cleanup improves automation accuracy and enhances security from day one.

5. Define Success Metrics (Before You Start)

What does “success” look like?

Examples:

• Reduce onboarding time by 90%

• Eliminate manual provisioning for X apps

• Free up 20 hours/week of IT time

• Achieve full audit trail coverage across all access points

Set these KPIs up front so you can track real ROI.

6. Choose a Lean, Testable Starting Point

Start with one workflow or one team that’s ready to go — and where automation will have obvious benefits.

This gives you:

• Quick wins

• A case study for internal momentum

• Time to iterate before full deployment

7. Communicate the Why

Automation can trigger fear of “replacement” or change. Communicate clearly:

• What’s being automated (and what’s not)

• How it will free people up for higher-value work

• That this is about scaling smarter — not cutting people

8. Get Audit and Compliance Involved

Automation = better compliance — if set up right.

Involve your security or compliance team to ensure:

• Automation logs are retained

• Approval flows are in place

• Auditability is built into workflows

This reduces your exposure in case of audits or security reviews.

9. Plan for Change Management

Even the smoothest automation platform requires:

• Updated documentation

• Clear support paths for edge cases

• Training (especially for HR, IT help desk, or local ops teams)

Consider a phased rollout or create internal “automation champions” to help.

10. Measure, Iterate, Expand

Once your first workflow is running:

• Track impact against your KPIs

• Ask: What worked? What didn’t?

• Then prioritize the next high-impact areas

With Identic, we often see customers expand from 1–2 workflows to dozens within weeks — once they see the results.

Final Thought

Automation isn’t just a tool — it’s a strategic capability. But like any major initiative, preparation makes all the difference.

By following these steps, your organization will be positioned to maximize ROI, improve efficiency, and drive real operational transformation.

Want a customized readiness checklist for your team?
Book a 30-minute Automation Readiness Call with Identic →