Table of contents
• Introduction
• Process Identification and Prioritization
• Lay A Robust Foundation
• Detailed Process Assessment and Determining Scope of Automation
• RPA as a Cloud-based Service
• Training RPA Developers and Analysts on a Larger Scale
• Establishing Agility in Change
• Set High Targets and Define Metrics
• Devising An Effective Operating Model
• Stakeholder and Change Management
• Aim For Total Automation
• Conclusion
Introduction
Robotic process automation (RPA) is changing the game for many businesses. The ability to automate routine, repetitive tasks has put efficiency on the rise, leading to faster, cost-effective operations.
However, scaling RPA from individual pilot projects to a full-scale deployment is not a walk in the park. It demands a holistic plan that involves several key elements: scope of RPA program, operating model, business plan, and change management.
Scaling RPA across the enterprise is a necessary requirement for organizations that want to achieve maximum results. Piloting RPA projects is necessary, but it is just the beginning. To fully leverage the benefits of RPA, it is crucial to scale it across the organization.
Challenges faced in scaling RPA can be daunting, ranging from resistance to change, lack of investment, inadequate training, to poor communication. All these challenges need to be adequately addressed before scaling up.
In the subsequent sections of this blog, we’ll explore the step-by-step guide to scaling RPA across the enterprise. From identifying and prioritizing processes for automation to training RPA developers and establishing agility in change, we’ll ensure you understand what it takes to successfully automate your business processes.
Process Identification and Prioritization
Scaling RPA operations involves identifying and automating high-potential processes across the enterprise on a large-scale basis. This requires assessing processes for their compatibility with automation and prioritizing them based on their potential for automation and complexity involved in the automation process.
To effectively identify and prioritize processes for RPA implementation, organizations must develop a methodology that aligns with their business objectives. A well-designed methodology should consider key factors like automation potential and the business impact on the organization. Understanding the complexity of processes is important as the more complex the process, the more complex the robot. By prioritizing processes based on complexity, organizations can avoid unnecessary challenges while implementing the RPA program.
In addition, to establish the feasibility of RPA implementation, stakeholder buy-in is crucial. It is advisable to consult global process owners (GPOs) who have a clear understanding of the processes across the enterprise. Thorough analysis and definition of processes will help establish the scope of RPA and provide an understanding of how the technology can streamline and automate these processes.
As we mentioned earlier, processes that are considered ‘low-hanging fruits’ often feature basic automation and don’t yield significant returns in the long-run. Therefore careful assessment and prioritization of processes based on their ability to support business objectives will help yield better ROI.
It is imperative that organizations eliminate employee resistance by educating them about the benefits of RPA and getting their support. A transformation mindset that emphasizes the need to invest and partner throughout the project should be adopted. This approach leads to a more comprehensive RPA implementation and supports a swift response to necessary adjustments.
By adopting a comprehensive approach to process identification and prioritization, businesses can effectively scale RPA operations, improve operational capabilities, and attain their desired business outcomes.
Lay A Robust Foundation
When it comes to scaling RPA operations, laying a robust foundation is crucial to ensuring successful implementation. It’s essential to first thoroughly define and analyze the processes that will undergo automation. Consulting global process owners is also key as they can provide valuable insight into the complexity of certain processes and help identify potential challenges during implementation.
Employee resistance is something that cannot be overlooked. It’s important to educate employees on the benefits of RPA and gain their support for the initiative. Investing in the right partnerships and resources is also crucial to ensuring a smooth and effective implementation.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that RPA doesn’t only involve Centers of Excellence (CoE) – it’s a concerted effort by both CoE and skilled employees throughout various departments across the organization. Citizen developers can play an important role in hastening the process of RPA expansion and bringing down the cost of development and implementation.
By carefully laying a robust foundation, organizations can reduce the risks of issues arising during RPA implementation and ensure a successful and cost-effective program rollout.
Detailed Process Assessment and Determining Scope of Automation
After identifying the processes compatible with automation, organizations must engage in a granular evaluation of feasibility to determine the scope of RPA implementation. This will require a clear understanding of the purview of the RPA program.
