IT Process Automation
IT Process Automation is using software, data and algorithms to improve the efficiency of your operations or services. Process automation often is at the later stages of setting your existing processes. Automation is the fine tuning and systematic approach to ensuring the best critical path is achieved.
Types of Process
There are a number of forms that process automation takes. Technological revolutions automate mundane tasks that humans are still performing manually.
Front End Automation - UI Automation
Most capabilities used are windows and browser controlled and already interact with existing underlying controls.
UI Automation generally falls into a few categories:
-
Legacy & Windows Applications
-
Browser Applications
-
Remote Desktop Applications
​
Back End Automation - API Automation
Application programming interfaces is programming used to complete a task. API automation is generally a web based API or HTTP based.
In API automation, the transfer of data is provided to an external application which automates the transfer exchange of data with no intervention
​
Native Actions
Provide user friendly interfaces to automate activity against a specific application such as an FTP application, Microsoft applications, databases and more.
​
Native actions are design to provide a user-friendly interface to automate tasks against a specific application. Native actions are primarily involved for 2 reasons:
-
The application uses mainly RAP activity, such as an email.
-
The application does not provide a UI or standard API such as databased.
​
Intelligent Automation
Custom built to satisfy a particular capability such as artificial intelligence and machine learning rather than based on a specific application.
​
Intelligent automation is similar to a custom action that integrates a specific framework of applications such as ml.net or a specific intelligent solution that is provided by experts in the solutions space.
Process Automation Stages
1. Analysis
It is crucial to gain a full understanding of how a process works, as well as existing capabilities.
Implementing automation technology into a process without a full appreciation of the impact that it will have on a specific process or other business processes can often result in decreased productivity and efficiency.
​
Organisations new to business process automation should start with one BPA technology at a time.
2. Implementation
During the implementation phase, stakeholders set up and customize the business process automation technology selected in phase 1.
Stakeholders complete tasks such as creating an in-depth list of functionality, training end-users, and assigning user access. The business process automation technologies undergo extensive testing to ensure systems are performing as intended and are sufficient to satisfy the organization’s goals.
​
3. Integration
In the integration phase of business process automation, stakeholders integrate the new automation technologies with enterprise systems and third-party solutions.
An intelligent business process management suite (iBPMS) can prove instrumental by simplifying and expediting the integration process.
​
BPA integration will also increase efficiency, improve data accuracy, enhance collaboration, reduce costs, and offer scalability to handle larger volumes of work without significant additional effort and resources.
​
4. Maintenance & Support
Business process automation is an ongoing and long-term initiative. Organizations must continue to analyze their business processes to identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks.
An iBPMS allows organizations to integrate advanced process monitoring technologies such as process discovery and process mining.
​
Organizations should also continuously update their business process automation solutions and ensure that the entire organization has access to technical support.