The Reality Behind All the Fuss on RPA
Automation has caused job displacement in a wide range of industries, especially those that has little to zero tolerance for mistakes, something that humans are bound to make at one point or another. If robotics process automation (RPA) goes into full swing, jobocalypse is sure to happen. Or so, a lot of people think.
Despite the hype about RPA, robots are not about to replace humans in the workplace any time soon. Although machines have several advantages over a living, breathing employee, there are still limitations to their impact and usability. Before any robots or automated processes can be developed, perspective users have to identify first the type of transactions that can be delegated to robots. An industry that has a rapidly changing environment is also cause for concern, as this can mean frequent updates and changes in the automation system, which will take a toll on a company’s finances. Whereas with humans, businesses only need to invest in training or a refresher course to update their skills and knowledge, which are considerably more affordable. Of course, the world can’t help but be amazed at the possibilities that RPA presents.
What is RPA?
RPA is software that is configured to mimic the actions that employees perform to carry out a particular business process. On example of which is the RPA system that health care provider Ascension Health used for transfer of data from one source to another, which the company calls the ‘swivel chair’ activities. Instead of giving the task to employees, it was carried out by RPA.
What are the advantages of RPA when used with existing applications?
- It can be rolled out and implemented without the need to change IT infrastructure.
- Robots drive existing applications eliminating any integration cost.
- Robots can be trained similar to an employee, except that their knowledge can be reused and extended over time.
- Large-scale robotic platforms can be achieved by synchronizing multiple robots applied to a particular task.
- Project costs can be reduced, as robots can be trained in a live environment.
RPA definitely has huge potentials and is bound to change the face of business processes. Still, it is not perfect and RPAs in practice have yet to eliminate jobs.
What are the limitations of RPA?
It is best used on processes that are repetitive, done frequently, and are based on rules, similar to jobs that are often outsourced. These include routine decision making, dual data entry, requests for similar data extraction, and processes where inputs from different sources need to be integrated. This limits its application to certain industries. Simply put, RPA is not for everyone.
While RPA is marketed as a means to lower overheads, initial investment is not that cheap. If it doesn’t help reduce the number of staff, business expenses could double instead of being lowered. Companies that have existing RPA, however, says that it has the potential to help carry out additional workload without the need to add more staff.
True, RPA is very attractive, especially in terms of eliminating errors in business processes, but companies must first determine if it is the ideal solution before they invest in RPA.
Simple Complexities 