Process Automation is also known as Process Automation System (PAS). It is a computer program used to automatically control a process involving a network to interconnect sensors, controllers, operator terminals, actuators, computer technology and software engineering to help power plants and factories in industries as diverse as paper, mining, oil refineries and cement operate more efficiently and safely.
Likewise, process automation – in business, is the technology-enabled automation of complex business processes. It can streamline a business for simplicity, achieve digital transformation, increase service quality, improve service delivery or minimize costs.
Why is there a need for process automation in business?
According to a report titled The Sorry State of Digital Transformation in 2018 by Forrester, up to 22 percent of businesses still don’t have process excellence and workflow automation. These are the most important aspect for customer satisfaction and business growing revenue.
Business deals with the interaction between the employee and the customer to bring an expected result for both of them. It enhances the quality of life in two ways. Firstly it provides high-quality goods and service to the customers required for their enjoyment, comfort, and health. Secondly, a business offers employment opportunities to the people(employees) by which they can generate income and improve the quality of life.
However, every employer or business owner wants their goods and services to deliver the highest output with as nominal production cost as possible.
This is where process automation technology is needed in making it a dream come true. For instance, a factory setting, being a computer program, uses measurements to show not only how the plant is working but to duplicate different operating modes and find the optimal strategy for the factory.
A unique characteristic of this software is its ability to “learn” and foresee trends, helping to speed up the response time to changing conditions.
The software and controls regulate equipment to run at the optimum speed that requires the least energy. They also ensure the consistency of quality, meaning less energy is wasted producing products that turn out to be defective, and they forecast when maintenance is needed so less time and energy is spent stopping and restarting equipment for routine inspections.
It should be cited that in the absence of process automation, plant operators have to physically monitor performance values and the quality of outputs to determine the best settings in which to run the production equipment.
Its absence also requires physical maintenance which is carried out at set intervals. This generally results in operational inefficiency and unsafe operating conditions.
Whereas process automation facilitates the technology with the help of sensors at thousands of spots around the plant that collect data on temperatures, pressures, flows and so on. The information is stored and analyzed on a computer and the entire plant and each piece of production equipment can be monitored on a large screen in a control room.
Now, do you think that is all process automation has to offer?
No! Let’s take a look at how process automation technology improves employee.
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Employees Obligations: This involves the easy and faster means whereby employees deliver goods and services to customers.
This stage in any business, factory or organization might seem like a simple task to perform, unknown that it can be rather strenuous.
When it comes to writing out employee information forms, organizing different training sessions, arranging transaction records, collecting relevant customer documents, and appointing specific staff for the packaging of goods are just a few of the activities involved.
However, in this stage with the use of process automation technology;
i. Paperworks are easily sorted out.
ii. Tasks that involve delivery to customers are completed as soon as possible.
iii. There is employee and customer satisfaction.
iv. High productivity.
v. It also allows relevant employees in the circle.
vi. The status of things in the business or organization is also visible, whether there are progress or limitations.
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Digital Transformation: Digital transformation is the process of using digital technologies to create or modify existing business processes, society, and customer experiences to meet changing business and market requirements.
When process automation technology is included in the business, whether a private or public organization, it makes digital transformation accomplished.
It brings the optimization of goods and services, making them universally accessible through streamlines.
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Consistency in Tasks: There are barriers in various businesses today, why? Because there is a lack of consistency. Process automation technology gives employees the means to move from the traditional working methodology of spreadsheets and files to a new system as a team, no matter the organization’s workflow.
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Continuous monitoring: Employees receive benefits from the automated technology in the sense that, it gives them the ability to monitor their performance through feedback from customers.
It also measures their automated workflow that will help identify blockages and suggest areas for improvement. This will help the organization’s team become more efficient.
Furthermore, let’s take a look at how process automation technology improves customers.
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Time-Saving: No one wants to waste time when it comes to obtaining whatever he/she wants, important or not. Even standing in a queue at a store, every customer would like to get what they want as soon as possible.
So a process that involves an automated process would eventually make the delivery of products faster, favoring both the customer and business as a whole.
In such a manner, it puts more attention or concentrate on more important tasks and strategic direction.
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Due to the Cloud-based business process automation tools store your data in a central database. This helps you (customers) to access data from any location or device whenever you need it. Your business processes will become much more transparent – that is, customers do not need to stress themselves into making enquires before getting to understand the basics of the business or organization they are dealing with.
It gives customers the ability to see, track and monitor processes while they are running, which can improve accountability and visibility.
For instance as a customer, I want to shop from Amazon.com, I do not need to get in touch with the manager or administrator of the online store because all that I need has been modified for my understanding. It has also made it easier for me to search for goods that I want, saving me the stress of going to one traditional(physical) store to the other. It has also given me an estimated time-of-arrival, which would work for me in a long distance situation.
In brief, process automated technology involvement in businesses, factories and organizations will give an optimistic advantage to both employees and customers.