Repetitive processes, time-consuming tasks or wasting your employees’ talent due to bureaucracy? Do you recognize these problems? Software robots can help you improve this situation. Virtually all tasks that are common and repetitive in nature lend themselves to improvement through Robotic Process Automation (RPA). A software robot is faster per operation, makes fewer errors, is cheaper and learns from its own work. The initial cost of programming such a robot, which used to be very high, has continued to decrease while the functional capabilities have expanded. This makes RPA applicable in more and more processes and makes the investment worthwhile!
When programmed properly, it can have great benefits and work many times faster and better than humans can. Our own research has shown that many organizations have little or no familiarity with RPA and are therefore unsure where to start. At the same time, they run into various challenges, such as:
- Manually transcribing medical records or ID cards;
- Handling insurance claims;
- Processing permit applications by a municipality;
- Manually checking product inventory;
- Writing standard reports.
What added value can RPA bring to your organization?
RPA allows organizations to allow employees to perform more meaningful thinking tasks. By taking repetitive, often administrative tasks out of their hands, it creates the space to organize work in a more meaningful and challenging way. Consider, for example, more focus on customer contact and relationship management. This increases employee effectiveness. It also increases operational speed and reduces errors by automating repetitive tasks. Because the robots are available to perform tasks 24/7, certain work can continue beyond office hours. This increases the overall efficiency of processes.
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Challenges in implementing RPA
RPA also has a number of challenges. After all, it does involve integrating new technology into the current enterprise architecture and a renewed collaboration between people and technology. There are several types of challenges and common misunderstandings that must be addressed if you want to successfully implement RPA. In particular, we see the following challenges in RPA implementations:
- RPA is mostly a short-term/interim solution.
Of course, RPA can provide an immediate solution and benefit, but long-term RPA also requires more complex platforms and frequent evaluation and optimization of the process. - RPA automates a clearly defined process.
This can be a challenge for organizations that do not have clearly defined processes. It is common for organizations to start automating but either automate the wrong things or not have a clear process objective. - High fixed costs, low variable costs.
It is a fact that automated processes are expensive to implement, with the returns only occurring over time. It requires specific and practiced skills to successfully implement automated processes. So it needs volume to make it rewarding, either at the organization itself or with a hired vendor. The financial barrier does go down as software and implementation experience become more widely available. - RPA maintenance.
While running the processes, RPA solutions require some maintenance. An RPA software robot is sensitive to changes in the user interface, therefore it is necessary to maintain the RPA robots. When a software robot has multiple tasks, maintenance can become complex and difficult. - Employee resistance.
Resistance, or at best habituation, is one of the biggest challenges in RPA projects due to the fact that people by nature are simply not fond of change. Any change associated with implementing new technology can be stressful for employees as they experience a change in their responsibilities. In addition, when implementing RPA, there is often a fear that jobs will disappear as tasks are automated.
RPA solution in practice
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