When a business is operating its processes on computer systems there is the potential for automation.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is a common thought process for mangers operating businesses. Of course, any change introduces disruption and an element of risk , as all changes have positive and negative elements. But what is the “Cost of doing nothing”?

The major costs of maintaining the status quo are hidden. They are:

• the on-going costs of operating the process has become standard, built into the budget, it is just accepted. Typically, the cost will have been consistent since implementing the process.
• If it is possible to perform the same process more efficiently and cheaper, the nature of competition means that some organisation will already be doing it or working to achieve that higher efficiency and lower cost.

The news of pregnancy is great. All the excitement of planning for a new baby.

Businesses of all shapes and sizes have to manage the challenge created by news of pregnancy. Whether it is maternity or paternity leave, the challenge is what to do about the work that the person would normally do.

The normal options for a manager are:

• Distribute the work to other team members and expect them to cope with the increase
• Bring in a temporary person to undertake the work

Given that there is the expectation that the employee will return to work after the period of leave, the option of recruiting a replacement is not normally available.

How would you explain the implementation of Robotic Process Automation to staff in an office, well to para phrase L'Oreal - "Because you're worth it".

Some employees are fearful that the introduction of Software Robots will mean job losses but despite the articles in the media suggesting this, the reality is that jobs change and staff are able to contribute more to the business.

Any employer will tell you that staff are valuable asset. The introduction of RPA is because staff are worth it. 

The office environment is totally people driven. Getting the best from people cannot be trying to get them to work like Robots doing mundane repetitive tasks.

Automation in a factory is standard, automation in the warehouse is regularly found but what about automation in the office?

In construction of a factory, automation is built into the design. Machinery is assembled to perform the tasks required. With many items of equipment being programmable and controlled by software it can be a question of judgement as to which elements to call “Robots”. Similarly, newly constructed warehouses are being created that have high levels of automation with robots / machines moving the goods during entry and retrieval to the storage arrangements. The number of people involved in the operation of both factories and warehouse are small in comparison to the volume of goods being handled.

The office environment is totally people driven. The office is where the company functions of Finance, HR, Legal, Sales, Marketing, IT, etc. are delivered. Although offices vary in shape and size, is there automation?

Jack Ma the founder of AliBaba made the news recently with his support for 996 work ethic. Twelve hours a day for six days a week. I suspect that there are many people in small businesses who recognise those hours.

Is it really necessary for people to work at that level in order to succeed?

In business operations robots are used on manufacturing production lines and found moving goods around warehouses. Such automated solutions are often working 24 hours a day in order to justify the high capital costs involved in creating the facilities.

In office environments, the use of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) sometimes together with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides the ability to create “Digital Workers” (also known as Software Robots).