Digital transformation is peeking into every enterprise. From modernizing systems to integrating and automating, it offers many opportunities to strive and gain a competitive advantage.
Enterprise software development and enterprise automation are an inevitable part of the optimization of business processes. Often postponed, carried out without a strategic plan, it does not deliver the expected results. What are automation tools, what are automation platforms, when will they be useful, and where does hyperautomation fit into this? This is the subject of the article.
Enterprise automation is usually a part of digital transformation. How to approach business automation? Successful automation of business processes should include your people, processes, and IT infrastructure. Only the combination of these three pillars of effective business process automation can bring measurable value.
People are the backbone of any enterprise-wide initiative. To adopt automation across the organization, all teams, including the business line, operations, network, security, development and infrastructure must be actively involved. Automation optimizes processes and changes the way work is done. It should be carried out in line with the processes and needs of individual departments, roles and resources.
Processes drive projects in your organization from start to completion. Transparent processes for creating, implementing, managing and adapting automation are essential for broad adoption and continuous utilization.
A dedicated automation platform provides capabilities to build, run, and manage automation. In contrast, simple automation tools allow you to quickly solve major pain points. When approaching enterprise-wide automation, it is necessary to validate IT systems. Only a unified foundation for creating, deploying, and sharing consistent automation infrastructure and automation knowledge will ensure process stability, scaling and long-term success.
Automation in general has been talked about for some time and in different ways. On the market, there are automation tools and platforms. Both offer automation services, however, differ in the degree of capabilities.
Automation tools are great on a smaller scale, for personal and point automation. They excel at automating simple tasks as an ad hoc solution for small departments or compact organizations of a few people. Some popular automation tools are ClickUp, Jira, LeapWork, Zapier, RoboTask, and Trello.
However, they do not provide the connectivity and management capabilities that are necessary for large-scale enterprise-level automation.
An automation platform is a type of cloud-based software that more and more companies are opting for. They are used for a variety of purposes, and in a digital transformation era, these platforms execute many tasks with greater speed.
Automation platforms provide a unified framework for multiple people and departments to execute consistent automation. They offer resources to effectively manage and share automation rules across the organization. With customizable capabilities, they often allow 100% tailored automation and process flow. Here are some examples of popular enterprise automation platforms:
These enterprise automation platforms offer a wide range of features and capabilities to help organizations improve efficiency, reduce manual labor, and increase productivity across different departments and functions. The choice of the right platform depends on the organization’s specific needs, goals, and existing infrastructure.
A blurred definition of what an automation tool is and what capabilities a dedicated automation platform offers has led to a misunderstanding of the entire process of automation at the enterprise scale.
One of the common misconceptions is that automation at a large scale can be executed without involving IT. Automation tools are a quick gateway to task management and execution, however interdepartmental consistency requires a broader perspective. Many business units believe that the adoption of Robotics Process Automation (RPA) and low-code/no-code applications don’t require the engagement of IT support.
In addition, Gartner states 10 common mistakes to avoid when approaching business automation at scale. They relate to the field of strategic approach, and selective perception of the automation process.
Lack of engagement of the stakeholders, lack of holistic view and poor understanding of the capabilities of technology lead to poorly executed automation.
Complex automation is never narrowed to one solution or technology. Complex processes require a comprehensive approach to business optimization.
Gartner singles out hyperautomation and identifies it as one of the top strategic technology trends:
Hyperautomation is a business-driven, disciplined approach that organizations use to rapidly identify, vet and automate as many business and IT processes as possible. Hyperautomation involves the orchestrated use of multiple technologies, tools or platforms.
Gartner indicates that there is no single ultimate tool for hyperautomation. It relates to the use of various solutions, such as: AI, ML, event-driven software architecture, RPA, BPM and iBPMS, Integration platform as a service (iPaaS), Low-code/no-code tools, packaged software, and other types of decision, process and task automation tools.
Technology is evolving, we have moved beyond the desktop and migrated numerous operations to the cloud. Progress allows us to take advantage of new solutions and optimize operational costs. Soon more new advanced solutions will fuel modern technology trends.
Hyperautomation is distinguished as a practice that involves:
Gartner predicts that by 2025, 70% of organizations will implement structured infrastructure automation to deliver flexibility and efficiency. Infrastructure and Operations enter a new phase of digitalization. Integration and operations, distributed management and monitoring tools need to be merged under one comprehensive tool to better drive agility and business value. Fusion requires implementing advanced automation options to cut expenses, and boost performance.
As with selecting a set of technology solutions for hyperautomation, defining measures of success for implementing enterprise automation will be bespoke.
Each enterprise and the teams within its structure have unique characteristics and ambitions. The success of enterprise-level automation will be the result of collaboration between various teams.
Establishing realistic goals, mapping processes, selecting tools, technology matching and consultation will help develop a plan for a comprehensive approach to automation.
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Examples of long-term automation success can be reflected in numbers. E.g.: fewer errors, development of new skills within the organization, higher levels of security, standardized and easy-to-understand processes, lower operating costs, task execution time, elimination or reduction of unintended costs.
Any organization can benefit from automation. Legacy updates, modernizations, integration and automation are the challenges that no industry can escape. We also see this in the number of requests for services and can confirm the demand with projects already completed for insurance, retail, e-commerce, automotive, manufacturing, and life science. Companies from various industries seek new technologies and modern solutions that automate processes and boost productivity.
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From script-based task automation to comprehensive approaches to holistic and automated optimization. Modular architecture, cloud solutions, RPA, and many other automation tools are available on the market to achieve cost optimization, flexibility and efficiency.
Digital transformation will be successful when it can develop new skills. This requires taking a good look at the operation of the enterprise and matching it with technology. The result will be a new standardized structure, lower operating costs, faster response to market challenges and clearer connection of the IT infrastructure to business demands.
Tools are not a solution to a problem, just means by which to implement changes. Successful automation and digital transformation take place when people are involved in process improvement. Only with adequate preparation for implementing transformations and clear communication will overall success be achieved.
People, processes, and IT infrastructure are the three pillars of successful transformation. Process mapping, RPA, ready-made tools, and platforms enable the creation of automated enterprise-level workflows.
The more tedious tasks are automated and the more optimized business intelligence solutions are, the better the company’s chances of gaining a competitive advantage.
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At the dawn of frequent change, turbulence, and global digitization, smart implementations that incorporate automation services will pay dividends in saved time and better allocation of resources. Check out our case studies for real-life examples of automation implementation!
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The IT system supporting the work of retail outlets is the foundation of our business. The ability to optimize and adapt it to the needs of all entities in the PSA Group is of strategic importance and we consider it a step into the future. This project is a huge challenge: not only for us in terms of organization, but also for our partners – including Hicron – in terms of adapting the system to the needs and business models of PSA. Cooperation with Hicron consultants, taking into account their competences in the field of programming and processes specific to the automotive sector, gave us many reasons to be satisfied.
