06 Sep, 2020 | Blogs
Robotic process automation (RPA) is becoming a popular solution to automate mind-numbing repetitive work. Most of the companies are adopting this technology for its numerous benefits, such as cost-saving, operational efficiency, and higher compliance. But RPA comes with its share of challenges, which can wreak havoc on your automation plans. Without proper implementation and knowledge, RPA failure seems inevitable. According to a report, more than 40% of RPA projects fail to deliver the desired results in terms of implementation time, cost-saving, and analytics. However, the silver lining in all this is that these RPA failures are avoidable if you pay close attention to a few key aspects.
Before we dive deeper into how you can avoid common RPA failures, let us look at the top 5 types of RPA project fails. To gauge the success or failure of RPA deployment, it is important to understand what exactly failure means when describing RPA implementation. Broadly, there are five ways in which your project can fail, namely:
Financial—RPA implementation is considered a financial failure when the technology fails to deliver the desired business value. In such cases, the bot usually does what it is intended to do but does not lead to the expected cost savings since very few RPA projects are focused on revenue generation.
Governance—Governance failures occur when the bots are mismanaged and do not effectively coordinate. It usually happens when you do not focus on governance at the right moment during the RPA implementation, making the process either too difficult and expensive or a free-range-automation problem.
Operational—Operational RPA failure is slightly different from governance failure since it happens when the software fails to perform as expected during production. It usually is a result of poor governance and planning.
Design—RPA deployment is a design failure when there are design flaws in the code, making the bot erroneous. It can happen due to numerous reasons such as misinterpreted requirements, poor programming, or problems in the solution architecture.
Technical—Technical RPA failures usually occur when the bot is incompatible with the existing tools, systems, and standards in the company. It results in bots unable to perform their intended tasks. It occurs due to a lack of communication between automation partners during the discovery and early implementation stages.
Top Three Ways to Avoid RPA Failures
Align Teams
The secret behind successful RPA implementation is alignment. If you are considering automating a process in your organizations, always involve project managers and the leadership team in the early stages. Hire an implementation partner who can bring people on board, prove value to all the relevant stakeholders by doing a pilot or proof of concept before it is rolled-out in full scale.
Read how you can make a case for RPA POC
Also, notify teams that work closely on those process(es) so that they can report issues that occur during the deployment of RPA. Aligning teams not only ensures smooth RPA implementation but also helps in assigning key roles and responsibilities and ensures that the post-deployment needs, such as maintenance and support, are fulfilled.
Identify the Right Process
Identifying the right process to be automated is not as simple as it sounds. PwC states that an RPA pilot often requires 4-6 months instead of the regular 4-6 weeks because companies fail to identify the right process or have insufficient information about their existing processes. That is why assessing the process automation potential is extremely important for RPA success.
Choose processes that are structured, simple yet have higher impact, do not involve high-level cognitive tasks, and are repetitive. If you are having problems identifying the right RPA processes, then contact us today for a free consultation.
Set Goals and Understand Timelines
It is critical to set realistic goals before you embark on your automation journey. These goals will help you decide if your RPA implementation was a success or failure. Understand the timelines associated with the deployment and communicate it with the teams and stakeholders. It is good practice to create a road-map that provides visibility into the entire project.
Usually, RPA deployment can take anywhere between 1-2 months. It includes the time needed to configure, test, and launch bots. However, these timelines can differ from one process to another based on the complexity, the level of automation required, and the team size.
Read Decoding PoC Development To Future Proof Your RPA Projects
Why You Won’t Fail
Fortunately, not all RPA projects fail, and most companies are realizing the benefits of automation by avoiding these pitfalls. RPA was the new kid in town a few years ago, but these platforms have matured over the years. Most of the RPA failures are avoidable and are manageable. One of the best ways to ensure fool-proof implementation is by hiring an automation partner, who can guide you at each step of your RPA journey. An RPA consultant can help you select the right process and the technology provider, do a proof of concept, and eventually launch the bot when there are no issues identified.
At Nuummite Consulting, we know that RPA, when properly applied, can produce game-changing results. Early adopters of this technology have achieved their share of success and have created a vital structural advantage over their competitors. If you’d to do the same, then get in touch to see why Nuummite Consulting is the leading automation partner of major companies in various sectors.