An unwillingness to delve into automation is generally due to a lack of understanding and poor education online about the topic of automation. Sometimes websites can make it seem a little intimidating to approach by using overly complex terminologies. The goal here is to simplify automation down so that you know exactly what it is, how it works, and how you can implement it into your business. So, without further ado, let’s address some of the most commonly asked questions on automation briefly. I will then go into more depth in a later chapter where required on most of these topics.

What is Automation?

Automation is a very general blanket term used for technology that reduces or eliminates the requirement for human input to complete a process. This covers a variety of sub-areas such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Business Process Automation (BPA), IT Automation, Home Automation, etc.

If you are reading this, you are most likely interested in RPA/BPA (which are essentially the same thing). We will stick with the term RPA for simplicity going forward.

RPA is essentially a tool that simplifies processes and eliminates the constraints that a human has when completing a process. For example, you couldn’t possibly expect an employee to run a process at 11 pm every night. However, an RPA setup can run 24/7, first thing in the morning, or last thing at night. It does exactly as it is told. However, as we’ve discussed previously, this should never be viewed as a tool to replace human employment, but to work alongside it to multiply the value return from staff.

RPA emulates human action. Generally speaking, anything a human can do, an RPA setup can perform more accurately, quicker, and with less stress than an equivalent human employee. 

Why Should I Automate/What is Suitable for Automation?

It is important to tap into the areas of your business which are most suitable for automation. It can be difficult to pinpoint these initially. Especially when first entering the industry of automation, as you get a sense of wanting to automate absolutely everything. The reality is that some processes are better off not being automated, or simply just don’t suit an automated process.

Some relevant features of a process that would take well to automation are:

•  A stable, predictable, and well-documented process that is consistent. Variables make automation far more complex
• A process that does not require complex human intervention
• A high volume/high-frequency process – Repetitive tasks are the most favorable to automate, as generally, they are the same every single day without fail. 

What Framework should I use?

There are so many frameworks and tools which can be used, and we will go into much more detail later on. But this predominantly comes down to whether you wish to use “coding” or “no-code” solutions. In short, a no-code solution, in theory, means that you will never have to learn to write a line of code at all in order to complete your automated processes. Conversely, there is a fully-coded version (for example: using Python) which will require someone with a background in coding to write and manage. 

There is also something in the middle where you can use a no-code platform, but there are the occasional pieces of code throughout the process in order to really hone in on your specific requirements.

Is there a best option? Yes and no. It depends on your specific requirements, how complex they are, and how unique they are. If you need to do something ultra-simple like an automated email based on datasets – then that’s likely to be simple and can be completed with a no-code option. Conversely, if it is an incredibly complex task completely unique to your company, then it might be better to look for a custom-coded solution.

How Can I Calculate the ROI of Automation/Measure Success?

There are two points to be made here. Firstly, you should always constantly measure the effectiveness of your automated processes. It is important to know when an automated process is effective or ineffective, and where one could be improved. We always recommend creating a KPI dashboard for this.

Secondly, it is important to assess and analyze a process, and an automated solution before it is pushed into production. It is important to not automate for the sake of automation, and really assess whether a process should be automated, or whether the automation is actually going to bring value. Sometimes efficiency comes down to just improving a process before you even consider an automated option.

Does Automation Work in Every Industry?

For the most part, yes. You would struggle to find an industry that does not benefit from automation in any capacity. Naturally, some industries benefit from automation more than others though. Anything with a high level of repetitive manual admin tasks usually gains from it the most. Think finance, HR, insurance, data management etc.

What are Automation’s Biggest Difficulties?

Here are some of the main difficulties that automation faces in terms of being adopted by the masses:

1) It is difficult to get the whole company on board. Some departments might think it is a great idea, while others might not like change. Automation makes the biggest impact when it can be rolled out throughout a whole company. For example, if you were a manufacturing company, you could like your orders to the financing team, which then links back to the warehousing team (over simplified example). The point is that if one department is against implementation, then you will struggle to obtain those company-wide efficiencies.

2) Forced Automation: It is so easy to just think automation is the answer. In reality, it might not be, and it may be best to just fix a broken process before you even consider automation. People implementing automation into a bad process are just creating an automated bad process and not a solution.

3) Infrastructure and Integration Issues: Depending on your industry, it could be that your systems are just dated, which might mean that implementing automation into your processes becomes difficult. This is quite common in the banking industry who still sit on old legacy platforms which they haven’t been able to transfer to a more modern platform.

Can Automation Scale with Business Growth?

Yes, 100% Automation is incredibly flexible. Often if a business is seeing significant growth, and seeing significant benefits from automation, they will actually bring on an internal team focusing entirely on automating processes within the growing business.

How do I Start Automation?

Ah, the all-important question! We will cover this in more detail later. But the start has already begun! By coming to this page you have clearly shown an interest in learning more about automation and how it can benefit you and your business. Therefore, you have already started the journey in which you will be able to automate a process. By the end of this guide, our aim is that you will have no doubt in your mind as to what your plan of action is in terms of implementing automation for your business.