Many technologies are used to come together to transform today's companies to streamline workflows. Automation is key to reducing repetitive tasks and redundant processes. Businesses are using automation to minimize losses due to workflow shortages during the recent pandemic, only to discover a pathway to growth.
Workforce shortages and the concurrent recession have given many businesses a renewed interest in RPA or robotic process automations. According to Gartner, on a global scale, 90% of large corporations have already adopted some form of RPA and, by 2024, will have tripled the capacity of their existing RPA portfolios.
Table of Contents:
- Building Blocks of Streamlining the Workflow Process
- What are Digital Transformation and AI Transformation? What’s the Difference?
- Top 7 Technologies Empowering Tomorrow
- Sorting It All Out – Finding Experts in Automation
Building Blocks of Streamlining the Workflow Process
While recent economic downturns and global health issues have turned our attention toward automation, the truth is that we have been automating workflow processes for some time. Some businesses have ignored what technologies are offered to them, but it has only impacted their bottom line. With recent global issues, these companies are now scrambling to understand what other businesses have known. Therefore, streamlining your workflow processes makes sense.
Years ago, automation was feared. It was thought that it would cost jobs. Today, we understand that it opens the door to even more and better jobs. It removes redundant, repetitive tasks that employees dislike and allows them to revel in the tasks they enjoy, being more creative and productive. Here are a few of the building blocks of streamlining the workflow process:
- Intelligent Process Automation: According to McKinsey, IPA is a new set of technologies that merges fundamental process redesign with RPA and machine learning. It involves next-gen tools that assist workers with repetitive tasks. It can mimic human activities and learn over time.
- Robotic Process Automation: RPA is a form of business process automation performed by software tools or AI.
- Digital Process Automation: DPA is a methodology using digital technology to automate one or more business processes within a business. DPA generally refers to tasks that are partially automated.
These are just pieces to the big puzzle. Many companies that successfully streamline their workflows and use automation to its full potential utilize many different forms and processes. Here are some of the available building blocks.
What are Digital Transformation and AI Transformation? What’s the Difference?
Digital transformation in practice is adopting digital technology to improve a company's efficiency, value, or innovation. In the old school, we digitized our files from paper to computer so we could work faster with technology. Today, it is the process of adopting available technology. In modern business, digital transformation can include cloud hosting, social media, mobile devices, and data analytics.
AI transformation is the method of leading digital transformation forward using AI. In other words, AI transformation is an extension of digital transformation. The difference is that this includes using technologies that utilize AI and machine learning; when you increase the intelligence behind your processes, their effectiveness increases.
Top 7 Technologies Empowering Tomorrow
We all know that once we have tech in our hands, it is already obsolete. How do you transform with technology and empower your business if you want to stay on top of the 'next big wave'? How can you even know with technology to pick with so much out there?
We've done a bit of the homework for you. First, get a basic understanding of these seven top technologies and how they will empower tomorrow. Then, you will have no problem choosing the right technologies, software, or platforms for your company's needs.
- Process Mining: Process mining is an analytical field working to understand company processes. Applications include workflow optimization for industrial applications or standardization of applications. In addition, it can be used in audits or risk identifications. Process mining is a foundational cornerstone to hyperautomation.
- Natural Language Processing: Known as NLP, it allows computers to understand data from emails, social media, and videos. It can use language translation, sentiment analysis, and even classify the data to route to the correct department according to your business' automation needs. Once it gets delivered, then RPA bots can handle getting the job done.
- Computer Vision: This is a scientific discipline that brings together many fields that have successfully developed the technology for computers to understand the data it receives from digital images or video. In automation, computer vision is used in ways that the human eye may usually be needed, such as to read data from a label.
- Optical Character Recognition: This technology can electronically recognize images of typed, handwritten, or printed text and converts them into machine-encoded text. This can be from a scanned document, photo, or scene.
- Machine Learning: This is defined as a field of inquiry. This is a good definition. While it is a type of technology, its core is a devotion to understanding. It uses available data to learn better to predict future results. It uses AI to leverage data to improve performance.
- APIs: Application Programming Interface is any software or technology with a distinct function. An interface is a connection between two applications that communicate by using requests and responses.
- Intelligent Business Process Management Suites (Ibpms): These are pre-set integrated technologies or platforms. iBPMS allow companies to plan, implement, and execute business applications and processes.
Sorting It All Out – Finding Experts in Automation
Even with the best technologies, having the expert know-how to execute them is another story. Where do you find a team with all the different parts you need to build a fully streamlined workflow? How do you achieve the most out of the available technologies to automate effectively? At DataCose, we have the answers.
DataCose has built teams available to help companies pull together their workflow, data migrations, low-code integration platforms, and hyperautomation. We have experienced data specialists, world-class UX designers, top-level software developers, and workflow experts. Fill out the form below for a no-obligation review of your needs. We can talk with you about the unique aspects of your business and where you are looking to go. Above all else, we're sure we can get you there.