What is business process automation?
Process automation is the replacement of manual tasks with automated processes that are automated processes that are performed by software or machines.
The goal of process automation is to make operations more efficient and reduce human error. It is an integral part of the digital transition of companies. Many companies have already started and deployed this transition.
Process automation can be used in many areas, such as accounting, finance, real estate, human resources, supply chain management, sales, IT security, or industrial production.
There are several types of process automation: robotic process automation (RPA), which uses software to perform tasks using the application's user interface, and
Business process automation (BPA), which uses tools to define, model and optimize business processes.
In general, process automation aims to:
save time
improve quality of tasks performed
reduce labor costs
Obviously, deploying a process automation project always requires an initial investment and specific expertise. The choice of technology and software solutions is also crucial.
Today, these solutions take advantage of important technological advances, such as AI, to make them even more efficient within the automation process.
How to detect the automation potential of your company?
There are several ways to detect the automation potential of a
business process:
Assess repetitive and manual tasks: Tasks that are repetitive and require little decision making or creativity are often the easiest to automate.
Identify process bottlenecks: If a process is often slowed down by a specific task, this may be an indicator that this task could be automated to improve overall process efficiency and avoid bottlenecks.
Check available data: Automation often requires access to accurate and up-to-date data. If data is difficult to obtain or maintain, if it is too siloed, this can be a barrier to automation.
Consider the cost of automation: It is important to calculate the initial cost of automation and compare that to the expected long-term time and cost savings.
Assess the complexity of the process: The more complex a process is, the less easy it will be to automate. It may be more cost-effective to break down a complex process into sub-processes that are easier to automate.
We also recommend involving company internal experts, such as financial managers, supply chain managers or employees who perform the tasks in question, to get their feedback on which processes could be automated.
What might be the barriers to implementing intelligent automation?
Here are some common barriers to implementing intelligent automation
automation:
Cost: The tools and technologies needed to implement intelligent automation can be expensive, which can be a turn-off for some companies.
Complexity: Intelligent automation often involves the integration of advanced technologies, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, which can be complex to implement.
Lack of skilled employees: It can be difficult to find qualified employees to implement and manage intelligent automation, especially in areas where the demand for skilled personnel is high.
Resistance to change: Some companies may experience employee resistance to adopting intelligent automation, due to fears about job loss or changes in work processes.
Difficulty obtaining accurate and timely data: Smart automation often requires access to accurate and up-to-date data, which can be difficult to obtain in some cases.
Design Data works with your teams throughout the project to define the automation potential of your processes. Thanks to our scoring approach, we facilitate the collection, qualification and integration of your data.
This allows us to offer you the set up of a management cockpit that is 100% automated and 100% customized with your data for a quick and visual analysis of your indicators.
Want to know how our management cockpit
can accelerate your decision-making?
Talk to our team now!
Design Data Consulting, smart data analysis and data management solutions enabling improved decision-making.