Robotic Process Automation refers to the automation of processes by digital software robots. The bots take over tedious, repetitive and monotonous tasks that do not require human interaction. They send marketing e-mails, fill out standardized forms or copy data into other systems. In short: Robotic Process Automation saves time, money and nerves. But how do you know if your company is ready for RPA?
These Three Signs Tell You the Code R(ed)PA
If you recognize these three signs, then it's red alert for the introduction of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and other process automation technologies in your company:
1. Your employees suffer from the "swivel chair" effect
An employee sits in front of two screens, copies data from one screen to the other and turns his chair in the direction of the second screen: the "swivel chair" effect.
This image is meant to illustrate how inefficient it is when employees manually transfer data from one system to another. The process is slow, monotonous and error-prone. In almost every company, there are processes like this that could easily be automated using RPA. Software bots would take over tedious tasks, such as copy-pasting spreadsheets or filling out forms. This would allow employees to concentrate on the core tasks of the company or, symbolically, on just one screen.
2. Your workflows are confusing
For companies, there are numerous specifications and guidelines that must be adhered to. In order to know exactly what was done and when, it helps to automate processes. This makes them easier to control and track.
RPA bots perform their tasks reliably and more error-free. This standardizes the workflow and makes it easy to check. This not only helps to comply with external guidelines, but also simplifies the internal optimization of processes. Often, individual employees or departments do not communicate with each other and complete tasks multiple times. This can be avoided through automation.
3. You want to integrate new applications into your company
In a company, countless different business systems quickly accumulate. If new applications are to be integrated, this can easily degenerate into chaos. Complex and small-scale integration costs a lot of money and takes a long time. Robotic Process Automation simplifies integration. In addition, clear workflows form the ideal basis for innovation, as efficient processes can be identified and promoted.
What now? Introduce RPA!
Once it is clear that your company is ready for RPA, it is important to analyze all workflows in the company and check which processes can or even should be specifically automated. Good business process management (BPM) is important for this. Business process management documents and evaluates processes so that they can be optimized in the next step. In this way, inefficient processes are filtered out and processes are linked.
In summary, you should follow these five steps:
1. Analyze business processes with Process Mining
2. Prepare processes for automation
3. Select suitable automation method
4. Implement RPA step by step
5. Monitor and improve partial automation
For the detailed description of each step you can read our related article.
If you don't know exactly how you can ultimately automate the processes or would like to expand your skills, training providers who deal with precisely such topics can help. You can find out which ones are particularly suitable for preparing you for the next few years from our top 5 best Digitization Academies.
Save Time and Money with RPA
If you're looking for repetitive, tedious tasks and cluttered workflows, you'll quickly find Robotic Process Automation starting points. Tackling automation now and not continuing to sit on your swivel chair will save you a lot of time and money in the future. The path to digital transformation starts with recognizing the automation potential in your own company.
