Automation of business processes is no longer news as companies look for ways to increase operational effectiveness, reduce cost and reduce process cycle times. According to the World Economic Forum’s The Future Of Jobs Report, within the next five years alone, a majority of companies expect to scale back their full-time workforce to make room for automation.
In considering automation, it is important that organizations:
- Take time to choose the right process(es) for automation. Not all processes can be automated.
- Establish automation goals and metrics in order to ensure that the gains and returns on investment are realized.
- In addition to choosing the right automation tool, ensure that the business case for automation is clear to everyone; individuals that need to be trained are identified and, accountability structure (in the new process) identified early on!