Every team tracks code debt. Few track the cost of messy operations. Undocumented workflows slow onboarding, sometimes by weeks. Manual data transfers lead to errors. One company reported a 10% error rate on these tasks, each taking 2 hours to resolve. Outdated tools force constant workarounds.
This unseen operational debt inflates cycle times. It increases error rates. It burns out staff. Profits erode silently.
Map your core processes. Document every step, especially manual ones. Quantify the time and error costs. Prioritize automation or standardization.