It’s tough to find a business that doesn’t have dull, repetitive tasks that have to be carried out, but take up an inordinate amount of time. Courtesy of advances in computer software, many of these can now be carried out using RPA: one of the biggest breakthrough technologies of recent times. What is RPA? Short for Robotic Process Automation, it refers to automation tools that can be programmed to carry out certain rule-based tasks. A game-changer for business, RPA is being adopted ever more widely around the world.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t misapprehensions about it. Here are corrections to four of the main myths you’ll hear about RPA:
#1. Robotic Process Automation refers to literal robots
Let’s get things started on a simple note: No, these aren’t literal robots. If you bring RPA tools on board to, for instance, speed up the rate at which you generate reports or process invoices, don’t expect humanoid robots to be working in the office alongside your human workers.
Instead, “robot” in this sense refers to “bots” or software agents that carry out tasks by following a script comprising a series of rules. Once they’ve been deployed, RPA tools should be able to carry out their jobs with minimal in the way of interaction. Don’t expect you’ll have to have technicians following physical robots around the office, oiling them at regular intervals.
#2. RPA isn’t a good fit for my business
Practically every business on the planet has those repetitive, mundane tasks which are essential to be carried out on a semi-frequent or frequent basis, but which employees do not enjoy having to do. That’s where RPA comes in. While it’s certainly true that not every job can be handed over to RPA (for instance, the tasks it does well should be ones that do not vary significantly in the process each time they have to be carried out), you may be surprised at just how varied the possible applications for RPA are.
Whether it’s aiding with call center operations, onboarding new employees and customers, generating reports, carrying out data entry or myriad other tasks, RPA can be useful in virtually every industry from banking to healthcare. Thanks to continuous technological advances, these tools are getting better all the time, too — so even if you’ve previously been told a task can’t be automated it’s worth revisiting it periodically to see whether this may have changed.
Modern solutions for helping implement RPA will even provide desktop tools that are able to track the tasks that employees carry out, and then use algorithms to analyze which could be automated effectively.
#3. RPA is about replacing humans
It’s the ultimate dream of employers: To replace their flesh-and-blood workforce with an automated solution that never gets tired, never demands a raise, never needs a vacation, and doesn’t have the audacity to want to finish work in the evening to get home and get some sleep. Right? That’s not true, of course.
While some of the advantages of RPA, as mentioned previously, certainly appeal to employers, the idea that employers want (or think it’s possible) to replace their human workforce with automation is simply not accurate. Ask any RPA expert and they will make clear that RPA isn’t about replacing humans in the workforce, so much as it is about augmenting them.
Specifically, by automating mundane, repetitive tasks, RPA can free up employees’ time so that they can focus on more rewarding jobs that can help grow the company. Not only does this mean using humans to their full potential, rather than wasting them on mundane tasks, but it can also increase their job satisfaction by giving them the opportunity to focus on more thought provoking, stimulating tasks. Be highly skeptical of anyone who suggests that RPA can replace every human job in the workplace. For just about every business around, that simply isn’t right. But it can certainly play an incredibly important role in helping these businesses take the leap to the next level.
#4. RPA is too expensive to consider
Businesses are often cautious. If everything seems to be working okay, they may not wish to shake up the status quo. If business takes a hit, due to a recession or downturn, they may be even less likely to want to invest money in new solutions. But RPA shouldn’t be looked at as a money drain. Not only can solutions be more affordable than you might think, but it can also help save money by carrying out work processes more quickly (and remember that time is money) and saving on the cost of having to train up new employees or otherwise outsourcing work. Implemented correctly, RPA can absolutely pay for itself over a relatively short period of time.
