Introduction
Automation is the process of using technology to complete tasks that would otherwise be done manually. Automation can help streamline business processes, reduce human error, and increase efficiency and productivity. As businesses around the world continue to embrace automation, it’s important to understand the best practices for approaching an automation effort in order to get the most value out of it.
Estimating the Cost and Time of Automation
When embarking on an automation journey, it’s important to accurately estimate the cost and time of the project. According to a survey conducted by McKinsey & Company, “only one-quarter of companies give themselves a grade of A or B when asked to rate their ability to estimate the cost and time of automation projects.”
To ensure success, organizations should start by analyzing existing processes and workflows. This will provide a better understanding of which tasks can be automated and how much time and money it will take to do so. From there, it’s important to define clear automation objectives and goals. This will help ensure that the automation project is properly scoped and that everyone involved is working towards the same end goal.
After objectives and goals have been established, it’s important to develop an automation roadmap. This roadmap should outline the steps needed to complete the automation project, as well as the timeline for each step. By having a plan in place, organizations can better manage expectations and ensure that the automation project stays on track.
Choosing the Right Automation Platform
Once the scope and timeline of the automation project have been determined, it’s time to select the right automation platform. There are many different automation platforms available, so it’s important to evaluate each one carefully to determine which one is best suited for the organization’s needs.
When evaluating different platforms, it’s important to compare features such as scalability, security, reliability, and cost. Additionally, organizations should look at the level of support provided by the vendor and consider whether they offer training or other resources to help with the transition to the new platform.
Leveraging Automation Best Practices
In addition to selecting the right automation platform, it’s important to leverage automation best practices. According to a report from Deloitte, “the most successful automation initiatives focus on automating tasks with high volume and/or frequency, leveraging automated testing to ensure quality, and adopting a ‘fail fast’ mentality.”
Organizations should prioritize tasks that are completed frequently, as these are the ones that can generate the most value from automation. Additionally, automated testing should be used to ensure that the automation project is functioning as expected. Finally, organizations should adopt a “fail fast” mentality, meaning that they should be open to making mistakes and learning from them.
Conclusion
Approaching an automation effort requires careful planning and consideration. Organizations should start by analyzing existing processes and workflows, defining clear objectives and goals, and developing an automation roadmap. From there, they should choose the right automation platform and leverage best practices such as automating tasks with high volume and/or frequency, utilizing automated testing, and adopting a “fail fast” mentality. By following these best practices, organizations can ensure that their automation efforts are successful.
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