From the experience of numerous business process automation projects, we’ve observed that initiatives often start small and unstructured. As they grow, structures are established that ensure their operationality and growth-oriented development, supported by metrics and organizational feedback systems.
However, the paths of automation don’t need to follow a single direction; some initiatives can achieve great success outside these patterns, just as they can fail. Organizations, people, and technology are dynamic elements, subject to internal and external factors that can challenge strategic plans.
Our checklist is applicable to any transformative initiative involving technology, aiming to place people at the center of transformation, align the journey with organizational objectives, and expand capabilities through technology. This list aims to establish a structure and direction to maximize the return on digital initiatives, while minimizing the inherent difficulties of the process:
- Level knowledge and expectations – Promote workshops and training sessions to ensure all stakeholders have a uniform understanding of RPA and AI capabilities and limitations. This step is crucial to align expectations and foster a common commitment around project objectives.
- Start small – Before scaling, it is essential to validate the technology and approach with a proof of concept (PoC). Choose a process that, although simple, can clearly demonstrate the benefits of automation. This allows for strategy adjustments and internal confidence building before larger investments.
- Clear definition of objectives and metrics – Define specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives for each automation project. Establishing clear metrics not only facilitates success assessment but also helps keep the project focused and aligned with organizational objectives.
- Build governance structures – Developing a governance framework that accompanies the complexity of initiatives is essential. This includes creating supervisory committees, defining project approval processes, and adopting appropriate management tools to ensure quality and compliance.
- Constant feedback – Establish mechanisms for collecting and analyzing feedback throughout the automation process. This allows for the quick identification of problems, necessary adjustments, and continuous optimization of implemented solutions.
- Structure, consolidate, expand – After successfully validating the initiative, it’s time to consolidate the created structure, ensuring it’s robust enough to support scalability. Then, expand the implementation to other processes, applying the lessons learned.
- Humanize the process – Ensure that automation is implemented in a way that values human work, enhancing employees’ capabilities rather than replacing them. This involves reallocating resources to higher value-added tasks, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning.
- Develop the team – Invest in the training and development of a multidisciplinary team capable of managing the complexity of automation technologies. This includes not only technical skills but also analytical capabilities.
- Celebrate successes – Recognizing and sharing the milestones achieved is essential to keep the team motivated and focused. Celebrating successes underscores the importance of the project and helps build a solid case for future automation initiatives.
Adopting RPA and AI is an ongoing process of learning and adaptation. By following these steps, companies can ensure not only the successful implementation of automation initiatives but also the creation of a solid foundation for innovation and sustainable growth in the future.
By embracing the potential of RPA and AI, your company can overcome traditional operational limitations, unlocking new horizons of efficiency and innovation. At Engibots, we are more than providers of advanced technological solutions; we are strategic partners committed to boosting your success. With a personalized approach and a deep understanding of the nuances of each business, we ensure that every step of your digital transformation journey is calculated to maximize results and minimize challenges.
