Why Robotic Process Automation is Ideal for Today’s Remote Workforce

With the technological advancements taking place, robotics and AI have entirely transformed the work process today. Most of the repetitive and mundane tasks are being performed by robots, from picking orders to scrubbing the industrial floors. Of late, the conversations are centred around robotic process automation and their impact on remote workforce. Let’s start from the basics of it all.

What is Robotic Process Automation?

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a technology that allows humans to configure a software robot to perform repetitive and mundane digital human tasks. In most cases, robots perform several of the recurring tasks of humans every day. These tasks are limited to the industrial sector, but you can also think of many repetitive tasks performed in an office daily. Some of these include:

• Filling out forms
• Collecting statistical data
• Reading and writing in the databases
• Opening emails
• Copying and pasting data
• Extracting data from different sources
• Preparing reports

With the help of robotic process automation, the offices these days are being liberated. Just like traditional robots, RPA also automates manual human work. The RPA tools enable the software robots to interact with software applications just like a human.

By enabling software robots to perform mundane tasks, companies can allow their employees to perform other functions like solving real problems, serving customers, and contributing to innovation, and establish human connections which will create more value for the business. This way, an employee’s talent wouldn’t be wasted in doing repetitive mundane tasks.

However, the functions of RPA robots are not limited to mundane tasks only, they are also capable of performing several complex tasks like from gathering data to analysis using Artificial Intelligence.

Robotic Process Automation Supporting Remote Workforces

Across the world, remote workforces have been growing at a steady rate. With the increasing availability of digital technologies, employees can work more efficiently no matter where they are located.

Working remotely may not be comfortable or feasible for every company. But when used in the right company culture, it can offer several benefits to the organization.

The concept of remote work with robotic process automation has been growing for a long time now. In the year 2018, the software market in RPA grew by 63 per cent. According to Gartner’s report, this growth made RPA the fastest-growing segment of the global enterprise software market.

Robotic Process Automation creating opportunities

An RPA robot can work with the employee as his/her assistant and help speed up tasks and increase productivity. RPA can work across many systems and web pages. The RPA robots provide remote workers with secure access to any content and data they might need.

For example, the robot could collect data from different sources, prepare a report and send it to the employee working remotely who can review the story and make changes wherever needed before submitting.

With the robots working in the back-office, the employees can work on complex projects from home – away from all the office noise and distraction.

Benefits of Robotic Process Automation to Organizations

The implementation of RPA robots has been proved to be highly successful for both businesses and customers. Over 88 percent of the companies have reported that the RPA robots have exceeded the expectations they had. Most of the customers now prefer robots over humans for the tasks mentioned above.

Cost-Friendly

Since the work is scaled out, RPA reduces expenditure and brings out immediate cost savings. The RPA technology costs about one-fifth of an employee who works at the site and one-third of a remote employee. With no interruptions to work, robots perform tasks faster than human workers.

Increased Efficiency

Robots do not get distracted or make errors that human workers could make. Error-free work generates better quality and results. Productivity is one of the most significant benefits of robotic process automation. Robots wouldn’t need breaks and can work 24/7.

Employee Productivity

Employees do not enjoy performing mundane and repetitive tasks. With the implementation of software robots at the workplace, employees will be relieved from the routine work and can contribute to the organization in several other ways.

Ensures Better Data Security

Humans tend to get distracted from their work. On the other hand, software robots will not get distracted and give their complete focus to work. It cannot hack systems, or allow unauthorized access to the data. It will inherit safety and security infrastructure and follow the set of instructions given.

Easy Implementation

RPA is mostly customizable and easy to implement. Depending on the work that needs to be done, it can be customized accordingly. Scalability is an added benefit of RPA. As per the organization’s requirement, the RPA robots can be scaled up or down.

Misconceptions about Robotic Process Automation

The concept of robots working for organizations may trigger fear among people. There might even be a concern regarding the job losses once robots take over the work done by humans.

There are several positive benefits of robotic process automation technology. One of them is that the software robots don’t replace the entire roles – they make people’s jobs more efficient. It will give the employees time to focus on projects that require their undivided attention.

Despite the size and type of businesses, the back-end activities remain pretty much the same for all. RPA technology is suitable for every business that wishes to automate its manual and recurring tasks to improve productivity and efficiency at their workplace.

Conclusion

Robotic Process Automation has been emerging as an efficient technological tool. When implemented the correct way, it can improve efficiency and productivity at the workplace significantly. It can cut down the costs, provide useful results, and overall, bring value to the organization.

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