• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Your Membership
    • Edit Your Profile
  • Services
    • Advertising
    • Case studies
    • Design
    • Email marketing
    • Lead generation
    • Magazine
    • Press releases
    • Publishing
    • Sponsored posts
    • Webcasting
    • Webinars
    • White papers
    • Writing
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Cart
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
  • Events

Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

  • News
  • Features
  • Video
  • Webinars
  • White papers
  • Press releases
  • Featured companies
    • AMD Xilinx
    • BlueBotics
    • Elite Robot
    • RGo Robotics
    • SICK Sensor Intelligence
    • Vicor Power
it crowd

Oh no… Not another sub-optimal robotic process automation implementation!

July 14, 2016 by David Edwards

Make your robot perform like a rock star: achieving the remaining 15 per cent. An article by the head of transformation at Genfour, Rita Brunk, who has been involved in hundreds of robotic process implementations 

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen back-office robotics implementations that are functioning about 85 per cent as well as they should be.

Companies often get robotic process automation running perfectly in say, 7 of 9 sub-processes, but when it comes to that remaining 15 per cent, many companies are in the dark as to how to get the robot to perform like a real rock star. 

From experience, I’ve learned that there are several quite clear cut reasons robots underperform: lack of process documentation, lack of “the human touch”, or simply development teams that don’t video record processes or hold them up to high enough standards. 

Rita Brunk genfour
Rita Brunk, Genfour

We’ve got a generation of subpar robots on our hands, with only ourselves to blame. Read on for more information on some critical activities companies should take on to get your robots working to the extent they were originally intended.

Let me elaborate

The foundation beneath the programming of any robot in the back-office is very detailed step-by-step process documentation.

Robots are only developed to do what is in the process document, which must include every keystroke and screenshot documenting an actual human’s journey to complete the process. 

For example, it the robot needed to do 10 things in an Excel spreadsheet and the process document did not indicate that the file needed to be saved, the work would be useless.

In many instances when robots do not manage to complete tasks as well as they should, or when work is not being completed, I’ve found time and time again that the gaps are in the process documentation.

Remember, we want our robots to perform like a rock stars, not like kings of karaoke. So when it comes to bridging that 15 per cent gap, the extra process documentation review may be the first place to start.

The human touch

Before we can consider the process document, also known as our “Dummies’ Guide” to RPA programming, there are two more critical activities companies need to take on board.

The first is for someone other than the original human processor to take this detailed documentation and complete the process from beginning to end via the steps detailed in the document.

Any questions asked or confusion noted results in an adjustment to the document. This is no different from a normal IT programming change but in robotics, there seems to be more rigor around this document.

The second critical activity is to record via video someone doing the task, including the impact on the enterprise resource planning and other system screens.

An additional benefit of the video is that the developer or a process expert can step back and really scrutinize if everything being done really needs to be done, whether it’s including additional activities or stopping and questioning whether a step is necessary 

Remember the goal of the robot is to have it run as close to 100 per cent efficiently and effectively. If a step does not add value, why not consider eliminating it?

Stop being manipulative

Another bit of my experience I would like to impart (although you may not consider it until subsequent robots are being designed) is that companies should be considering whether the data coming from their robot needs to be manipulated before it can be used.

An example would be a file containing figures in whole dollars and cents, which actually needs to be in thousands of dollars.

If a human has to get involved to manipulate the data, then clearly the company is not expecting enough from its robots.

Implementing RPA in your organization is an opportunity to get things 100 per cent right, so forget manipulating data, and instead, consider adding the task to the activity the robot will be developed to do.

In a perfect world…

Now that you’ve got your four key ingredients for success; the process, the document, the recorded activity and the resolved data optimization requirements, it’s time to consider another step which is often not even taken in to consideration.

Step back and play the game of “in a perfect world…” In other words, in a perfect world, is there more value you want the process to yield? More information or analytics? Are there steps in the process that could possibly be done simultaneously instead of serially?

