5 Reasons Why You Should Not Rely on RPA Alone

Coming up with efficient processes is a very important move when it comes to managing a business. Many organizations are constantly looking for ways to save operational costs in the long run and be able to implement a more streamlined and efficient workflows. This is one reason why robotic process automation (RPA) has become a go-to solution. In fact, almost all of the biggest and world-renowned conglomerates are implementing RPA.

What is RPA?

Robotic process automation (RPA) is the method of using artificial information (AI) software along with machine learning capabilities to accomplish bulk routine functions usually performed by humans. These can include calculations, records maintenance, transaction processing, and query responses. RPA requires software robots programmed to mimic human actions to accomplish tasks by logging into applications, inputting data, or calculating. There are 3 primary RPA software categories:

• Probots. Basic bots programmed to follow simple and repeatable rules to process information.
• Chatbots. Used to provide real-time responses to customers’ queries.
• Knowbots. Bots used for searching information from the internet and storing the data collected

Why RPA Alone is Unwise

According to a 2018 survey, 75% of finance executives expected to use RPA in 2019 to 2020. The utilization of RPA is indeed growing, but it is not wise to make it the sole process to implement for a business. In fact, a recent study shows that the failure rate of implementing and adopting RPA is 30-50%. If you are considering RPA and running automation, you might want to reconsider. Here are some of the reasons why you should not rely solely on RPA.

1. Costly investment

One thing that most business owners disregard before deciding to implement RPA is the large amount of financial investment it will initially need. Considering how costly it can be to purchase the necessary software and applications to implement this new process, there is no guarantee that it will pay off in the end. Before you decide to invest in RPA, you should first conduct extensive research about the viability of implementing an automated process. Moreover, with new systems in place, you will also need to train your team with the new system (which means spending additional time and resources), or might even have to let go of some people (which will also mean setting aside funds for severance pays and the like). Implementing RPA is not the same as dealing with an outsourcing provider where your investment is flexible and can be made over time. When it comes to preparing for your RPA setup, all investments are upfront, meaning you will need to come up with a large amount of money to proceed.

2. Inaccurate output

Another disadvantage of relying only on RPA is that quality can be sacrificed. Without human intervention, the output derived from your new automated process could be riddled with errors. Most businesses that use RPA for their processes include human resources, accounting financial operations, and supply chain management. Automating these processes can be helpful as you can utilize your available manpower to handle core functions. But to make sure that the processed data is accurate, you should still have a quality team to conduct audits.

3. Not applicable for all processes

RPA is a complex process and can only handle a limited number of business functions. You should not completely replace your current process and manpower, be it in-house staffing or outsourcing, with RPA. If you decide to include RPA in your business functions, you might want to consider using it on repeatable processes only, as this is where RPA is usually most helpful. But keep in mind that you still have to assign a person or a small team to check the quality of the data processed by your automated process. You can’t expect your RPA to accomplish these all without any human intervention. If RPA is not used for the right processes in your organization, it can cause redundancies that can be a costly business move.

4. Require regular updates and maintenance

RPA will not survive on its own. Considering how much contextualization and customization are required for implementation, it will also need constant maintenance to make sure that it adapts to your organization’s needs. To do this, you will need a team of RPA specialists who can efficiently manage the use and update your bots. For companies that already have a team of IT specialists, handling and incorporating RPA into the business can be easy. Those without it might have a hard time making this new process work efficiently for them.

5. Requires huge process change

Transitioning from a solely manpower-reliant to an RPA-reliant business operation can be tricky. It is a huge challenge for any organization since it requires many changes to existing workflows that your teams are likely already familiar with. Just like any change implemented in any business, employees will feel resistant to these changes and cause some difficulties. This can then affect your team’s productivity and cause delays in your production.

6. Less flexibility

If you decide to use RPA for your business, there’s no option for any immediate changes in case you decide to scale up or down your operations. Dealing with RPA can be a very sticky situation. Once you implement it, you will have to work with it long term and try to make the most of it, considering the amount of time and money you invested. If your RPA provider decides to change their terms or pricing, you won’t be able to easily switch to a different company, unlike working with an outsourcing company where you can easily switch from one provider to another as needed.

Make the Most of RPA with Outsourcing

Despite the effort needed to implement RPA, the benefits of using still entice organizations to use it. But how can you make sure that RPA will be a success for your company? Consider pairing up your RPA approach with outsourcing. If you think RPA will work wonders for your business and help you save operational costs in the long run, then working with an outsourcing company to help you optimize your RPA will be a good addition to your process change.

By implementing RPA and working with an outsourcing partner, you can make sure that all of your business functions are accomplished according to your expectations. You can rely on your automated processes for repeatable tasks while your outsourcing partner ensures that the RPA is well maintained and error free. If you want to learn more about how outsourcing can help you make the most of your RPA process, talk to us here at Assivo, and we’ll provide you with all the details you need to get started with making RPA and outsourcing work together for your business.