Page 39 - Waterfall Issue 9_2022

data as resident data jockeys, Maistry says that Robotic Process operate 24/7, executing error-free,
guiding and mending the business Automation is the answer. “RPA tools repeatable business processes.
processes with short-term fixes and offer potential ways to automate
inadvertently creating a precedent repetitive, manual, rules-based tasks. Apart from reducing manual
of what they regard as acceptable Whilst RPA is not the answer to all interventions in repeatable
practice, acceptable turnaround automation conundrums within the business processes, one can use
times and acceptable service levels.” enterprise, it does offer a compelling the technology to reduce the
alternative to traditional BPO tools.” headcount in batch-driven data
Is this intentional? Definitely not. Instead of months-to-years to input and output processes.
The sheer volumes of repetitive automate business processes within
manual tasks leave the expert with the enterprise, RPA can achieve similar “One could also link to legacy or
little time to stop, think and act. It results within weeks-to-months. external systems in a non-intrusive
is very possible that the business manner that would otherwise be
process has not been electronically The earliest versions of RPA too cost prohibitive to integrate
orchestrated due to the nature of the technologies were primarily anchored into one’s internal business
process e.g. multiple decision point in screen scraping technology – which process, or avoid major systems
inputs - or it could be cost-prohibitive allowed a software ‘robot’ to mimic re-engineering for the purpose of
to use some sort of middleware or user interactions. However, RPA integrating or automating part of a
BPO tool to integrate the process. technology has evolved significantly business process,” he comments.
since then. Today, RPA vendor, UiPath,
Notwithstanding, any brownfields offers a host of ‘out of the box’ user If there is a requirement to have a
digital transformation initiative is going interface interaction, integration speedy, cost effective, error-free,
to be dependent on having optimised and descriptor technologies repeatable automation of business
business processes, preferably that can be configured to mimic processes, then RPA should be a
digitised. This will surely remove all business processes in an attended consideration. More so, if there is a
friction in the system, ensuring that (user monitored, controlled and requirement to transition knowledge
customers and suppliers can engage interfaced) or unattended (‘lights- workers tackling mundane and routine
with the enterprise in an efficient, out’) mode. This allows one to tasks, to become an integral part of
timely and cost-effective manner. create a team of virtual workers who the digital transformation journey.

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