Robotic Process Automation is a global technological marvel that has streamlined business operations for years. Companies worldwide should be engaged in healthy competition to excel in implementing solutions that fulfill the aspirations of countless entrepreneurs: “to earn more while spending less.”
Paradoxically, investment apprehension looms large even with concrete numbers, meticulous calculations, and in-depth analyses.
In business, process automation serves as an accelerator, elevating operational efficiency to new heights. In today’s landscape, automating an extensive array of tasks is not only entirely feasible but also constantly evolving, thanks to the rapid pace of technological progress. In essence, digital robots can now handle nearly every conceivable activity on our behalf. This encompasses the routine and repetitive tasks traditionally associated with paperwork and the intricacies of multifaceted business processes that span across various departments within a company, often involving numerous employees.
So, where does automation fit into this equation? Should it be a source of apprehension for businesses worldwide, or is it reserved exclusively for large corporations, with only a handful of entities having the means to afford it?
In this context, let’s delve into and debunk the five most prevalent automation myths, transcending geographical boundaries and addressing the concerns of businesses on a global scale.
Automation Myth 1: Process Automation is Always the Best Solution
That’s right — it’s an automation myth. Or, at least, that’s what software architects or IT directors would argue. Their perspective often arises from a passion for technology and product development.
Partially, this is accurate — virtually any IT problem can find a solution by creating a meticulously tailored application. However, constructing such software almost always incurs significant costs and demands a substantial time investment — measured in months or even years. Throughout this duration, assumptions shift, processes evolve, and the developed application might become obsolete even before deployment.
In contrast, automation can yield initial results within a matter of weeks. Introducing a single robotic team member to analyze orders from emails, cross-reference our price database, and generate graphical proposals typically necessitates not the development of an intricate application but just a few days of work from an automation expert.
If you ever come across claims that superior alternatives to automation exist, ponder whether implementing them is a viable option. Reflect on whether ‘better’ indeed translates to a tangible return on investment within your means.
It’s also worth noting that many IT companies in the market treat automation services as mere add-ons to their offerings, often delivering mediocre results. Customers who engage with such services are frequently left with unmet expectations, further solidifying that automation has brought them little significant value.
On the other hand, there exist professional software companies—providers of leading automation tools, like UiPath—who not only grasp the actual business needs but also employ quantifiable criteria to choose defensible solutions. In this era of evolving AI, almost everything can be automated, even though it might not always be a cost-effective choice.
So, is automation the optimal solution in every scenario? No. However, it often stands as the sole viable option we can implement before current challenges metamorphose into new ones.
Flobotics Case Study:
When Docplanner wanted to swiftly test the market viability of its services in new regions, it faced two options:
- Develop a dedicated application from scratch
- Automate communication between the existing systems in the new markets and their platform.
Opting for the latter facilitated rapid testing and enabled the immediate creation of solutions that substituted the intended approach. Find out more about what we’ve done for process optimization in DocPlanner.
