What is office automation?

The term office automation refers to all tools and methods that are applied to office activities
which make it possible to process written, visual, and sound data in a computer-aided manner.
Office automation is intended to provide elements which make it possible to simplify, improve,
and automate the organisation of the activities of a company or a group of people (management
of administrative data, synchronisation of meetings, etc.).

Considering that company organizations requires increased communication, today, office

automation is no longer limited to simply capturing handwritten notes. In particular, it also
includes the following activities:

• exchange of information
• management of administrative documents
• handling of numerical data
• meeting planning and management of work schedules

Office suite tools

The term "office suite" refers to all software programs which make it possible to meet office
needs. In particular, an office suite therefore includes the following software programs:
• word processing
• a spreadsheet
• a presentation tool
• a database
• a scheduler
The main office suites are:

• AppleWorks
• Corel WordPerfect
• IBM/Lotus SmartSuite
• Microsoft Office
• Sun StarOffice
• OpenOffice (freeware

Office automation refers to the varied computer machinery and software used to digitally create,
collect, store, manipulate, and relay office information needed for accomplishing basic tasks and
goals. Raw data storage, electronic transfer, and the management of electronic business
information comprise the basic activities of an office automation system.[1] Office automation
helps in optimizing or automating existing office procedures.

The backbone of office automation is a LAN, which allows users to transmit data, mail and even
voice across the network. All office functions, including dictation, typing, filing, copying, fax, Telex,
microfilm and records management, telephone and telephone switchboard operations, fall into
this category. Office automation was a popular term in the 1970s and 1980s as the desktop
computer exploded onto the scene.[2]