This article explores intelligent process automation (IPA) and the challenges organizations face when adopting this business strategy.
Specifically, we’ll explore:
- What IPA is
- Five key IPA technologies
- Their benefits
- The challenges of integrating IPA
So if you want to learn more about IPA before you integrate it with your business operations, you’ll enjoy this article.
Let’s get started.
What Is Intelligent Process Automation?
Intelligent Process Automation (IPA) is a suite of business-process improvements and emerging technologies that use next-generation tools to redesign core processes and digitally transform the organization.
Technically, it “takes the robot out of the human” by using IPA technology to eliminate repetitive tasks from business operations.
As a result, intelligence automation can simplify interactions, raise efficiency, reduce risk, and speed up processes, and in doing so, fundamentally improve customer journeys.
Intelligent Automation Technologies
At its full extent, IPA technology incorporates five core tech solutions:
#1 Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
RPA intelligent automation is a software solution that automates routine and menial tasks such as automated document processing or data analysis and extraction.
The software is extremely customizable and rule-based which means companies can use it for performing calculations, reporting, documentation, and file checking typically used in accounting, IT, and finance.
#2 Smart Workflow
Smart workflow tools are process-management software solutions that typically control RPAs and integrate how organizations integrate task hand-offs performed by human workers and machines, as well as how these tasks are tracked in real-time.
#3 Machine Learning Analytics
Machine learning analytics are advanced machine learning algorithms that locate patterns in structured data. There are two types of algorithms: “supervised” and “unsupervised”.
Supervised algorithms use the input and output of data to learn from it, before inputting new data to make predictions.
Unsupervised algorithms process structured data to recognize patterns in it, and provide insights based on those observations.
Machine learning analytics are typically used to find insights into opportunities that improve compliance, competitiveness, and cost-efficiency.
#4 Natural-Language Generation (NLG)
NLG software solutions streamline interactions and communication between people and machines by translating data observations into natural language. NLG engines analyze human speech, and based on that data complete automated document processing and reporting.
Simply put, companies can use NLG engines to fill out documents and reports based on structured data.
#5 Cognitive Agents
Cognitive agents are virtual workforce machines (or “agents”) that use NLGs to perform tasks, communicate with humans, learn from data, and use “emotion detection” to make decisions of their own.
Businesses use cognitive agents to support customers and employees either over the phone using voice generators or via chat through text NLG engines.
Benefits of Process Automation
There are both pros and cons of automation in the workplace and its general adoption in business.
But, for the most part, IPA is beneficial for business as it takes over menial tasks so that the human workforce can focus their time, energy, and attention on more important areas, such as delighting customers or generating more business for the company.
Even though there are multiple benefits from adopting just one of the IPA technologies that we’ve mentioned, incorporating all five can help your company produce the fastest results and the biggest wins in terms of ROI.
This means there are significant perks of having an automated online application, such as:
- Rightsizing the workforce
- Reducing payroll and labor costs
- Overcoming the in-house skill gap
- Raising operational cost-effectiveness
- Processing large volumes of data
- Achieving greater speed and accuracy
To do this, you’ll have to overcome some of the negatives of automation, because that’s where the real challenges of IPA occur:
Automation Disadvantages
Although implementing IPA solutions represents a considerable transformation of work, it’s not a substantial investment.
The biggest cons of automation come from its implementation and the digital transformation that ensues.
Some of the most common challenges of integrating IPA in business includes:
- The lack of skilled manpower to implement IPA
- Difficult retraining and re-skilling of staff to use IPA technology
- Integrating IPA technology with legacy software solutions
- Resistance from human workers who fear rightsizing and lay-offs
- Lack of cybersecurity in dealing with threats from hackers
As it turns out, the those who stand to benefit the most, the human workforce, are often the main cause of these challenges.
What’s even more ironic is that intelligent automation could be the solution to many of these challenges.
That’s why many businesses that want to adopt intelligent process automation tend to rely on external partners that are experts in the field and provide managed services.
And if you’re one of them, we can help you.
Demakis Technologies offers a plethora of services and solutions that can help you digitally transform your business.
We provide a complete IT service list that includes:
CONTACT US today to get in touch with one of our IT professionals who can help you get started on the road to process automation.