Creating Your RPA Success Playlist
In the vast digital landscape think of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) as having tiny digital helpers – we call them “bots.” These bots are like super-efficient office assistants that can do the boring, repetitive tasks for you. Imagine them as your work buddies who tirelessly handle routine jobs, making your business run smoother and saving you from the manual repetitive tasks. They’re like magical worker bees for your computer tasks!
Picture this: mundane and repetitive tasks, once a tedious part of our routine, are now effortlessly managed by these digital bots. From handling data entry to managing complex workflows, RPA is changing the game. It’s not just a technological marvel; it’s a shift in how we approach productivity.
Initiate your RPA journey by carefully selecting tasks worthy of the automation spotlight. Don’t worry; picking which jobs to automate is like making a great playlist for your business—it just needs to feel right. Here are some factors to be considered to help you make sure everything works together smoothly:
Initiate your RPA journey by carefully selecting tasks worthy of the automation spotlight. Don’t worry; picking which jobs to automate is like making a great playlist for your business—it just needs to feel right. Here are some factors to be considered to help you make sure everything works together smoothly:
1. Processes that are rule based
Rule based processes means that the robots you create with RPA tools are designed to follow a set of predefined rules and logic to perform tasks. These tasks can range from simple to complex workflows, and the robots execute them consistently and accurately.
For example, if you have a rule-based process for handling invoices, the RPA robot would follow rules like:
1. Open the email application.
2. Look for emails with the subject “Invoice.”
3. Download the invoice attachments.
4. Enter the invoice details into an accounting system.
5. Send a confirmation email once done.
The robot strictly follows these rules every time, ensuring the task is done the same way, without errors or variations. This is how RPA uses rule-based processes to automate repetitive and predictable tasks.
Rule based processes means that the robots you create with RPA tools are designed to follow a set of predefined rules and logic to perform tasks. These tasks can range from simple to complex workflows, and the robots execute them consistently and accurately.
For example, if you have a rule-based process for handling invoices, the RPA robot would follow rules like:
1. Open the email application.
2. Look for emails with the subject “Invoice.”
3. Download the invoice attachments.
4. Enter the invoice details into an accounting system.
5. Send a confirmation email once done.
The robot strictly follows these rules every time, ensuring the task is done the same way, without errors or variations. This is how RPA uses rule-based processes to automate repetitive and predictable tasks.
2. Clear Return on Investment (ROI)
There should be a clear return on investment from automating the process. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) can lead to measurable savings in both direct costs and indirect benefits.
a. Direct Cost Savings:
• RPA robots can work 24/7 without breaks, which means they can do more work in less time compared to human workers.
• This increased efficiency often results in needing fewer human hours to complete the same amount of work, which can save on labour costs.
• Additionally, because robots are less prone to errors, there’s a reduction in costs associated with correcting mistakes.
b. Indirect Benefits Gained:
• Quality and Accuracy: Robots follow the exact process without deviation, which means the work they do is consistent and high-quality. This reduces the need for rework and improves customer satisfaction.
• Scalability: As business needs grow, it’s easier to scale RPA solutions compared to hiring and training new staff.
• Employee Satisfaction: By automating mundane and repetitive tasks, employees can focus on more engaging and higher-value work, which can lead to increased job satisfaction and retention.
• Compliance and Security: RPA can help ensure that processes are compliant with regulations, as the robot will follow the same process every time. Also, sensitive data is handled according to strict rules, reducing the risk of breaches.
3. Having Readable Inputs
In Robotic Process Automation (RPA), “readable inputs” refer to the data that the robot can understand and use to perform tasks. These inputs need to be in a format that the robot can interpret, such as text files, spreadsheets, emails, or structured web data.
Think of readable inputs as the robot’s instructions or the information it needs to do its job. Just like a person needs to read a form to fill it out, an RPA robot needs to read its inputs to know what actions to take.
4. Manual, High Volume and Repetitive Processes
In a manual and repetitive process, a person has to perform the same set of actions over and over again. By using RPA, a robot is programmed to do the exact same steps that a person would do, but it can work faster, without getting tired or making mistakes. This frees up people to focus on more complex and interesting work that requires human skills like decision-making, problem-solving, and creativity.
5. Stable and Standardized
The process should be stable and not subject to frequent changes. Processes that are standardized across the organization are easier to automate and maintain.
So, in a nutshell, RPA is fantastic for doing things that happen a lot, stay pretty much the same, and have clear steps to follow. This means businesses get to save time, avoid mistakes, and handle more stuff without working extra hard. If you’re considering RPA, just make sure your job ticks these boxes to be a perfect match for automation!
There should be a clear return on investment from automating the process. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) can lead to measurable savings in both direct costs and indirect benefits.
a. Direct Cost Savings:
• RPA robots can work 24/7 without breaks, which means they can do more work in less time compared to human workers.
• This increased efficiency often results in needing fewer human hours to complete the same amount of work, which can save on labour costs.
• Additionally, because robots are less prone to errors, there’s a reduction in costs associated with correcting mistakes.
b. Indirect Benefits Gained:
• Quality and Accuracy: Robots follow the exact process without deviation, which means the work they do is consistent and high-quality. This reduces the need for rework and improves customer satisfaction.
• Scalability: As business needs grow, it’s easier to scale RPA solutions compared to hiring and training new staff.
• Employee Satisfaction: By automating mundane and repetitive tasks, employees can focus on more engaging and higher-value work, which can lead to increased job satisfaction and retention.
• Compliance and Security: RPA can help ensure that processes are compliant with regulations, as the robot will follow the same process every time. Also, sensitive data is handled according to strict rules, reducing the risk of breaches.
3. Having Readable Inputs
In Robotic Process Automation (RPA), “readable inputs” refer to the data that the robot can understand and use to perform tasks. These inputs need to be in a format that the robot can interpret, such as text files, spreadsheets, emails, or structured web data.
Think of readable inputs as the robot’s instructions or the information it needs to do its job. Just like a person needs to read a form to fill it out, an RPA robot needs to read its inputs to know what actions to take.
4. Manual, High Volume and Repetitive Processes
In a manual and repetitive process, a person has to perform the same set of actions over and over again. By using RPA, a robot is programmed to do the exact same steps that a person would do, but it can work faster, without getting tired or making mistakes. This frees up people to focus on more complex and interesting work that requires human skills like decision-making, problem-solving, and creativity.
5. Stable and Standardized
The process should be stable and not subject to frequent changes. Processes that are standardized across the organization are easier to automate and maintain.
So, in a nutshell, RPA is fantastic for doing things that happen a lot, stay pretty much the same, and have clear steps to follow. This means businesses get to save time, avoid mistakes, and handle more stuff without working extra hard. If you’re considering RPA, just make sure your job ticks these boxes to be a perfect match for automation!
