Robotic process automation allows enterprises to put tedious, rules-based and repetitive tasks into the hands of bots. Unlike traditional automation, RPA systems work with multiple applications without the use of APIs. That's because it mimics human interactions at the UI level. While traditional workflow automation requires developers to work within an applications back end, RPA systems watch the user perform tasks in graphical user interfaces across applications then repeats those actions. This lowers the barrier to entry for RPA and makes it accessible to employees and teams with little technical capabilities.
Automated processes allow you to put tedious workloads into the hands of bots that work around the clock.
Humans can make mistakes, but bots perform robotic tasks the same way every time.
Bots perform rule-based tasks faster and give your employees more time to work on higher-level tasks.
Robotic process automation is a relatively simple technology to work with. However, it's important to insure that any automation initiative is led by strategy first. That's where our team of business management and technology experts comes in.
Without strategic business oversight, RPA implementations can fall short of expected gains, entrench inefficient processes, and even create new silos. That's why our process includes business analysis designed to keep robotic process automation efforts in line with your strategic goals.
The first step in planning an RPA initiative is to see which tasks are actually suitable for automation. There are a few criteria we use to find the right tasks for robotic process automation:
Automation can easily make processes faster and more efficient. However, that is no excuse to continue using inefficient processes. If you're dealing with a needlessly slow and cumbersome process, automation could foster complacency and put off crucial digital transformation initiatives. Before automating a task, it is important to first optimize it for efficiency and alignment with your digital strategy.
It's not worth automating processes that do not repeat often. Using robotic process automation on tasks that do not repeat often or repeat with considerable variation each time will make your digital infrastructure bloated with automated tasks and variations that require consistent maintenance.
Automated processes require a degree of independence from other operations in your business. If a process requires consistent intervention from multiple sources before it is complete, it's best to keep it as is or optimize it through a more fundamental transformation.
Once suitable processes are identified, it's important to see if they can realistically be automated without introducing further complexity to your digital infrastructure. A good guideline for evaluating your processes is Forrester's "rule of five."
Robotic process automation records and replicates your options. Each decision needs to be coded into a script, so there's a point where it's best to look for tools that are specifically designed to handle complex decisions. Some of these include BPM applications and machine learning.
One significant advantage of RPA is that it works with application's user interfaces the same way that a human user would rather than relying on APIs. This makes the technology accessible for non-techies. However, this means that changes in an application's interface could cause errors in the automated process. That's why it's best to limit a process' applications to five in order to keep track of any changes that could interfere with its automation.
As robotic process automation bots record employee actions in repetitive processes, it's important to keep the number of clicks and keystrokes in the task relatively low. This helps keep track of actions within a task in order to make adjustments whenever necessary.
As a global license reseller for Automation Anywhere, Infomatics Corp is excited to offer our customers access to the market leader's state-of-the-art RPA technology and implementation capabilities. Automation Anywhere's enterprise-level software provides leading robotic process automation capabilities and access to thousands of pre-programmed bots ready to take on common repetitive tasks that waste employee's time.
