Previously, I discussed the telltale signs that your organization is ready for RPA. If you missed that post, you can read it here. Now that you've established you're ready for RPA, it's time to figure out what tasks and use cases you should tackle. The key to a successful RPA implementation is to first understand not all use cases are good use cases. I'm sure there are a ton of different tasks you want to automate, but if they don't have some critical attributes, I'm afraid you're in for a less than optimal experience.
There are six main attributes that use cases should display. Does your use case need ALL six? No. However, if it does, you've hit productivity gold! I'll go into greater detail below, but here is your initial RPA attribute checklist:
RPA can face high error rates, even when the right use case is selected. Common changes, such as updated account passwords, new versions of software, and internet browser updates can all impact success. It's important to ensure a mechanism (like case management) exists to monitor and immediately notify users of failures (regularly referred to as exception handling) to update bot workflows when necessary. This key capability will help optimize bots and improve ROI for your RPA investment.
So now you know your organization is ready for RPA and you have use cases that are a good fit -- that's great! You're on your way to automation with RPA. But what if you are already using RPA, but you don't think you're getting the full benefits? Next time, I'll look into some signs that you could be getting more out of RPA and what to do about it.
You can also check out our upcoming webinar we're hosting with Forrester VP and Principal Analyst, Rob Koplowitz on April 23rd. We'll explore how RPA fits into the larger automation landscape and how you can get the most out of your automation investments.
Appian is a software company that automates business processes. The Appian Platform includes everything you need to design, automate, and optimize even the most complex processes, from start to finish. The world's most innovative organizations trust Appian to improve their workflows, unify data, and optimize operations—resulting in better growth and superior customer experiences.