RPA: How Easy Is It To Get Started?

By now, many businesses have heard the term robotic process automation (RPA), but understanding how to get started with RPA is a different story. RPA is a form of technology, governed by a series of inputs, that serves the sole purpose of automating various forms of business processes. "Bots" harness and manipulate data, trigger desired responses, and communicate the process with other configured bots in the network.

Specific business functionalities previously stimulated by humans are now manually controlled by an internal robotic entity. RPA creates tremendous opportunities to grow revenue while also reducing operational costs. Through assisted bots, humans can work alongside their "digital partners" in tandem, all while being freed from repetitive, rule-based tasks that require hours of time.

It’s also crucial to remember that RPA is not a "one size fits all" solution for a company’s process execution problems. Avoiding applying RPA to wrong processes (i.e to fix bad practices or to skip modernizing your applications) is just as important as applying a healthy mindset to this implementation. This is why a thorough assessment is necessary to identify the proper candidates for automation within your organization’s processes.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is software that executes repetitive rule-based processes. It allows employees to eliminate tasks that are repetitive and freeing them to focus on more complex tasks while knowing that the repetitive tasks are still getting done. It’s the employee’s new virtual worker that can execute many applications simultaneously across multiple platforms.

In the previous blog, I have discussed the basic principles of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and explored why the technology provides a tremendous opportunity for insurers. In this post, I’ll discuss how to get started implementing an RPA solution in your company.

The first thing to understand is that unlike traditional technology investments, the best way to get started in RPA is by jumping in with both feet. At Charter Global, we recommend starting with an affordable pilot program that can deliver real-world results in about four weeks.

The pilot begins by choosing a process to automate and identifying the underlying systems and platforms used to complete the task. The business owners then work with us to capture the entire process from start to finish, with each input, review, decision, and output identified and documented.

While this is taking place, we look at the hardware and software tools available and select the one that is the best fit for your organization. Because configuration does not require that the underlying systems and applications be modified, the configuration is relatively straightforward and efficient. The process documentation already captured above is entered into the software to replicate the previous manual workflow’s touchpoints and decisions.

Once the software is configured, new processes can be easily added and modified by business users, without the assistance of IT resources.

After the usual testing and output checks, the outcome of the four-week pilot is a working process automation system that can be explored and modified as you go, responding to identified goals and opportunities and providing real-world metrics and outcomes.

As this series of blog posts has outlined, RPA offers insurers a tremendous opportunity to reduce costs and improve service levels without a huge investment of either time or money. Maybe it’s time for your company to implement a pilot and see how it works for you.

https://www.charterglobal.com/how-to-get-started-with-rpa/

While it can be exciting knowing that you can improve your business’s efficiency seemingly overnight building automation bots within your business can be done in steps, so that you can gradually work your way towards the goal, without causing a significant disturbance within your company.

If you are unsure of what business processes should (or shouldn’t) automate, please give us a call! Our automation bot experts can help you analyze your current business processes and develop an RPA strategy. Ready to get started with RPAs in your business? Set up a free consultation with the Charter Global automation team today!

https://charterglobal.com/contact-us/

Charter Global has been providing IT services, skilled technology resources, consulting, and business solutions to corporate customers since 1994.