This is the most important part of my learning in the robotics field, and thus, I hope you take at least this piece of information back to any opportunities you are considering for automation.

The net out of this “in a perfect world” challenge may result in yet more changes to your process document, but they will likely be the most valuable changes you’ll make.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Skype
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • Pocket

You might also like…

Filed Under: News Tagged With: automation, companies, human, process, robot, robots

Join the Robotics & Automation News community

Primary Sidebar

Latest articles

  • Scythe Robotics secures $42 million new financing to accelerate production of zero-emissions autonomous mower
  • Mining robotics company Nabors acquires digital twin developer MindMesh
  • Lockheed Martin Ventures invests in on-demand manufacturing startup Machina Labs
  • Unlocking the Benefits of Static Residential Proxies for the AI revolution
  • 2023 Predictions & Forecasts: Five challenges for warehouse management, according to AutoStore
  • Mercedes-Benz becomes ‘world’s first’ automotive company to certify SAE Level 3 system for US market
  • Universal Robots reports record annual revenue of $326 million
  • Berkshire Grey and Locus Robotics combine to offer ‘industry-first’ cross-platform robotic automation
  • Fox Guest Posting: The Best Service Providers for Your Blogging Needs
  • 16+ Best Business Card Templates for Google Docs (Word) & Slides

Most Read

  • Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
    Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
  • Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
    Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
  • Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
    Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
  • Scientists have found more water in space than they ever knew possible
    Scientists have found more water in space than they ever knew possible
  • The Best Mechanical Engineering Design Software in 2022
    The Best Mechanical Engineering Design Software in 2022
  • Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
    Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
  • How to Know if Your iPhone is Being Tracked? Check This!
    How to Know if Your iPhone is Being Tracked? Check This!
  • What You Need to Know About Fixing an Engine Misfire
    What You Need to Know About Fixing an Engine Misfire
  • 5 Top Jobs Where Robots Could Replace Humans?
    5 Top Jobs Where Robots Could Replace Humans?
  • Wood that’s twice as expensive as gold? Really?
    Wood that’s twice as expensive as gold? Really?

Overused words

ai applications automated automation automotive autonomous business china companies company control customers data design development digital electric global industrial industry logistics machine manufacturing market mobile operations platform process production robot robotic robotics robots safety software solution solutions system systems technologies technology time vehicle vehicles warehouse

Secondary Sidebar

Latest news

  • Scythe Robotics secures $42 million new financing to accelerate production of zero-emissions autonomous mower
  • Mining robotics company Nabors acquires digital twin developer MindMesh
  • Lockheed Martin Ventures invests in on-demand manufacturing startup Machina Labs
  • Unlocking the Benefits of Static Residential Proxies for the AI revolution
  • 2023 Predictions & Forecasts: Five challenges for warehouse management, according to AutoStore
  • Mercedes-Benz becomes ‘world’s first’ automotive company to certify SAE Level 3 system for US market
  • Universal Robots reports record annual revenue of $326 million
  • Berkshire Grey and Locus Robotics combine to offer ‘industry-first’ cross-platform robotic automation
  • Fox Guest Posting: The Best Service Providers for Your Blogging Needs
  • 16+ Best Business Card Templates for Google Docs (Word) & Slides

Footer

We are…

Robotics and Automation News was established in May, 2015, and is now one of the most widely-read websites in its category.

Please consider supporting us by becoming a paying subscriber, or through advertising and sponsorships, or by purchasing products and services through our shop – or a combination of all of the above.

Thank you.

Independent

Archivists

July 2016
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Jun   Aug »

Complex

Old-skool

This website and its associated magazine, and weekly newsletter, are all produced by a small team of experienced journalists and media professionals.

If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to contact us at any of the email addresses on our contact page.

We’d be happy to hear from you, and will always reply as soon as possible.

Future-facing

Free, fair and legal

We support the principles of net neutrality and equal opportunities.

Member of The Internet Defense League

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT