AUTOMATION 101
Digital transformation
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Is the new reality and scaling automation is the top priority discussion on management boards.
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Revolves around using digital technology to change the way you operate, especially around customer interaction and the resulting value creation
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Involves using digital technology to solve traditional business problems and integrating such technology in all aspects of business
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Is the outcome of IT-enabled change that is aligned with business objectives and driven by a well-planned strategy
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TOP EMERGING TRENDS
1. VISION - Defining the vision sets the tone for automation roadmap. A mindset change can take place when all stakeholders actively participate to process project value, especially those not involved in the technical aspects
3. SPONSORSHIP - C-Suite sponsorship and support is critical. Top management should be aligned with the road map with constant updates & involvement to instill confidence in the program and keep it on track.
2. BUSINESS CASE - Getting the necessary budget allocations or investments for automation is often the challenge, despite digital transformation being at the top of boardroom discussions. Once decision priorities are aligned, implementation at enterprise level is easier.
5. EMPLOYEE BUY-IN - Active change management should be part of a good people strategy as a part of automation scaling program. A top-down approach works with setting up a Center of Excellence and deploy initial automations, followed by employee feedback loop with developers.
7. NEW USE CASE DISCOVERY - Accelerating new use-case discovery is crucial to scaling automation process. A careful charting out of the system landscape will help identify value added automation opportunities for stakeholders so they can prioritize processes that build a good business case.
4. STAKEHOLDERS - Roles & responsibilities of all the stakeholders to be affected by automation should be identified well-defined. With key support from functional heads, process owners, cyber-security & compliance teams, it requires good collaboration with IT support teams.
6. SKILL BUILDING - Work force should have the capacity and capability to aid the process of scaling automation. Regular training & certification should be encouraged to build RPA skills and knowledge. Industry forum engagements can aid employee exposure.
9. GOVERNANCE MODEL - Imperative to collaborate with IT teams and Chief Information Security Officer to implement governance models for risk compliance with compliance and internal audit teams. The internal control roadmap should also be aligned with stakeholders overseen by a steering committee for timely adherence
8. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE MODEL - A federated Center of Excellence can facilitate synergy by consolidating multiple projects that are running in silos. This model can support the business with the needed expertise and vision to achieve scaling more effectively, enabling implimentation at enterprise level.
10. LEVERAGE AND SUSTAIN - The automation roadmap continues to evolve and is not definitive but can lead to transformative change in processes helping better customer experience and returns on investment. A leverage approach to collaborating with cross industry and domain experts without creating new talent pools reduces lead times
