When facing a digital transformation process, it is important to take into account the advantages of RPA when automating processes. Thanks to intelligent development, it is possible to enhance the benefits of this particular tool.
What is RPA?
Before knowing the advantages of RPA, let’s know what it is. RPA stands for Robotic Process Automation, and it is basically a software that manages, using the same programs and interfaces as the human user, to replicate his actions to execute business processes. In short: the robot does the same work that the person does.
These actions are performed by a software robot that has been previously instructed on the steps to follow to accomplish a task. One of the advantages of RPA is that, at present, there is practically no program that cannot be used by the robot. This gives it great potential, since even custom developments and proprietary software can be handled by the robot.
However, not all tasks can be automated. For a robot to do its job, the process to be moved has to be structured, have few exceptions and be tightly controlled. Most repetitive processes, such as extracting data from Excel sheets or moving information from one document to another, are clear candidates for automation.
Does this mean that robots have come to replace people? No. One of the advantages of RPA is that its execution, rather than replacing, complements the work of people. It frees them from repetitive, time-consuming tasks and frees them to perform other tasks that bring more value to the business.
What are the advantages of RPA?
Now that we know what it is, it’s time to learn about the advantages of RPA.
The main one, as we have already mentioned, is time savings. Thanks to the automation of processes, employees can devote their time to more productive tasks, those that require a logic of action. This immediately leads to an increase in productivity that is noticeable from the very first moment. In addition, satisfaction among employees, who are relieved of the most tedious parts of their work, is also increased.
To this time saving we can add an extra saving in the form of a reduction in the error rate. Robots (if the steps to be executed have been correctly defined) do not make mistakes. This results in more efficient work and saves time by not having to review and repeat failed processes.
One of the advantages of RPA is that it increases worker satisfaction.
Another advantage of RPA is that a robot can work 24/7. Translated to business, this means that processes can be run outside office hours so that once the workday starts, the results are ready to be used. The tremendous potential of being able to execute tasks at night, or even on weekends, can be a revolution for any company.
Nowadays, confidentiality is a major concern for any business. Because RPA runs like any other software, security credentials, access passwords and other sensitive information are safe. Even confidential customer or supplier information becomes more secure by eliminating the human component. This is a substantial improvement in the way sensitive data is handled.
Finally, it should be noted that RPA is a non-intrusive technology. This means that there is no need to make any changes to business processes or office hardware. Nor does the software need to be modified or adapted. An RPA robot is able to work in the same environment and under the same conditions as the person who performed the task before it.
Advantages also at the time of implementation
In the previous point we have seen the advantages of RPA when putting it to work in the company. However, even before putting it into operation, it already presents a couple of improvements compared to other digital transformation alternatives.
The first is that a software robot can be ready in a few days or weeks, depending on the complexity of the process. Thus, once you have defined what the robot has to do, it is faster to implement than other solutions.
Another advantage is that, once in place, an RPA implementation pays for itself in record time. The average ROI for RPA is around six months, which is one of the lowest figures in the market. This makes the decision to implement this technology much easier.
So, as we have seen, the advantages of RPA appear from its design and development to the final phase of return on investment. It is a technology that started in financial companies and, gradually, has been conquering new fields. Today, at Devol, we have automated more than 400 different processes in almost forty different sectors. This gives an idea of the potential of the tool and the ease with which it can be implemented in virtually any environment or business.
