The Truth About Intelligent Automation
It’s now sufficiently understood that intelligent technologies such as robotic process automation, cognitive computing and artificial intelligence are powerful force multipliers for improving operations. But, as is often the case when the pundits get too far ahead of reality, the story isn’t necessarily playing out as everyone expected.
As my Cognizant colleague Robert Brown points out, “It’s not really about “the robot” at all. It’s about using the data that stems from process automation to help businesses and people make more intelligent decisions.” In other words, process automation isn’t resulting in the wholesale replacement of people by software robots as many predicted – and some still do. Instead, it’s enabling people to use their creative skills to interpret data, add value to business plans and collaborate more with their customers, partners and colleagues.
While the concept seems straightforward, the path to intelligent automation success often requires re-evaluating core business processes and the traditional operating models that support them. New research from HfS, in partnership with Cognizant, illustrates that many savvy enterprise buyers from companies around the globe are responding with as-a-Service strategies using smart robots as an intelligent boost for knowledge workers. When thinking about an automation strategy for your business here are a number of factors you should be considering.
Seven questions you should be asking about Intelligent Automation
- To what extent are businesses using robots for knowledge processes solely for cost savings, efficiency gain or true differentiation?
- How can businesses tap the real prize of RPA: intelligent outcomes as a force-multiplier for smart people?
- What are the real results on efficiency (money saved) versus enhancement (analytics and meaning-making) outcomes?
- How should buyers calibrate their short, medium, and long-term strategies on adoption of intelligent automation?
- How can functional leaders (like IT, process owners, chiefs of data science) collaborate and commit to deliver, given the stakes are high and all are presented with huge opportunities – and potential risks?
- What is the realistic impact on future labor – will we really see mass job elimination, or a mass creation of more relevant, valuable roles for staff?
- What’s next in Intelligent Process Automation?
As the inevitability of automation becomes more and more evident, businesses are beginning to separate into leaders, fast followers and laggards. Have you started taking the time to make sure your not left behind when this train leaves the station?
Love to hear comments from those with lessons to share!
Finance Transformation and Strategy at Wells Fargo
7yRPA has been largely positioned as reducing costs and increasing efficiency however businesses have less focus and patience to re-invent business processes which could induce Intelligent Process Automation. I do see that the risks of intelligent process automation need to be amplified vis-a-vis the excitement of eliminating labor.
Senior Director, Product at BMC Software
8yForward thinking perspective on the potential for "force multiplier". Too many enterprises embark on automation initiatives with the sole objective of cost (labor) reduction. There is ample opportunity to reduce the mundane, improving efficiency and quality of service, but there is a larger opportunity that is too often missed. Better decision making, and resulting execution is always the hallmark of leading learning organizations.
Executive Managing Director
8yMatt, there are many confusing marketing messages out there when it comes to RPA and the various technologies and services that enable an RPA capability. You provide some great clarifying points on the importance for an organization to understand what outcome they seek first and then evaluate the landscape from that vantage point. Sage advice, indeed.