Digital process automation is becoming a necessity in many organisations, rather than just a ‘nice to have’. However, a recent Forrester report shows that 22% of companies haven’t begun their Digital Transformation journey.
These organisations still use traditional methods to meet their business goals. As a result, they face many challenges and they get average results in their operations.
If you are one of them, not to worry. There are small, simple steps you can take to start your digital transformation journey.
Organisations who realise the importance of digital business have started to embrace digital transformation. They’ve invested in business technologies that create value for customers and transform their businesses. For instance, they take different approaches to accomplish their goals.
Some struggle and some succeed during their digital transformation journey… However, there are two important things I can’t highlight enough from my years of experience. These are:
1) Success ratio is a lot higher when companies start their digital transformation journey with SMALL STEPS
2) It will be a waste of time and money if people don’t EMBRACE THE CHANGE
New technologies that are agile, easy to use and that can adapt to companies changing needs are ones to look for. So, I’m going to talk about digital process automation technologies. This is one of the core concepts of Digital Transformation.
But what is digital process automation? Why are we so interested in this?
Well, to find that out all the ins and outs of it, let’s start with the basic concept of it.
What is Digital Process Automation?
In easy words, Digital Process Automation is transforming a business process into its optimised digital version.
As an example, take a simple approval process. Perhaps you use papers in folders that are kept on shelves to handle this. Or maybe, you do manual entries into excel spreadsheets when someone approves via email.
On the other hand, there is the digital version of this. To be more clear, a business application, which is made of online forms where users can interact and consult information from anywhere. The approval flow happens in one single place and is managed via end-to-end automation with reminder notifications and reporting dashboards.
The difference between two versions of the same process is that the digital one brings efficiency and most importantly, consistency. It gives easy insights to the data and eliminates the errors. Overall, it provides better user experience.
One of the digital transformation initiatives that digital process automation covers is solving existing business challenges. In addition, integration into company processes and transitioning from a non-digital business into a digital one.
In other words, this is an evolution of business process management (BPM). While managing business processes, integrated automation can optimise and digitalise processes from start to end.
Digital process automation solutions generally provide software platforms under the concept of integrated automation. Not only does it focus on Technology, but also People and Process.
Most employees waste a lot of time searching for data. Sometimes they have to consult multiple systems to answer a simple query. They are not given options other than using emails to manage basic customer queries.
All of these can cause bad reputation, data loss and long resolution times. As a result, this drags productivity down and companies miss out on valuable business opportunities.
Digital process automation helps companies to transition into a digital workplace.
Consequently, teams can collaborate in a single place. It centralises the data for internal and external processes. As well as that, it frees employees’ time to do more valuable work by removing repetitive, boring tasks.
Some of you might be concerned about the investment you have already done for your IT systems until now. However, you don’t have to give up everything you have invested in to begin your digital transformation journey.
There are ways to make legacy technology easily adaptable to the coming changes. Most new technologies can integrate to your IT systems allowing you to syncronise existing users and data.
In addition, there are low-code and no-code platforms that you can opt for. They are here to lower the costs and enable faster application delivery, allowing you to commence digital transformation smoothly.
Low-code or no-code concept is not only considered for cost reduction. It is for empowering users and accelerating digital transformation journey.
What are the core features of Digital Process Automation?
In today’s digital world, customers are forcing businesses to become more mobile and agile. Businesses must experiment new technologies to meet consumer demand and stay ahead of competition.
With these trends, the following factors have become central features of digital businesses:
- Restructuring process workflows
- Automating and streamlining existing business processes
- Focus on data-driven processes
- Focus on the customer experience
Where to use Digital Process Automation?
This is something that I have been asked many times. Where can I use a process automation technology?
Well, you can use it in several places. For example, delivering business applications that require interaction of people, systems and processes.
Examples of digital business processes are:
- – HR processes to manage onboarding, appraisals, holiday approvals, employee requests;
- – IT processes such as helpdesk tickets, asset requests, change management;
- – Quality processes for incident management, corrective action plans, inspections, document generation;
- – Finance processes such as budget approvals, project approvals and so on…
The important thing is to define one area that needs your immediate attention when beginning digital transformation. Perhaps it is something due to the challenges you might be facing.
Start with that to experiment new technologies… Map out how it is currently done and how you want it to improve.
According to a Forrester survey, cost reductions and improving productivity are two main reasons for process advancement.
Process development platforms require outsourcing of developers for those without technical knowledge. Therefore, it is important to note the numerous benefits a user-friendly platform has in comparison. For instance, process development platforms are more suitable for non-technical users. Therefore, making it accessible for everyone.
They can help you reduce costs significantly by delivering fast applications. Also engaging your team and keeping knowledge in-house to maintain your business applications will help improve workforce productivity.
It is also worth telling that digital transformation can always help grow a business.
The marketplace is constantly evolving and the competition is getting harder and harder. Many businesses cannot expand simply because they lack digital initiatives.
If you haven’t started your digital transformation journey yet or have started it but aren’t satisfied, it is time to start looking at new technologies to help you boost your business.
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