RPA Tools: Automating Tasks for Increased Efficiency

Despite how cool or fancy technology gets, manual work in business isn’t going away. Boring and mechanical tasks are the bread and butter of many operations. But let’s not hate on copying and pasting—let’s get smart about how we do it.  

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a technology that allows organizations to automate repetitive, rule-based tasks that humans usually perform.   

RPA tools, such as OpenBots.ai, enable businesses to streamline their operations, improve efficiency, and reduce the risk of errors by automating tasks that typically need manual intervention from a human.   

It also lets employees focus on other work that activates their intellect.   

RPA Tools Apply to Many Industries 

One of the key benefits of RPA is that it can be used to automate a wide range of tasks, from data entry and processing to customer service and support.   

According to a survey by McKinsey, 83 percent of decision-makers in IT say that automation is a critical part of digital transformation. This makes it an ideal solution for businesses in various industries, including finance, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing.  

For example, in the finance industry, RPA can be used to automate invoice processing, account reconciliation, and generate reports. In healthcare, RPA can schedule appointments, process insurance claims, and create new patient records in EMRs. And in the retail industry, RPA can process orders, manage inventory, and track shipments. 

Experience of RPA Users 

The top industries currently using RPA tools are financial services, healthcare, and insurance, with adoption rates ranging from 44% to 53%. These industries use RPA to improve the accuracy and speed of their processes and reduce their employees’ workload.  

Work/life balance is becoming a common theme, with employees leaving companies who don’t provide them with the tools they need to be productive. A recent Forrester found that 57% of companies saw higher employee engagement with RPA software. Why? Because people want to work smarter, not harder.   

At its core, RPA is a productivity-enhancing tool that can operate 24/7, allowing businesses to achieve greater efficiency and productivity. It can be scaled to meet a company’s changing needs, making it a flexible and cost-effective solution. 

What RPA Does Best 

RPA is not a one-size-fits-all solution and isn’t suitable for all tasks. RPA is ideal for repetitive, rule-based tasks that don’t require a high level of decision-making or judgment. Think of copying and pasting, pulling up files, downloading PDFs—things like that.  

It’s also important to carefully assess the costs and benefits of implementing RPA, as there may be upfront costs associated with implementing and maintaining the technology. Some vendors (not OpenBots) charge licensing fees for each RPA bot you run, making it expensive to scale past a certain point. 

Gaining Traction 

To successfully implement RPA, plan and prepare by identifying the tasks suitable for automation, evaluating the potential benefits and costs, and creating a roadmap for implementation. Involve all relevant stakeholders in the process, as RPA can impact employees, customers, and other stakeholders.  

Once you’ve implemented RPA, monitoring and measuring its performance is essential to ensure that it delivers the desired results. This may involve tracking key metrics such as productivity, accuracy, and customer satisfaction.   

RPA is not a set-it-forget-it operation. You’ll have to continually review and update your automations to ensure they are working correctly. Small changes like a software update can knock them offline. Make sure to have a dedicated team to keep tabs on each activity. 

Ready to Automate with an RPA Tool?  

RPA tools are powerful tools for automating a wide range of tasks and improving the efficiency and productivity of your business.  

However, it’s important to evaluate the benefits and limitations of RPA carefully and to plan and implement it in a way that meets the needs of your business and stakeholders.  

By carefully managing and scaling your RPA operations, you can achieve significant efficiency gains that translate into better employee and customer experience.   

Need help automating your business? Reach out to us.