Let’s bring clarity to the recent misconceptions surrounding automation and RPA in particular – and set the record straight.

Automation is often mistaken for robots replacing human roles, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Automation with RPA in particular is about finding ways to work smarter and more efficiently by creating digital solutions to complete repetitive tasks faster and more accurately than humans can.

This includes automating mundane and time-consuming processes, such as filling out forms and capturing data from multiple sources. Crucially, these solutions are created in a way that allows them to scale with increasing demand – something humans cannot do by themselves.

What’s more, automation helps create an environment where people can focus their efforts on the tasks they can do best – being creative, productive, and innovative. It empowers them to focus on activities that require deeper problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity.

Ultimately, automation with RPA is about focusing efforts on the tasks that really matter – freeing up resources to focus on more value-added activities while producing better quality results in less time. By introducing automation into the workplace, businesses can benefit from improved customer service, reduced costs, and improved data accuracy. It’s a win-win situation for both the employees and the business!

In short, RPA is about streamlining processes and eliminating manual human tasks that are tedious and repetitive in nature. It makes sense to use automation when it improves efficiency or enhances accuracy – if it won’t do either of these, then there’s no point in using automation. That being said, RPA is just one form of automation – there are other types as well that can greatly benefit a business.

At the end of the day, automation is here to stay and businesses need to embrace it.

The Misconception of Automation and RPA

The rise of automation and robotic process automation (RPA) has led to apprehensiveness among many employees, who fear they could be substituted by technology. However, this is far from the truth!

RPA is designed to augment and streamline existing processes, not replace them. RPA can automate mundane tasks that are time-consuming for humans, such as data entry or collecting information from various sources for analysis. When implemented correctly, RPA improves the productivity of existing processes and frees up time for employees to focus on high-value tasks.

6 Top Misconceptions of RPA

1. Automation will replace human jobs – False.

Automation is designed to augment processes and free up time for humans to focus on higher-value tasks.

For example, a customer service representative can use RPA to automate the processes of searching for customer records and other tedious activities, allowing them to spend more time with customers.

2. RPA involves complex coding – False.

It’s designed to be user-friendly, with no programming knowledge required.

For example, software bots can be configured through drag-and-drop functionality. This process is called low-code development and makes it easy to use and maintain the software, allowing teams to quickly create automation solutions.

3. RPA is not secure – False.

While there are security considerations, RPA can be securely implemented with the right processes in place, including setting up access control measures such as two-factor authentication and encryption of data.

For example, the use of authentication tokens and data encryption can ensure that only the right people have access to sensitive information.

4. RPA is expensive – False.

Automation can actually save costs by speeding up processes, decreasing manual errors, and freeing up resources.

For example, automating payment processing and invoice matching can save organizations money by reducing labor costs and increasing accuracy.

5. RPA is difficult to maintain – False.

RPA solutions are designed to be user-friendly and easy to maintain with minimal IT support required.

For example, software bots can be configured through drag-and-drop functionality, making it easy to use and maintain the software. This makes automation solutions easier to implement and maintain over time, allowing organizations to quickly create automation solutions.

6. RPA can’t adapt to change – False.

RPA is designed to be agile, and able to adjust quickly when processes or data requirements change.

For example, organizations can use RPA to quickly respond to changing customer demands and needs, such as changes in pricing or order fulfillment times. This agility can help organizations stay ahead of their competition while staying up-to-date with emerging trends and regulations.

Start Your Automation With A Strategy

Despite the many benefits that RPA offers, organizations should approach automation with caution and a well-defined strategy. Automation can be an extremely powerful tool when used correctly – but it can also lead to costly errors if not implemented properly.

Organizations need to carefully consider which areas they want to automate, how they will ensure security and accuracy, and how they will maintain the software over time. With the right processes in place, organizations can make automation work for them – improving productivity and freeing up resources to focus on more important tasks.

3 Approaches to Starting Your Automation Journey

There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to automation – it all depends on the needs of each organization. However, here are three approaches that organizations can take when starting their automation journey:

1. Establish a Virtual Automation Center of Excellence (ACE)

This will provide organizations with the knowledge and resources they need to successfully implement RPA. The ACE should be responsible for developing automation strategies and providing guidance on overall implementation best practices.

2. Choose Your Technological Platform Wisely

It’s important to choose a platform that can be adapted and built to fit your organization’s needs. Ensure that the software is user-friendly and integrates with other systems.

3. Develop an Automation Plan

An automation plan should include specific guidelines for how each process will be automated, who will manage it, when it will be implemented, and how it will be monitored. This plan should be regularly reviewed to ensure that automation is meeting its goals and objectives.

By following these steps, organizations can get the most out of their RPA implementation – ensuring success and delivering maximum ROI.

The Bottom Line

Robotic process automation (RPA) is transforming how organizations are operating, creating greater efficiency and agility throughout the organization. Although some apprehension remains about its takeover capabilities, when it is implemented correctly RPA can be a crucial tool for creating efficiency and agility throughout an organization.

By understanding the benefits of RPA and overcoming common misconceptions, businesses can leverage the power of automation to transform how they operate.