Some of the key aspects to consider while determining the scope of automation include evaluating the reach of automation among functions of the organisation, identifying the coverage of automation among entities, establishing the roadmap and timeline for rolling out RPA and identifying the multiplicity of RPA initiatives.
While determining the scope of automation, it’s important to ensure it aligns with the overall strategy of the organisation. Setting feasible goals and objectives is crucial in RPA scaling and implementation.
A single global program or multiple RPA initiatives may be necessary depending on the requirements for automation and complexity of the processes involved.
It’s essential to review the progress of the RPA program regularly and make adjustments based on the insights obtained. Scaling RPA operations requires a flexible approach that takes into consideration the evolving needs of the business.
In addition, organisations need to stay informed about the latest RPA trends and evolving technologies that could impact their operations. Being proactive and adaptive is critical to the success of RPA implementation.
While scaling RPA operations is challenging, organisations can achieve efficiency and transformation by following these key steps. Determining the scope of automation, setting high targets and defining metrics are just some of the fundamental building blocks for a successful RPA program.
RPA as a Cloud-based Service
RPA as a Cloud-based Service is an effective strategy to forge large-scale RPA operations. The cloud-based approach provides a single point to access multiple RPA and complementary AI technologies. This makes it easier to integrate bots and allows for additional bots with a single click to address sudden peaks in requirements. Plus, teams can leverage building blocks and frameworks, which can be easily plugged into the cloud infrastructure to avoid the overheads of rebuilding the automation engine.
The best part of a cloud-based approach is that it enables efficient models on a consumption basis. It’s easier to gauge usage and compute power in real-time, and teams only pay for what they use, making it a more cost-effective solution. It also eliminates the need for infrastructure maintenance and upgrades, as the cloud service provider takes care of these aspects.
In summary, a cloud-based approach offers a flexible and scalable solution for organizations looking to automate their business processes. With a single point of access, efficient models, and consumption-based pricing, RPA as a Cloud-based Service is an excellent strategy that can enable organisations to leverage automation effectively.
Training RPA Developers and Analysts on a Larger Scale
Training and development of RPA developers play a crucial role in successfully scaling RPA operations. Digital transformation can be a daunting task, and employees may not be able to fully understand the initiatives and lead them to success. A new technological environment often poses a great challenge, and internal training programs are essential to equip employees with the necessary knowledge and skills.
However, it’s not just training and development that is necessary to scale RPA operations, but also to establish a new role for citizen developers who are experts in RPA development and implementation. Citizen developers serve as a critical link between RPA domain experts in IT and business analysts responsible for defining the processes to be automated. This approach speeds up the development and implementation processes, resulting in a reduction in the overall cost of RPA expansion programs.
It is necessary to note that the introduction of citizen developers does not eliminate the need for expert RPA developers. Instead, it facilitates better collaboration between departments, and helps businesses to automate not just low-hanging fruit processes, but also more complex processes that require a higher level of expertise.
Reducing the cost of development and implementation is another essential factor in scaling RPA operations. However, the cost-cutting exercise without proper training and development or focusing on low-hanging fruits may not bring the desired ROI for RPA initiatives. Hence it is imperative to invest in developing the skills of employees who can then take on the role of citizen developers.
Training RPA developers and consultants who can identify, scale, and deliver RPA solutions contributes significantly to successful business processes’ automation and promotes a cross-functional approach to automation. It is important to ensure that the training programs meet individual needs and develop each employee’s technical and professional competencies.
In conclusion, introducing citizen developers to hasten RPA expansion and reducing the cost of development and implementation must go hand in hand with investing in the training and development of RPA developers. Empowering them with new skills and enabling them to automate processes can help businesses scale RPA operations for a competitive edge and gain significant ROI.
Establishing Agility in Change
Scaling RPA is an iterative process that demands an agile approach. Building a fast and scalable digital workforce provides a significant advantage when expanding RPA operations. Responding to sudden changes in requirements with ownership from teams across the enterprise establishes a robust mechanism for scaling the technology, allowing it to function with optimal efficiency.
Incorporating agile ways of working enables organizations to fully leverage robotic and cognitive automation. The technology requires a responsive support system, requiring a proactive approach to maintenance, security access, and incident reporting.
