How RPA Technology will shift Culture

There’s something about workflow automation solutions that spark interest across the board.

The automation revolution is already upon us, and ‘inevitability’ is the most certain thing about it. No matter the sector, RPA technology has the potential to increase efficiency. Currently, this technology is performing pretty routine and typical tasks like data integration, task sequencing, simple automated decisions, and more.

Include a bit more of AI in Robotic Process Automation and the results would be fascinating.

Yes, I’m talking about informed/complex decision making and other smarter actions. While business owners remain positive about the implementation of RPA, many employees see it as a threat.

In this article, I will have a look at how RPA tech will shift the culture.

Should we fear it or embrace it?

What Is RPA?

Robotic Process Automation is the use of technology to automate business processes. Using RPA tools, a business can automate simple tasks like sending out auto-generated emails or more complex functions like programming robots to perform a human’s job.

More CIO’s are rapidly adopting RPA technology to:

• Reduce cost
• Better employee productivity
• Enabling staff to devote their efforts to serving customers and doing higher-value work
• Combining RPA with Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning for better business forecasting

How RPA Will Impact Our Lives

The evolution of technology is inevitable. You can neither delay nor prevent it.

The advancement in technology, especially automation, will disrupt many industries. More people are likely to lose jobs. The workforce associated with routine and repetitive tasks like manufacturing, food services, bookkeeping, etc. are most at risk.

And this is just the start of the revolution.

Those using computers at work for simple tasks may also quickly become redundant. As software becomes smarter, they may completely replace the people tasked with operating them.

According to McKinsey, 77,000,000 jobs will be lost by 2038. However, if you’re adaptive in nature, ready to learn and upskill yourself, there is no need to worry. Sit tight as you enter the world of Robotics.

Below are 8 impacts of RPA on our lives in general and business in particular.

1. Reduced Employee Cost

According to experts, businesses can save up to 60% on employee costs. For some sectors, this could go up to a whopping 75%. Part of this cost-saving will come at the price of letting employees go.

There can be three solutions to this problem

1. Transferring employees to other departments rather than laying them off.
2. Helping them better their skills, so they can be a part of the RPA revolution.
3. Helping them find a more suitable place in other companies.

2. Better Business Results

Automating repeated tasks will free your staff. You can use them to focus more on high-value business targets. For example, a person in your company making cold calls to customers can ideally be utilized as a salesperson with face-to-face customer interaction.

This is likely to result in a better conversion rate.

3. RPA Tools Creating More Jobs

The common mindset is, robots are going to destroy the job market. This is not true. RPA and similar technologies will create more jobs rather than kill them. 70% of business executives think that RPA will create more jobs if we adopt the right strategy.

The future will be one of great teamwork between humans and robots - working together to create exceptional results.

4. Mass-Adoption Of RPA And AI

Administrative organizations (mostly enterprises) are all set to implement RPA and AI technologies to streamline their business functions. More than 50% of businesses have already embraced these new technologies. It’s also expected that close to 70% of businesses will implement RPA by 2022. And continuing at this rate, in five years’ time, every major business will be reaping the benefits of automation.

5. Improved Efficiency

The benefits of RPA implementation are huge and the ROI is impressive as well.

From the data gathered from the early adopters of RPA, Deloitte Global reports:

• 90% more efficiency
• Up to 59% reduction in cost
• Up to 90% improvement in compliance
• 86% improved productivity
• The majority of businesses that have already implemented RPA tech are likely to increase more

6. Providing Better Healthcare

RPA technology can give a new meaning to how healthcare is delivered.

According to McKinsey, 30% of the tasks in a clinical setting can be automated. RPA can help in simplifying claim settlements, setting up and scheduling new appointments, and improving the overall healthcare delivery.

7. Home Robots

The age of Simpsons may be far away but we are kind of heading in the right direction. From home cleaning robots to AI-powered companionable bots, the sci-fi is already here and it is only going to grow in the coming years.

The Terminators might not be roaming around us anytime soon but cuter bots might just be around the corner. Yes, I am talking about robots that can clean your room, wash dishes, clean the dining table, and maybe play with your kids.

8. RPA Impacting Education

Typically more than 60% of the educational organization’s activities can be performed by the implementation of RPA processes. Many higher education institutions are already making use of the Robotic Process Automation to create more sophisticated, and modern operations.

Some activities that may see the automation revolution a little earlier than others include:

• Repetitive tasks such as updating students academic records
• Digital processes such as running and maintaining official social media accounts
• Processes that usually require humans to handle digital interfaces such as email and ERP software handling

The Bottom Line

The automation revolution will soon give rise to what experts are naming as ‘Robosourcing’.

Today our businesses tend to outsource functions to be more cost-effective. In the future, this may change as you might hear a robotic voice rather than an Indian accent on calling Apple support.

Underlining all of this is one important point.

RPA will take away many jobs, but this void will be replaced by new jobs, many that are more creative in nature and intellectually challenging for humans to carry out. The marketplace and as a result, our educational and vocational training institutions will, for example, emphasize creativity over data-entry skill building. It’s not all doom and gloom with RPA, and it has the potential to make work a lot more fulfilling for many of us.

Do you still think that the future of work with RPA is not painting a pretty picture for the human race?

This is not true.

It is not just the technology that evolves, but we evolve with it.

And if we successfully evolve with the emerging technologies - the future is bright for us.

Thank you for reading! Link