Globally, more and more companies are now clearly aware of the significant efficiency and productivity gains that RPA (robotic process automation) can bring to them. The benefits of RPA are being explored in different countries and regions, and its application in different industries is accelerating. Because of this, RPA is suspected of being “hyped” or even “over-deified” on some occasions.
In order to better understand and enable businesses and organizations to deploy and implement RPA more smoothly, we need to prick the bubble and return it to its true nature.
RPA only applies to emerging industries
RPA just reduces costs
RPA is just a high-level macro
There are certainly similarities between the “Macro” functionality and RPA, but RPA software is inherently more powerful than simple Macro scripts. RPA is not dependent on a specific programming language or application. It operates at the display or surface level of a process, issuing commands, managing workflows, and integrating new applications with a simple drag-and-drop. RPA also has the unique ability to integrate multiple disparate IT systems at the user interface (UI) level.
RPA is easy enough to use without any programming background
RPA products produced by different manufacturers, the degree of difficulty will vary. But if you do use RPA with this attitude, the results can be disappointing. Whether it is development or specific application, RPA needs users to learn carefully. The premise of the statement “RPA is easy and every employee can use it” should be, 1. After deploying the RPA, companies need to provide pre-use training to employees on how to operate the RPA. 2. Choose an RPA platform that is easy to learn and use. You can master and operate it through its own relevant tutorials or RPA training.
RPA is very expensive
RPA implementation cost calculation, involving more content, more complex. Simply defining it as “expensive” is biased. Compared with the cost (total cost and project duration) of traditional approaches or systems integration methods such as BPO (Business outsourcing), BPM (Business process management), ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), the cost of deploying RPA is relatively cheap. Also consider the fact that one minute of work for an RPA robot is roughly equivalent to 15 minutes of work for a human employee.
Only large companies can afford to deploy RPA
This was certainly the case in the early RPA market. In Japan, in particular, RPA has a lower import rate to small and medium-sized enterprises than it does to large enterprises. But that is changing. In order to reduce the barriers to introducing RPA for small and medium enterprises, since 2018, a number of Japanese RPA software companies have started to deploy cloud services. While small and medium businesses may face high initial costs when deploying AN RPA, a high ROI (return on investment) RPA can help them recoup their costs in 2-3 years or less.
RPA deployment should be technology-oriented
Technology is certainly important in the implementation of RPA. But to ensure that an organization successfully deploys RPA, it may be more important to focus first on people and processes, which often determine whether the deployment goes smoothly. Process: Which processes need automation? Have technical and commercial feasibility studies been conducted? Has an appropriate and multi-faceted approach been established for the implementation of the entire RPA? Such as ongoing maintenance, robot monitoring, change management and performance tracking? Personnel: Are there sufficient personnel to form an RPA COE? How to handle communication with internal and external stakeholders? How to manage staff redeployment?
RPA robots can automate everything
The desire for RPA robots to do more than humans is understandable. But at this stage, there aren’t as many processes that robots can take over completely. In fact, there are very strict guidelines for the types of processes suitable for automation using RPA. Some of these criteria include, based on clear rules, high volume, system stability, low exceptions, etc. Creative office scenarios where processes change frequently are not suitable for RPA robots.