The reactive approach is no longer the order of the day; instead, the focus must be on an exciting journey that allows you to reap the benefits of RPA. When done, it serves as a gatekeeper to a modern enterprise that remains ready for any industrial disruption.
Set High Targets and Define Metrics
When it comes to scaling RPA operations, the aim should always be for the top line, quality, and compliance, rather than simply reducing headcount. Defining significant targets is necessary to realize the full potential of automation.
To measure the effectiveness of RPA, key metrics like cycle time reduction, productivity improvement, and cost-saving should be considered. This way, businesses can evaluate the impact of RPA implementation and identify opportunities for further improvement.
However, setting high targets is not enough if they are not measured and monitored regularly. This is where defining metrics comes in, as it helps track progress and ensure that RPA is delivering the expected results.
Remember, as automation expands across the enterprise, the complexity of processes and robots increases, so it’s important to have a well-defined business plan and approach that aligns with the overall business strategy.
Devising An Effective Operating Model
When it comes to scaling RPA operations, the IT department plays a crucial role in managing the configuration, software distribution, and robot scripts. Whether it’s managed from an individual agent’s computer or a centralized production environment, IT should be an essential operating partner.
Apart from this, maintaining security access and records of incidents is crucial for any organization. Therefore, having support staff and necessary technical resources is essential. Designing a comprehensive operating strategy and sticking to it is the key to successfully scaling RPA operations.
After all, while it may be time-consuming, well-thought-out and executed operating models can help hasten the implementation of the project. Above all, the important thing is to keep in mind that RPA cannot function in isolation and should be a concerted effort by every department in the organization.
Stakeholder and Change Management
The success of RPA implementation depends largely on stakeholder management and change management. Management should educate top executives about RPA and the benefits of automation. Collaborating with the IT, security department, and business line managers ensures a synergistic approach towards the success of the RPA initiative.
Organizations should evaluate the concerns of the employees who will be directly affected by the implementation of the technology and take measures to address them. Strategies for change and communication management should be devised to ensure that employees are comfortable with the changes that are brought about by the implementation of RPA.
Open communication channels between stakeholders is necessary to overcome the resistance caused by potential misconceptions of organizational goals or job security concerns. Regular training on the newly implemented technology can help align employees with the company’s goals and ensure a smooth transition. Involving all the stakeholders in the process will lead to successful scaling of RPA across the enterprise.
Aim For Total Automation
A common misconception while implementing RPA is to only automate low complexity and less costly processes, also known as the “low-hanging fruits”. While it may seem like a feasible strategy in the short run, it does not lead to the critical rate of change necessary for expanding RPA operations. To fully realize the benefits of automation, organizations must aim for “total automation” that includes all the processes in their entirety.
This approach will not only help in achieving a high ROI but also lead to significant improvements in top-line growth, quality assurance, and compliance. Identifying the right processes to automate while considering their complexity, potential for automation, and feasibility is a crucial first step for successful automation implementation.
When done right, fully automating your business processes can lead to increased efficiency, cost savings and ultimately transform your operations. So gear up and don’t just settle for the low hanging fruit because your organization needs the crucial rate of change in the long run.
Conclusion
We hope this step-by-step guide has shed light on the importance of scaling RPA across the enterprise and provided you with insights into the challenges faced while doing so. Implementing RPA on a large scale requires a strategic and holistic approach. It involves meticulous planning, agile ways of working, stakeholder collaboration and change management.
To recap, the key steps for RPA expansion include process identification and prioritization, laying a robust foundation, detailed process assessment and determining the scope of automation, RPA as a cloud-based service, training RPA developers and analysts on a larger scale, establishing agility in change, setting high targets and defining metrics, devising an effective operating model, stakeholder and change management and aiming for total automation.
Adopting these steps can help organisations reap the full benefits of RPA and stay ahead in the competitive business landscape while improving efficiency and transformation.
We hope you found this guide informative and useful in your RPA journey. So what are you waiting for? Let’s automate and transform your business processes!
Scaling RPA Across the Enterprise: A Step-by-Step Guide to Automating Business Processes for Efficiency and Transformation
