Question

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has become the most integral part of any organization’s Digital Transformation strategy. Essentially, RPA is a more distinct level of Automation with integration layers and interfaces between systems and the data used, generated, and/or exchanged to transfer human work/tasks to a Software Robot AKA Bots.

Many believe the big hype around RPA is also mainly due to the following:

1. RPA is the application of Technology that partially or fully bundles and automate human activities and capabilities which are manual, repetitive, and rule-based.

2. RPA allows organizations to map out processes that are definable, repeatable and especially rule-based to assign them to a Software Robot instead of a human employee.

From your point of view, what is best: taking a bad process as is and automating it, or re-engineering the process to the max and then automating it? And why or why not? Can you think of an example that supports your argument or substantiate your response?

Answer 1

• First re-engineering the process to the max and then automating it is best as it will lead to the harmonized process and standard process that will lead automation to a success.
• If the companies are having different processes according to various geographical regions, then the RPA done on that will not be that useful than the ones if they are following harmonized procedures.
• For example, a client having back function office work where the processes are not centralized and harmonized. In this, case each different sub-regions follow different categories of set of procedures and hence, there is a variation in the working. So in this case, firstly the reengineering needs to be done and then RPA should come into the picture.

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