Which of the following is a benefit of process automation?

• A. Manual processing
• B. Audit trail
• C. Increased downtime
• D. Higher defect rates

Answer: (B)

Process automation creates an audit trail, recording who did what, when, and how. This traceability supports governance, internal controls, and external reporting by providing evidence of processes and changes. It makes it easier to investigate discrepancies, verify compliance, and drive continuous improvement through data from automated steps. Manual processing, by contrast, is harder to trace and more prone to errors, while increased downtime and higher defect rates are not benefits of automation. So the audit trail is the clear benefit.