Let\u2019s make it clear \u2013 RPA (Robotic Process Automation) is probably the dumbest automation technology today. But at the same time, it\u2019s the most efficient, transparent and the fastest one. If you haven\u2019t tried it yet, you\u2019re just lagging behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are reading this article you probably have heard about the disruptive thing called RPA. Zillion words have been spoken and thousands of headlines created about the technology. Instead of repeating the same, now-empty, phrases I\u2019ll tell you why I\u2019m so big fan of it. It\u2019ll be a story about mathematics and time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything which is measurable can be optimized. This ever-truth was a ground for how we do business today \u2013 working on KPI\u2019s, ROI\u2019s, CAGR\u2019s, Quality processes or\u2026 sales bonuses. Some things are obviously very easy to determine, but there are other measures, of which to work out is like hitting the jackpot. Just hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Measuring the outcome of our investments is challenging especially in the information area. The number of new solutions skyrocketed and doesn\u2019t want to ease. When everything is integrated, software changes and updates are delivered on daily basis, in the world of extremely scalable cloud-solutions it\u2019s a real uphill battle to answer the basic questions: What\u2019s the impact? What are the numbers? In other words, the questions CIOs often face: Why did you buy this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In that context, RPA is so different than other existing technologies. I\u2019ve never seen such transparent and easy to calculate technology. I remember when I saw for the first time when our analysts did the math about robots for the prospect. I was wowed! It was like pure mathematics in elementary school: some adding, multiplying and one or two divisions. Pure numbers. We\u2019re able to show the client the exact business case for the process. And numbers don\u2019t lie, right? (some say statistics does\u2026).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In order to give, or not, a green light for a robot (or a process to be robotized), we must conduct an analysis. The analysis is as simple as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a) Let\u2019s measure how long the process (or task) lasts
b) Let\u2019s check how many times it is repeated every day\/month\/year
c) Let\u2019s verify how many times faster the robot can do the work (e.g. 4x)
d) Let\u2019s sum up all the implementation costs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, the magic relation, we check whether: (a*b) < ((a*b)\/4) + d. If it\u2019s true \u2013 let\u2019s go for the robot. Easy, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moreover \u2013 having the data above, we can easily calculate the ROI of every automated process. We can also prepare (and we do it for our clients) the whole roadmap for RPA \u2013 the list of processes with predictable, measured outcomes order by business value.
By the way, speaking about ROI \u2013 we automated a number of processes which provided the +70% ROI. What other technology can give you such value, for such a small amount of money?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a matter of fact, I should say time to market. When I speak with clients I ask them to never, ever use the term \u201cimplementation\u201d in the context of Robotic Process Automation. It\u2019s unfair and misleading. I prefer to call the first stage just \u201cinstallation\u201d. Because it\u2019s a matter of couple of days. The rest is fast, as well. Some processes can be automated within days, some within weeks. And it works and delivers the value from the first moment the bot is run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I called the RPA probably almost the dumbest automation today because it\u2019s not so sophisticated and advanced like AI. Robots in RPA don\u2019t understand natural language, nor they think especially. They don\u2019t have any cognitive services. Silly as it might sound, the robots work exactly as robots should. Focused, precise, without any doubts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many managers I speak with ask me what these robots can do and sometimes they are disappointed at the beginning. \u201cOnly that?\u201d, says their face. But, as I stated in the post about business value in innovations \u2013 the technology must bring the real value and profit. So does it RPA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, the point is \u2013 there isn\u2019t any. RPA is like reinventing the Excel spreadsheet. It\u2019s super simple on the surface, cheap and revolutionary at the same time. No wonder that RPA grows so rapidly. According to different estimations, the average CAGR growth of RPA technology until 2023 is 34%. And we\u2019re talking here only about RPA itself, without AI, cognitive services or chatbots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Should you try it? Definitely. RPA has no borders, no verticals nor any other real roadblocks. It works with all the languages, all applications. It comes with many flavors and once employees get the idea, they come back with their own thoughts where to put another robot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019d like to know more about this topic, watch the presentation I gave during Think Warsaw conference. It\u2019s in Polish but I hope you will understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=yIh77lSBgUY<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n