Robotic Process Automation software has been around for many years, helping businesses to automate recurring tasks while allowing employees to utilize their skills better elsewhere. It has wider applications and use cases across industries and sectors.
This automated software bot accomplishes data-entry tasks faster than any human, saving enterprises time, cost, and resources. RPA software is programmed to improve process efficiency, enhance employee productivity, and arrest costly errors. However, despite the immense benefits, RPA implementation has stumbled to prove worthy of the investment.
As per studies, 30 to 50% of initial RPA projects have failed. And that unleashed innumerable risks for businesses – from coding errors resulting in a backlog of complaints to under-reported finance and account statements and loss of sensitive company data. These unavoidable errors arise from the apparent fact that enterprises had to confront specific challenges during implementation.
Challenges of Robotic Process Automation Software Implementation
No software solution can live up to its promise of driving value unless the roadblocks are duly addressed. And the same goes for RPA implementation. The challenges could be anything, from biased opinions to poor IT infrastructure and lack of skills to efficient service providers. Here’s a list of the most common challenges enterprises might have faced while implementing RPA software into their operations.
Lack of Knowledge and Understanding
The major hurdle in implementing new software is the lack of understanding among the employees. That can be misinformation about the latest software solution or ignorance about how things work within an organization. Well, the former can be handled easily as numerous informative contents are available on the Internet to brush up on. However, as per the latter is concerned, owners need to start digging to capture granular data showing how every task is executed.
Significant Upfront Cost
Agreed. RPA software solutions guarantee higher returns on investments in a relatively shorter period of time. But its upfront cost is undeniably hefty, often way above a company’s budget. So unless owners figure out how to implement RPA tools correctly to gain substantial ROIs, the investment choice might go down in the history of bad decisions. Thankfully, there are other ways to reduce the cost, from using open-source solutions to leveraging existing infrastructures and many more.
Poor IT Infrastructure
Much like the first point, a poor IT infrastructure will definitely stand in the way of ensuring success with Robotic Process Automation software investments. And poor IT infrastructure goes hand-in-hand with the lack of required skills to understand the software or, at the very best, resolve issues as and when they arise.
Biased Opinions
Biased opinions of employees can prevent them from accepting the software as a part of their organization. Human biases stem from the fear of losing their livelihood over an intelligent robot. If employees start to consider the bots as their replacements, they will not cooperate enough to feed the software with the required data. As we all know, RPA is an automated computer program that relies heavily on rule-based data to perform its tasks. With no data, the RPA tool is…just a tool!
Change in Management
Now RPA implementation can necessitate a significant change in business management, posing a significant roadblock if the change doesn’t happen. Therefore, a clear plan in place is just what an enterprise needs to ensure a smooth transition, proper RPA implementation, and reduce the impact on the overall operation.
Security and Scalability Concerns
Security remains a significant concern regarding a new software solution, and RPA software is no different. Since the bots will access the enterprise’s sensitive data, it is important to understand the platform’s security features. But that’s not all. In addition, understanding whether your RPA system is scalable is a concern because your business will go in the coming days. And if the software solution doesn’t keep up, it will only prove an expenditure in the long run.
Poor Maintenance
A software system cannot run on its own for long. It needs proper maintenance, and so does RPA. But if your enterprise lacks the expertise or means, implementing one will only give you severe migraines. However, there are ways to reduce the maintenance burden, like opting for a cloud-based solution or one that is easy to maintain.
Scaling Success with RPA Implementation – Five Strategies to Consider
Robotic Process Automation software services offer a range of operational and technical benefits to organizations only if the bots are implemented properly in wisely chosen use cases. But in order for enterprises to gain optimum results from such investment choices, they need a strategic plan. Lucky for you, we got that part covered. Here’s a checklist of five primary strategies to consider:
Identify the Process for Improvement
The first step to deciding on a new software solution for your business you need to find answers to a couple of questions:
- Why do you need a new tool?
- Which business areas need immediate attention for improvement?
This will save time and resources while guaranteeing the best results. Therefore, identify processes running on rule-based commands or are recurring, time-intensive, and prone to human errors.
Choose the Right RPA Tool
Finding a vendor for your RPA software solution is not challenging, as the market is spoiled for choices. However, choosing the right one can give a whiplash. Before selecting the service provider, there are certain factors to verify:
- Vendor experience and support
- Software compatibility with in-house platforms
- User-friendly software interfaces
- Affordability
Conduct a Total Economic Assessment
Obviously, the implementation of RPA needs a considerable amount of investment. Hence, owners need to conduct thorough research on business processes to evaluate the expected return on investment (ROI). Then, involve the management committee and stakeholders to get the best analysis report showing the total economic impact of the software solution for your business.
Educate and Train Employees
Your employees are going to interact directly with the software bots. So, if you have a long-term plan of scaling automation to other vital areas, your staff should be on the same page. Educate them so they can contribute to maintaining the existing RPA project and develop new ideas for future rollouts simultaneously.
Measure Performance Continuously
It is essential to have specific key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure your RPA implementation’s success. The evaluation process will pinpoint plausible discrepancies and allow your team enough bandwidth to fix them.
The Final Takeaway
Robotic Process Automation software has enabled many businesses to embark on their automation journey successfully and created scope for further improvements. It has unlocked endless opportunities, driving value and higher returns. But the road to success is treacherous. Therefore, to scale success with RPA, consider the above-mentioned implementation challenges and five strategies for remediation.
