Automation

What it means

Replacing manual work with software or machines.

Why it matters

Frees capacity and reduces error rates.

How to calculate — with Cawan's Shoes

Cawan's Shoes 2026 automation portfolio (12 projects live, 8 in pilot): • AR dunning emails + payment matching → 3 FTEs saved, $310k/yr, DSO down 2.4 days. • Warehouse pick-and-pack robots (Vietnam DC): 240k units/day at 99.6% accuracy, $2.1M capex, 2.4-yr payback. • Store labor scheduling AI → 4.5% labor cost reduction across 2,400 stores = $6.2M/yr. • Chatbot for DTC support: handles 62% of tier-1 tickets, saved 24 CS reps, $1.4M/yr. • Invoice OCR + 3-way match: month-end close 8 days → 5 days. Total 2026 automation savings: ~$11.8M, payback on $9.4M investment: 10 months.

What's at stake if you ignore this

Under-automating leaves 20-30% productivity on the table.