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Automation: What, Why & How of RPA.
RPA is a game changer for boosting efficiencies and achieving cost savings without the need for timely, expensive, technical changes.
Firstly, What is RPA?
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is the use of software to automate repetitive, manual-processing tasks with the aid of a “robot”. Tasks most suited to this style of automation are usually time-consuming and rule-based tasks. However, fully automated end-to-end processes are possible.
RPA tools belong to a class of software most comparable to scripts or macros, usually referred to as “BOTS”. The aim is the replication of human interactions within already existing applications. Industry trends suggests that RPA offers a more direct way of driving significant cost savings in the short-term which in turn provides greater potential for organisation efficiencies in the long-term.
Okay. So, Why RPA?
RPA acts as a foundation for a broader digital transformation strategy, a current trend rapidly-emerging across businesses as diverse as manufacturing, healthcare and finance as leadership teams everywhere plan the direction of how their business will operate in the future.
- 10% of organisations who are using some form of RPA believe they are maximising its current potential. The remaining 90% are self-admittedly not maximising, suggesting a lack of strategic vision for the technology.
- 80% of businesses assume that RPA deployments would cause staff to be retrained and redeployed rather than released.
- Majority of businesses encounter challenges adopting RPA.
Businesses now more than ever, need to build and develop agile, cross-functional, specialist teams to apply RPA-technologies effectively to strategic business context. These teams will be positioned perfectly to build and curate business cases for future deployments, share and adapt the lessons learned and maximise the benefits and value realised.
How to start taking advantage of RPA?
Business processes that rely on legacy technology are usually highly complex and incredibly expensive to change. Businesses and IT functions have traditionally struggled to both technically and economically deliver modern platforms that are agile. A complete architecture overhaul is a large challenge and most proposed solutions struggle to generate measurable financial value. RPA offers a way to get around some of those constraints and focuses on delivering benefits quicker and cheaper than traditional solutions.
In order to maximise the effectiveness and realise business value in the quickest amount of time you should focus on the following key areas: -
- Manual Processing — Any process which requires predictable, data entry, data collection or validation of multiple systems. These processes really throttle businesses growth soaking up resource time that could otherwise be spent on other high-value processes.
- Repetitive — Data entry and consolidation type processes that involve the same task over-and-over. Reducing the overall impact of employee fatigue.
- High Activity — Any high-activity processes that require multiple touch points is usually a costly workflow, these are ideal candidates for automation.
5 standout examples of high-value RPA candidates that could relate to your business: -
- Customer Onboarding.
- Data Migration & Entry.
- Extracting Data from Documents/Systems.
- Operating Controls/Scorecards.
- Routine, Service Desk tickets (such as Password resets).
It’s important to remember that RPA is not the solution to all business problems. In some cases, more advanced technologies such as Machine Learning may need to be explored in order to automate highly complex business problems.
Still not sure if your business would benefit from adopting RPA? Get in touch with PaperProcess today for a Free, No Obligation Consultation.
