No IT infrastructure change required: Robots can interact with any application - No integration cost as robots can operate with existing applications. - Once implemented, a robot can be scaled to any number of identifcal robots, extending and re-using its knowledge - A robot is implemented on a live environment, making projects less expensive and much faster than traditional IT - Multiple robots can be synchronized to deliver large-scale robotic platforms

RPA solutions operate outside the enterprise architecture as they have a self-contained nature, allowing portability and accessibility. While self-contained, it is not isolated, rather it interacts with systems the same way humans interact with various interfaces.

To effectively implement RPA, company-wide opportunities can be reviewed for an overall digital transformation. RPA is typically used to address single tasks, but this technology is fully leveraged when put in a general business perspective. Introducing RPA allows you to reconsider inefficiencies in your business process and address them in parallel with other solutions such as BMP that orchestrate the collaboration between human and robot. In this context, it is essential to establish a centre of excellence within your organization that can help leverage the involved technologies/systems.

The following task characteristics are key for robot automation: - Are manual & repetitive that requires a high degree of manual input - Have structured and repetitive input - Are susceptible to human error - Rules-based - Template driven activities - Have limited exceptions - Have readable inputs - Have high volume or frequency - Are stable over time with little changes - Are not able to integrate with their systems (legacy systems).

RPA is a cost effective technology applicable for almost any company. Automation of a task that typically takes 1h/day would ensure a return on investment in just a few months. Custom KPI's can measure the impact of this technology on areas such as cost reduction, revenue impact and experience enhancement (for employees and customers).

A Proof of Concept (POC) or a pilot RPA project can be implemented in just a few days, allowing your organization to see evidence of the advantages of the technology. Due to its small size at task level, RPA can be scaled at an enterprise level like building blocks. Each foundational block fulfills a certain need that are independent of other RPA capabilities, with the ability to combine at a later stage.

As competitive advantage nowadays is generated through enhanced customer experience, the true value in RPA lies in creating a synergy between robots and your employees. While robots perform the necessary operations, employees can focus on more value-generating activities. It is imperative that that change management be implemented through an HR strategy that empowers employees to focus on value-bringing tasks.

A robot is trained using procedural flow charts - All processes generate statistical data, allowing you to manage robots, and adjust existing processes to support new development. - Robots have failover & recovery capabilities, allowing you to detect changes and devise appropriate responses to unexpected events. - Robots have full support for activities such as audits, security authorizations, regulations compliance and backups to fit the diverse needs of your organization.

A Business Process Management System (BPMS) is a tool orientated at automation and process management capabilities. It aims to improve agent productivity through workflow management and task orchestration. It does however rely on separate solution to define workflows through configurable parameters which require a traditional IT change program to make the appropriate adjustments. - RPA aims at clerical staff replacement as opposed to acceleration as with BMPS. The approach is to target routine, repetitive, rules-based tasks that are often small, possibly involving smaller teams. The integration of the two technologies provides a holistic approach at improving the business process with cost reduction and quality and speed increases.

No, RPA in fact extends and complements BPMS initiatives, approaching the challenge of automation from a different perspective. While BPM works from a top down and global scale, while RPA aims at discrete automation initiatives. Speed, size and agility are major factors driving RPA implementation, while BPMS are more suited to large business processes orchestrations.