Tools

Map What Still Depends on the Seller Before You Automate

For an integration or portfolio-operations lead choosing where to spend limited seller-overlap time across several recurring processes.

Uli PrantzBuilds and operates all-agents
Published
Key takeaways

Key takeaways

  • Inventory a process, not a department. Give each row a real trigger and finish that can be observed during the overlap window.
  • Transition attention combines frequency, consequence and owner dependence. Definition strength separately combines evidence readiness and repeatability.
  • Consequence raises the control requirement; it never counts as proof that a process is safe or ready to automate.
  • The tool ranks five processes and exports a usable shortlist without an account. Inputs remain in the browser.
Enter up to five recurring processes and score each on five visible dimensions. The inventory ranks transition attention from frequency, consequence and owner dependence, then reports definition strength from evidence readiness and repeatability. It adds a consequence-based control route and creates a copyable shortlist. It does not produce an automation-readiness grade.

Build the inventory from processes you can observe

Use short process names such as “prepare Friday branch report” or “route emergency call-out.” Department names are too broad. Score current behavior against recent cases, and keep confidential details out of the fields.

Enter process labels only. Do not add customer names, credentials, personal data, transaction terms or confidential details. Nothing is sent from this browser.
Process 1
Process 2
Process 3
Process 4
Process 5

Ranked transition shortlist

Transition attention and definition strength stay separate. A high-consequence process moves up the handover list and receives a stronger control route; it does not become more ready to automate.

  1. 1. Unnamed process 1attention 3/9

    Definition strength 2/6. Define rollback and an exception owner before controlled execution.

  2. 2. Unnamed process 2attention 3/9

    Definition strength 2/6. Define rollback and an exception owner before controlled execution.

  3. 3. Unnamed process 3attention 3/9

    Definition strength 2/6. Define rollback and an exception owner before controlled execution.

  4. 4. Unnamed process 4attention 3/9

    Definition strength 2/6. Define rollback and an exception owner before controlled execution.

  5. 5. Unnamed process 5attention 3/9

    Definition strength 2/6. Define rollback and an exception owner before controlled execution.

The method keeps urgency separate from definition

Every input uses a zero-to-three scale printed in the tool.
OutputFormulaWhat it means
Transition attentionFrequency + consequence + owner dependency; 0 to 9Where limited seller-overlap attention is most exposed
Definition strengthEvidence readiness + repeatability; 0 to 6How much observable material exists for a bounded process-design pass
Control routeDirect rule from consequence levelThe minimum human accountability and recovery boundary to investigate

The list sorts by transition attention, then definition strength, then original row order. It never sums all five fields into one readiness percentage. High frequency and owner dependence make the transition urgent. Strong evidence and repeatability make the process easier to define. High consequence makes the control route stricter.

A zero is descriptive, not good or bad. A rare process may still matter. A well-documented critical process may still need specialist review and permanent human accountability.

Use the two scores to choose the next evidence job

  • High attention, weak definition: observe the next cases with the seller and build an exception ledger before discussing automation.
  • High attention, strong definition: reverse-shadow the successor, test imperfect cases and verify authority.
  • Lower attention, strong definition: preserve the current record and schedule it behind the exposed handover work.
  • Critical consequence: get the named specialist and accountable owner involved even when the procedure is excellent.

Move the first selected row into the workflow mapper. Use the owner-transition guide to schedule live cases and the seller-unavailable test.

A less frequent exception can outrank daily routine work

Simulated process inventorySimulated example data

A service company lists daily schedule review, weekly branch reporting and monthly disputed-customer-credit review. Scheduling is frequent but already runs without the seller. The credit review is less frequent, serious, seller-owned and supported by partial evidence.

The credit review receives more transition attention. Its definition strength remains separate, and the tool routes its consequential effect to named human approval. The result does not say to automate it first. It says to spend scarce overlap time observing the decision and transferring authority.

Limitations and when not to use this

  • This is an educational process-inventory tool, not due diligence, valuation, legal, tax, accounting, employment, cybersecurity or investment advice.
  • The scores rank user-entered observations. They do not certify completeness, safety, product fit, savings or automation readiness.
  • Do not enter confidential information, credentials, customer names, employee data or transaction terms. Only process names are included in the copied output.
  • Rare events, concentrated relationships and novel leadership decisions may be absent from the inventory. Review the shortlist with the people who perform and own the work.

Sources

  1. Buyer Training After a Business SaleBizBuySell Accessed 6 August 2026
  2. Contingency Planning Guide for Federal Information SystemsNIST Accessed 6 August 2026
  3. Eliminating ToilGoogle, The Site Reliability Workbook Accessed 6 August 2026

Map the first process

Translate the top process into an explicit trigger, owner, path and exception destination.

Map the first process
About the author

Uli Prantz

Builds and operates all-agents

Uli Prantz builds all-agents, the process-automation platform this site documents. He writes about the operational side of automating recurring business work: where deterministic code beats model judgment, where it does not, and where a human still has to approve.

Bring one process. We will scope it in 30 minutes.

You leave the call knowing whether it is a fit, what can become code and what still needs a person.

Book a discovery call