How Can Robotic Process Automation Help in Cost Reduction?

Utpal Chakraborty - Chief Digital Officer at Allied Digital Services Limited.

Table of Content: 

1. What is RPA?
2. Benefits of RPA
3. How RPA Can Help in Cost Reduction?
4. Why is RPA Essential in 2023?
5. Why Allied Digital is a Good Partner for RPA implementation?

What is RPA?

Robotic process automation is a software integration that enables efficient operations of mimicking the back-end tasks without any human interference. Though some tasks shall need human intervention, filtration and approval modules are quite common practice while implementing RPAs in any organization.

Benefits of RPA

Apart from automation of processes, benefits of RPA are countless. Here are a few general benefits of robotic process automation that applies to every organization in the world:

1. Timely Execution
   Every organization has tight timelines for periodic tasks, one of the foremost apprehended challenges is execution in a timely manner. Though delay in execution by a few minutes or hours may not impact the delivery; but it adds up on the cost of delaying an opportunity.
2. Minimal Misses
   Human errors possess a continued challenge for every organization. A simple miss or mistake can lead to an organization losing huge sum of money. Since human errors are inevitable, automation of backend processes can provide better results and fewer misses.
3. Implementation at Scales
   One of the most overlooked factors of robotic process automation is the scale it can be implemented. RPA has no limitation with respect to scaling. A simple macro in Excel ensures saving human hours in re-entries, while centralization tools like ERPs help in co-ordination of different teams on a single dashboard. Hence, implementation robotic process automation is efficient at any scale for every organization.
4. One Step at a Time
   Since RPA is a quick process, there are several steps involved. Though the virtue of the time is obsolete for robotic process automations, it is a step-by-step process ensuring filters are honoured, conditions are matched, and leakage is prevented.

How RPA Can Help in Cost Reduction?

As seen in the benefits, RPA helps in reducing the costs of organizations to a great extent. The concept of cost reduction through RPA is similar to that of a jigsaw puzzle, small pieces come together to create a big picture. Let’s see some methods where RPA can help in cost reduction:

1. Efficient Human Resource Management
   Though employment is essential, when an organization has automated processes, redundant human resources can be utilized for something that adds value to an organization. The concept of “Right Person for the Right Job” is more than substantial. Therefore, deployment of resources is concluded on the quantity of tasks, and quality is authorised by robotic process automation.Additionally, a simple process of filling in communication by the business team for regular updates and follow ups is a process in every single organization. Here, the team spends a good chunk on data entry; instead with robotic process automation’s speech-to-text feature allows comment-entries effectively.With evolving technology like NLP (natural language processes) that allows effective dialect recording in multiple languages, and AI/ML assistance in scheduling follow ups, reminders, and periodic processes; robotic process automations help in effective human resource management at every level of the organization.
2. Maximizing Opportunity Cost
   While efficient human resource is one of the ways to reduce costs, maximizing the cost of opportunity is a method to increase the leverage. Time saved in redundant tasks, and availability of resources for intervention may differ severely for organizations; robotic process automation ensures quick execution. Thus, ensuring maximizing the value of time.
3. Long-Term Cost Saving Module
   Implementation of robotic process automation comes with a price tag. But, in the long-term, process automation helps in reduced expenses in human resource, loss of cost of opportunity and most importantly, avoiding trial and errors for the tasks that are full-proof and work very well for the business at organization-level.
4. Customization Provisions
   Since RPA is a method of process automation set up using software integrations, indefinite customizations are possible. Just like “every organization is different,” use-case of robotic automation is also different. The most important aspect of this methodology of cost reduction is that customization is just a few lines of codes. Therefore, cost and time efficiency is ensued resulting in quicker process optimizations.
5. Precision for Tangible as well as Intangible Processes
   One of the biggest myths associated with robotic process automation is that RPA is effective only for computer applications for intangible assets. However, it is one of the biggest myths. Applications of robotic process automation are endless even for tangible processes. One of the most popular references are the pharmaceutical and automobile industries.
   • Pharmaceutical
     Every drug (tablets, capsules and IVs) has a specific combination of chemicals that result in the perfect compound of the most effective drug. Now, the chemistry in medical science is highly precise. Therefore, human errors can be quite frequent while manufacturing every single batch; where, a single code calculating the composition of the compound will never be wrong (unless tampered otherwise). Therefore, precision is ensured.
   • Automobile
     If chemistry of the utmost importance in pharmaceuticals, them physics is the bread and butter of automobile engineering. Everything in an automobile is conceptualized and in-line with every other law of physics. Hence, manufacturing and repairs of automobiles with precision is crucial. One miss through human error results in life or death. Robotic arms and machinery are designed through RPA for safety, while maximizing the output.
   • Banking & Financial Services
     Banking & financial services are the most popular use-case of RPA. Money transfer and transactions of digital assets on a single click within few seconds is a result of the evolution of robotic process automation in banking. Conditions are fulfilled, filters are in place and every parameter required for the task execution is matched and mapped to precision, resulting in minimal loss.
   • Data Centralization
     Today, one of the priorities of businesses is data centralization. Over the past decades, digitization has evolved and stock keeping, accounting, invoicing etc. are moved to digital interface. However, the Indian business eco-system is still in the process of data centralization on a single screen/dashboard. ERPs help in centralization; however, every organisation requires customizations for robotic process accelerations. Therefore, enhancing efficient data management which reduces time spent on data mining.

Why is RPA Essential in 2023?

India is moving towards a digital ecosystem. Though the process of digitalization may seem absolute; still several aspects are slow moving. Robotic process automation helps in accelerating the process and reduces resource investment.

With digital boom in from 2020 to 2022; end-level users have inculcated digital practices. Thus, fast-tracking the organization is crucial element for business. In simple words, though there is a room for mistakes, there is no time to make up for the mistakes.

Why Allied Digital is a Good Partner for RPA implementation?

Allied Digital is one of the pioneers of RPA. With over a decade of experience in robotic process automation, ADSL is one of the subject matter experts.

1. At Allied Digital, one of our values is being future ready. A team of experts with foresightedness assists smooth and seamless implementation of process automations in your routine tasks for better efficiency.
2. We value the post-implementation processes as much as the automation setup. With a knowledge-backed support team, Allied Digital is available for prompt support.

We have successfully created and implemented RPA technologies for IT as well as non-IT business functions. Additionally, Allied Digital has a team of skilled RPA professionals who can integrate technologies through third-party tools as well as create one as per the business needs of the organisation.