How to Choose a Future-Proof RPA Solution
Blueprint Software Systems is a Business Reporter client.
The automation market has become a little like a high-stakes game of musical chairs. Organizations are eagerly migrating their automation processes to new robotic process automation (RPA) solutions. A recent survey from Blueprint Software Systems shows that 74% of companies still using their original RPA tool are in the process of switching platforms.
At first glance, the strong desire to switch automation solutions can be puzzling. What happened? Did companies get it wrong when procuring their first RPA solution? Have new, forward-thinking players entered the market? Are the original RPA market leaders failing to adapt and grow?
Dig a little deeper, though, and the reasons why so many organizations are searching for a better solution becomes much clearer.
Why are companies changing automation solutions?
The driving forces behind companies reevaluating their original RPA platforms are simple: They want to reduce operating costs; make automation more accessible to enable scale; and take advantage of better features and capabilities.
In the past, organizations weren’t spoiled for choice, but they are now. There’s a new breed of cloud-first, next-generation intelligent automation platforms that offer better price models, more intuitive user experiences and better features and capabilities to automate entire business processes, instead of just tasks that use artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Selecting a new RPA provider isn’t the only challenge; there’s also the thorny issue of migrating entire automation portfolios to a new automation tool. Solutions are available that dramatically facilitate and accelerate this process while reducing costs, such as those provided by Blueprint Software Systems.
However, many organizations try to tackle bot migration themselves or leave it up to their system integrators. Migrating an automation portfolio manually means rebuilding automated processes from scratch to be compatible with and work on the destination platform. Manually rebuilding and migrating bots increases risk because errors can be introduced, not to mention the lost productivity and potential for sky-high maintenance costs and issues down the road. A project with that level of complexity and effort and no margin for error can quickly spiral out of control, with both time and money getting out of hand.
That hasn’t deterred companies from making a switch. If done properly, the benefits far outweigh the risks—especially if companies partner with an enterprise that has re-platformed countless automation portfolios.
If you’re willing to migrate to a better automation execution tool and reap the benefits, one question remains: How do you select a future-proof automation solution?
There are several things to consider when making the best choice for your needs, goals and automation journey.
What to look for in an automation platform
A common mistake many companies make when procuring software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology is choosing a vendor that solves just their current challenges and needs, but doesn’t address future needs. Obviously, a solution that addresses current objectives is imperative, but due diligence and foresight are also necessary.
Many organizations have this ethos in all their procurement initiatives, and look for a five- or 10-year solution. The question shouldn’t be, which is the best solution right now; it needs to be, what is a great solution right now and will be best two, three, four and five years down the road. Approaching buying decisions with that in mind should be the case for all enterprise software categories, including automation.
Evaluating automation platforms involves more than just asking for a roadmap presentation. There is value in that, as well, but if you’re just starting your automation journey or looking to transition to a better provider, here are the chief points to consider:
Cost: Which automation platform delivers better, more cost-effective pricing models that prioritize flexibility? Gone are the days of basic licensing models. The SaaS world has moved on to different structures that offer utilization pricing, so everyone gets the most bang for their buck. Automation providers that do this are worth your investment.
Compatibility: Enterprise architectures are complex and diverse. Every business has a sizeable tech stack. Your automation provider should integrate seamlessly with your tech infrastructure so that you can easily automate as many of your business processes as possible. Ideally, the best fit might be an automation platform from a technology vendor that also provides you with a suite of products such as operating systems, word processors, email or computing.
Vision: This is most important. Where does the provider want to go? The world is going to the cloud. Your automation vendor should be, too, if it’s not already there. Heavy, client-side tech is outdated. Web-based, third-party hosting is democratizing automation for all business users and reducing costs.
Along those lines, RPA is essentially the automation of highly repetitive, rules-based tasks. The next frontier of automation is intelligent automation—automating decision-based, end-to-end business processes using artificial intelligence and machine learning. That’s where automation is heading, so you need a provider who can take you there.
A future-proof automation solution comes down to cost, compatibility with enterprise architecture and vision. Follow these simple principles, and you won’t be suffering from buyer’s remorse in five years.
To view the results and insights of Blueprint research on RPA migrations, download the Process Modernization in 2022 report here.
This article originally appeared in Business Reporter.
Image: iStock id1358835459
