How to unlock the benefits of automation in the workplace
Automation can deliver a bright future for your organization – by shifting your work culture to one where employees’ work is more interesting and fulfilling, and making them more valuable to the organization.
Process automation can transform organizations and their employees’ experiences. It also offers a three-step framework to help organizations realize the full benefits of automation — that is, to help them manage, automate, and optimize their processes.
Time for a culture shift
Conversations about artificial intelligence and automation in the workplace have often been tinged with fear. For many people, there is a sense of anxiety about the implications of AI at work and in society. But these conversations often fail to recognize the benefits of automation in the workplace.
In industries such as transport, storage, and manufacturing, the impact of AI will inevitably lead to some job loss. The reality is that business owners wouldn’t be investing in automation if it was not going to help them reduce costs, whether through greater productivity or through payroll reductions.
Yet automation also provides a host of benefits for organizations and their employees. This is because, above all, automation provides an opportunity to re-think what we call “work.” In an age where the ever-accelerating pace of business leaves many workers struggling to complete a long list of tasks each day, automation can dramatically reduce those task lists.
Automation won’t just change the volume of work. It will transform the kind of work we do. Automation empowers workers to reduce the time spent on a wide range of labor-intensive, tedious, manual tasks, and frees them up to focus on more challenging, fulfilling, and valuable projects.
Process automation today
Many organizations are already embracing process automation and reaping its benefits. Here are some examples of process automation in action.
Robotic process automation (RPA) – RPA makes use of “bots” to automate routine and repetitive tasks and processes. This is accomplished by programming a desktop RPA interface to replicate how humans would carry out various tasks, such as accessing IT systems, entering information in spreadsheets, or transferring data among multiple systems.
Workflow automation – By automating workflows, organizations can connect the dots among people, processes, and disparate IT systems. This allows workflows to move seamlessly across tasks, accelerating processes and avoiding bottlenecks. Information is presented to the right people, at the right time, and in the right way. Complex workflows are simplified, so employees can perform their tasks in line with schedules and deadlines.
DocGen® – Document generation automatically pre-populates documents with relevant information from multiple systems and sources to rapidly generate custom documents such as contracts and sales proposals. This speeds up document processing and reduces human error. Branding and design are also automatically incorporated, so that documents are consistent and accessible from any device.
These are just a few examples of process automation. You can find more here.
A framework for process automation
To make sure your organization and employees are skilled up and ready for the shift, companies must be proactive about embracing new technologies. Organizations enjoy the most success when they adopt an automation framework for process automation. This includes:
- Planning for process automation
- Empowering line-of-business experts to manage process automation
- Mapping the current state of processes in an organization
- Deciding which processes to automate
- Applying the appropriate automation technology, such as workflow, doc gen, RPA, or mobile forms
- Training users to take advantage of a future with fewer manual tasks
At Nintex, we advocate a three-step framework to ensure that processes are automated effectively:
Manage – Plan, map, and share your processes. Process mapping technology is ideal for understanding which processes are running smoothly and which need to be improved.
Automate – Deploy automated workflows, RPA bots, document generation and more to streamline processes.
Optimize – Leverage the data generated by automated processes to gain insights you can use to guide improvements.
The benefits of automation in the workplace
The introduction of automated processes gives people the opportunity to learn new skills and focus attention on more thought-intensive elements of their jobs. While it is still early days in process automation – and new benefits are still being discovered – business owners should not ignore the value of digital transformation.
By adopting and implementing the necessary automation structures and training now, businesses best position themselves to fully leverage the benefits of process automation and create competitive advantage.
The time is now to embrace the culture shift and unlock the future of process automation at your organization. Nintex can help organizations manage, automate, and optimize the processes that matter most to their workers, improving satisfaction and the bottom line.
To learn more about the benefits of automation in the workplace and how Nintex help provide an opportunity for your employees to deliver more valuable outcomes, get in contact with the Nintex team today.
