Why Robotic Process Automation?
RPA is a form of technology that automates repetitive, mundane work tasks. This works best with business processes that contain well-defined and structured data that are the same every time.
Examples of use cases include employee onboarding processes, employee payroll functions, and accounts payable activity. More specifically, let’s say you wanted to optimize manufacturing processing speed while simultaneously reducing costs and reducing the risk for human error. Well, RPA’s response would be to implement software bots that automatically record information from diversified sources in assorted systems, only to then validate new data while entering it into such systems.
Why Manufacturing?
Although manufacturers are primarily seen using physical bots that create and package products, there are still numerous back-office and operational processes that are yet to be automated by software bots. To maintain competitiveness, manufacturers must use RPA to automate the large amount of time-consuming tasks such as procurement, customer support, and supply chain. In doing so, costs will be reduced while improving effectiveness without the risk for human error. Let’s look at some use-cases combining RPA with the manufacturing sector:
1. Customer Service Communication:
For any business, effective communication with both current and prospective clients is crucial. Unfortunately, this is a time-consuming process for employees, which results in a time-consuming process for customers. To avoid this issue, RPA can automate customer service processes with tools such as language detection and automatic replies. Not to mention, RPA allows users to monitor these operations on a wide scale, which increases consumer prioritization even further.
2. Invoice Processing:
Given that this is a process involving checking and approving procedures by multiple different people, the risk for human error increases significantly as employees submit incorrect information. Fortunately, RPA has the ability of scanning documents for the purpose of sending accurately filled invoices into required systems. This saves both time and costs caused by human error that stems from employees performing a repetitive, mundane task.
3. Data Migration:
It is important that data is successfully transferred from old sources to updated systems in order to maximize operational efficiency. This process can be problematic, especially when migrating data from a nondigitized source such as a paper. Software bots solve related issues by digitizing files and consolidating them into new systems. With automation, you dodge the chance of incorrectly placing files while saving the time it would take an employee.
4. Administrative Reporting:
The nature of manufacturing calls for consistent use of effective administration over a vast array of different processes. Following are multiple reports that are to be filled accurately and on time in order to optimize progress over operations. Considering that report filing is a repetitive, tedious function that requires immense concentration and time, it’s easy for employees to disengage and cause human error. However, since specific reports can be related to certain parameters, RPA can streamline the entire process by gathering data and preparing resulting information for submission.
Conclusion:
Manufacturing is an industry that could use RPA to save a significant amount of time and money while reducing human error. Another result is an increase in employee satisfaction as they are set free from repetitive, less-engaging tasks and given the time to prioritize that which is meaningful. And what is gained by increasing employee satisfaction? Customer satisfaction! The consumer experience is improved as employees are free to prioritize them.
Want to learn more about how your business can use RPA to drive growth? Check out our new video that details how you can elevate human potential.