Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is software that performs tasks using the same set of digital skills as humans, and more. Think of RPA as a digital workforce capable of interacting with any system or application to carry out repetitive digital tasks, such as copying and pasting, web data extraction, performing calculations, opening and moving files, analyzing emails, logging into programs, and connecting to APIs. Despite its extensive capabilities, setting up automations is surprisingly simple and intuitive, akin to recording and sharing a video on your smartphone.
While its usage is equally straightforward and intuitive, enterprise-grade RPA is also designed to meet the security, system integration, scalability, and compliance requirements of large organizations. Robust and resilient, enterprise RPA can orchestrate thousands of automations simultaneously while ensuring high availability and performance across all business operations. Enterprise RPA is part of the comprehensive intelligent automation strategy necessary for organizations to effectively automate processes.
Rule-Based and Adaptable
Enterprise RPA not only follows predefined rules but also learns from data patterns to quickly adapt to new information.
High-Fidelity at Scale
Enterprise RPA provides consistent performance that adheres to standards for repetitive but business-critical operations involving thousands of automations.
Process Integration
While standalone RPA is limited to structured data, enterprise RPA seamlessly integrates with artificial intelligence tools that leverage unstructured data.
When looking for an enterprise RPA solution, it’s essential to consider several key aspects to ensure its effectiveness and compatibility with your company’s needs. Here are some important features to consider:
1. Scalability
Enterprise RPA can dynamically scale to handle high volumes of repetitive tasks in large organizations without compromising performance. It’s easily scalable across departments with addable licenses for various users.
2. Low-code and no-code
Non-technical users can easily create automations without coding knowledge, fostering collaboration in larger organizations. This approach, known as citizen development, is crucial for digital transformation.
3. Interoperability and integration
Enterprise RPA seamlessly integrates with both legacy systems and new applications through native connectors, enabling automation of tasks requiring data access from multiple sources.
4. Organization
Enterprise RPA allows the management and coordination of multiple automations simultaneously, essential for large organizations with concurrent processes.
5. Audit and governance
Built-in audit trails and permission controls ensure transparency and compliance, while robust security measures maintain a consistent security posture across all automations.
6. Native cloud architecture
Cloud-based RPA offers flexibility, accessibility, and scalability, with automatic scaling and continuous capacity monitoring.
7. Data privacy and compliance
Compliance with regulations is ensured, with sensitive information encrypted and stored in the cloud only as needed.
RPA is an automation tool for everyone. Here’s how to start your automation process, drive organization-wide transformation, and prepare your automation strategy for the future.
1. Preparation: Outline your digital transformation vision.
From the outset, identify automation solutions that align with your business objectives and broader vision.
- Ask plenty of questions, both internally and externally.
- Reach out to partners, vendors, and other trusted organizations already in the RPA process.
- Putting people at the center of your plans is crucial for success. Involve HR from the start and engage a wide cross-section of stakeholders, change agents, and RPA advocates.
2. Provisioning: Evaluate and select your best solution and support model.
Choosing an RPA solution that’s part of a stronger, more comprehensive product suite, such as an intelligent automation platform.
- Find a provider who can demonstrate expertise and stability, and who is committed to ongoing adaptation and innovation. It’s important to note that automation will only succeed if employees have autonomy. That means you’ll need to choose a tool that’s technically powerful and accessible to business users, not just IT specialists.
3. Engagement: Establish an RPA standards and oversight center.
Scaling comprehensive RPA for business process automation relies on widespread RPA adoption.
- Start strong by creating a Center of Excellence (CoE) for the entire organization.
- The CoE should focus on effectiveness and governance, be responsible for creating standards, and should disseminate tools, templates, and best practices. It’s an RPA center of expertise, set up to help the entire organization kickstart their own automations.
4. Expansion: Going beyond RPA to intelligent automation.
Digital transformation is a process, not a goal. RPA lays the groundwork for an innovation approach that adds long-term value.
- It’s important to incorporate this into your RPA plans at every stage. At VEX AI, we help companies start using RPA with intelligent automation in mind. This way, you can move beyond automating workflow steps and seamlessly transition to the next stage of transformation.