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Process Automation

Process Automation: Enabler of Operational Excellence

Our world is reeling from shocks in economics, energy, and geopolitics. The upcoming economic headwinds have forced companies to downsize their workforce. The recession seems already underway. 

Striving for operational excellence amidst all this turmoil can seem like an uphill task without proper help. Luckily, with the power of business process automation, companies can optimize and automate their processes and still find diamonds in the rough. 

Today, approaching operational excellence via strict process methodologies such as Six Sigma is not enough. Companies must embrace process automation and tap into data across the entire organization to drive operational excellence. That means engaging at all levels and continuously looking for optimization opportunities.  

Here’s how process automation plays a pivotal role in achieving operational excellence.  

Process Automation Helps Redesign Sustainable Processes  

Remember the adage: don’t pave cow paths? Well, it’s the same with process redesign. Embarking on automation without redesigning the process is a big mistake. And here’s why: 

If you use your existing processes and do not embrace them with an automation-first mindset, you may not get the desired results. For instance, if your data isn’t clean, you may need a manual process to clean it up and then start automation.  

In contrast, with an automation-first mindset, you can easily streamline data collection and clean-up tasks to create more effective, sustainable processes. 

Every company is unique. Before treading the automation path, ask yourself the following questions:  

  • What is the quality of your data?  
  • How are you collecting it; is it in structured or unstructured format?  
  • What applications are involved? Do you have complete access to both the back and front ends?  
  • Do you use low or no-code solutions such as BPM or RPA to create custom automation? 

Process Automation Is Compatible with Evolving ERP Updates 

The glory days of legacy ERP systems are diminishing, if not entirely over. The in-built custom codes, their upgrades, and patches, simply do not match business requirements anymore.  

But that doesn’t mean enterprises have to give up on them. To stay updated with the latest ERP updates, enterprises need to rely on low- or no-code automation platforms that can easily adapt to the evolving future of ERP systems.  

Process Automation Tackles Labor Shortage 

Labor shortage is a real problem and is going nowhere soon.  Understaffing can lead to more work pressure on existing workers, employee burnout, sub-par output, and a wave of labor disputes.  

Process automation solves this problem by handling mundane, rule-based work. Think of processing vendor contracts, invoicing, etc. Instead of hiring a resource for such rote work, you can build a bot that can open files, read through the content, and enter data into your ERP. Not only is this process quick and efficient, but it is accurate and reliable.  

Process Automation is For All 

Your IT team is extremely busy. Managing the entire organization’s operations and working on company-wide initiatives is often prioritized over a department’s automation needs. Even if your request is a queued ticket, it might not be urgent for your IT Team to automate what you think is a time-draining task.  

Reduce the dependence on IT with process automation, which is designed for everyone. Its easy drag-and-drop features allow you to create workflows that can help automate cumbersome, laborious tasks. Just add the data source and other process details, and you’re all set to reclaim some precious hours.  

Process Automation Ensures Better Compliance 

Compliance and KYC can be expensive and tedious processes. It doesn’t generate revenue and, when not done correctly, results in hefty fines. Automation technologies such as RPA or BPA can help decrease the time required by employees to do compliance-related tasks.  

With bots in control, organizations can automate data collection and processing to shift employees’ responsibilities to more strategic roles and add value to the company.  

Automating processes also leave a digital trail that can help during audits. In a nutshell, automation improves work quality, employee morale, and accuracy.  

Operational Efficiency: A Leap Towards Operational Excellence  

Operational excellence is a way for businesses to create a roadmap that helps maneuver complex business environments and maximize resiliency. Its objective is to give companies a leg up on the competition by ensuring better decision-making and continuous process improvement.  

Low-code or no-code technologies are becoming crucial success factors in achieving it. They help companies optimize back- and front-end business operations, lower manual tasks, and focus on what matters most.