Business automation solutions for New Zealand businesses
Practical automation designed around your business
MKN Business Automation helps small and medium-sized businesses attract and support more customers, reduce repetitive work and connect everyday processes. Explore proven solution ideas below — or talk to us about a completely bespoke business automation solution.
Explore the possibilities
Solutions for everyday business challenges
These are not fixed packages. Select a solution to see the business problem, plain-language examples, what can be automated and the expected outcome. We can adapt one solution, combine several or design something unique for the way your business works.
01AI Retail AssistantVoice or text product guidance for customers in physical stores+
Help customers find the right product — without searching for a staff member
Customers scan a QR code or use an optional in-store tablet, then ask questions in ordinary language. The AI retail assistant uses your store’s product catalogue, policies, layout and optional live inventory to recommend suitable products.
“I need kitten food with no added sugar.” The assistant identifies suitable options, explains the differences and shows where to find them.
What we can include
- Product recommendations and comparisons
- Ingredients, sizes, features and suitability
- Product locations, prices and links
- Store policies and FAQs
- Optional live stock connection
- Insights into what customers search for
Common business case
Staff repeatedly answer the same product questions, while some customers leave without buying because they cannot quickly find advice.
02Restaurant AutomationQR code menu, ordering, kitchen workflow and flexible payment+
A faster journey from table to kitchen
Guests scan a QR code at the table — no app download required. They can view the menu, add dietary notes, place an order and order additional items without waiting for a staff member.
Before
With MKN Restaurant Automation
What we can automate
- Digital menu and availability
- Table identification
- Orders and dietary requests
- Kitchen order display and status
- Extra orders during the meal
- Online payment or cashier option
Common business case
During busy periods, staff cannot reach every table quickly, mistakes occur when orders are re-entered and guests miss the chance to order another drink or dessert.
03Hotel Guest AssistantA QR-based guest-to-reception request system for every room+
Make every guest request visible and trackable
A guest scans the room QR code and sends a request directly to reception: extra towels, housekeeping, a maintenance issue, a room question or another service request. Staff manage everything in one dashboard until completion.
Guest request journey
What we can include
- Room-specific QR codes
- Multilingual request forms
- Reception and staff dashboard
- Assignment, priority and status
- Escalations for overdue requests
- Guest confirmation and completion update
- Reporting on frequent issues and response time
Common business case
Reception receives calls, messages and paper notes. Requests are difficult to assign and guests call again because they do not know whether anyone is handling them.
04Customer Growth & Lead ManagementCapture every enquiry and help more genuine opportunities become customers+
Turn more enquiries into paying customers
New enquiries may arrive through your website, email, social media, phone and advertising. This solution creates one clear customer journey from first contact to follow-up and conversion.
Before
Never Miss a New Customer solution
- Automatic lead capture and assignment
- Personalised confirmation and staff notification
- Day 1, Day 3 or custom follow-up schedules
- Lead stages, source tracking and conversion reports
- Reminders when a genuine opportunity needs attention
05Quote-to-Invoice AutomationConnect website enquiries, quotes, approvals, jobs, invoices and payment follow-ups+
From website enquiry to payment — automate the parts your business needs
The complete journey can be connected, or we can automate only selected stages — for example, website enquiry capture, quote preparation, approval, invoicing or payment follow-ups. The solution is designed around your existing process and systems.
Website enquiry & quote
- Customer details recorded once
- Quote details pre-filled before review and sending
- Required prices, totals, tax or other agreed values calculated automatically using your business rules
- Pricing rules and reusable quote templates
- Internal approval workflow
- Professional quote reviewed by your team when required, then emailed to the customer
- Online acceptance or decline
Invoice & payment
- Accepted quote creates a job or order
- Invoice created at the right stage
- Payment status recorded
- Due and overdue reminders
- Staff alerts for important unpaid invoices
06Forms, Approvals & Internal RequestsReplace paper, spreadsheets and approval chasing+
Create a faster, visible and accountable internal process
We can automate leave, expense, purchasing, equipment and other internal requests, including multi-stage approvals, overdue reminders, escalations, secure document storage and status reporting.
07Reporting & Business VisibilityBring scattered information into one clear business view+
See what is happening without manually building reports
We can create sales, lead, quote, invoice, job and operational dashboards; automated weekly summaries; overdue-work views; and alerts when key numbers reach agreed limits.
08Customer Communication & Follow-UpsTimely confirmations, reminders and updates with a human touch+
Keep customers informed at the right time
Automate enquiry confirmations, appointments, quote follow-ups, missing-information requests, job updates, feedback requests, renewals and repeat-service reminders. We identify where automation helps and where a real person should remain involved.
09AI-Assisted Business ProcessesUse AI where it creates practical value and maintain human oversight+
AI for a clear business problem — not simply because it is available
Possible solutions include document and email classification, data extraction, summaries, response drafts, internal knowledge assistants, assessment tools and intelligent routing.
10Custom Business Apps & Process AutomationReplace complicated spreadsheets with a structured end-to-end solution+
Build one connected process around the way your business works
We can create customer, job, order, inventory and project-management applications; mobile tools for employees; connected forms and documents; role-based access; automated tasks; and integrations with Microsoft 365, accounting tools, websites and other platforms.
11Ongoing Support & Website ServicesKeep your automation and customer journey useful as the business changes+
Support when you need it
Optional support can include training, troubleshooting, changes to forms and workflows, new process stages, connections to additional tools and regular solution reviews. We can also assist with business websites, landing pages, online forms, website-to-automation integration and maintenance.
Bespoke business automation solutions
Your challenge does not need to fit neatly into one category
These examples demonstrate what MKN Business Automation can deliver — they are not a closed product catalogue. We begin with your business problem and desired outcome, then adapt, combine or create the right solution. Wherever possible, we improve and connect tools you already use. Microsoft Power Platform and Microsoft 365 may provide a strong foundation, but we do not force every business into one technology ecosystem.
Tell Us About Your ChallengeNot sure where to start?
Start with the business problem
Tell us what is taking too much time, costing too much or preventing your business from growing.