Start by writing down the exact steps repeated every day, week or month. Good candidates for automation include importing data, cleaning lists, applying formulas, creating reports and sending summaries.
Start with the obvious checks
In Excel, automation may use formulas, Power Query, VBA or Office Scripts. In Google Sheets, formulas and Apps Script can automate data processing and reporting. The best choice depends on where the data comes from and who needs to use the file.
What else to check
Before automating, make the manual process reliable. An automated version of a broken process will only create problems faster. Build checks for missing data and test the workflow with real examples.
When to get help
Describe the current process and the result you want.