Last week’s long-awaited announcement from Gartner, the top 10 strategic technology trends for 2020, has everyone in the tech community talking, as it does every year. As defined by Gartner, a strategic technology trend is “one with substantial disruptive potential that is beginning to break out of an emerging state into broader impact and use, or which is rapidly growing with a high degree of volatility reaching tipping points over the next five years.”
Gartner’s 10 trends are based on the notion of “people-centric smart spaces,” in other words, taking into consideration technology’s impact on people in their everyday lives.
In this article, we explore the first trend on Gartner’s list – Hyperautomation.
Disruption with AI
It’s true when they say artificial intelligence (AI) will change the world. Not only will AI have impact on our personal lives, but it will continue to transform the business world. AI has been the primary disrupter in digital transformation, resulting in one of two outcomes: success for businesses that jump on the bandwagon, or failure for businesses that reject transformation.
What is Automation?
Automation is generally defined as the process of automating tasks with the use of robots, with little to no human operation. This type of advanced technology improves overall efficiency while streamlining processes, optimizing productivity and profitability. It also reduces human error and increases precision, while creating a safer work environment for humans by eliminating dangerous tasks.
Hyperautomation is more sophisticated with abilities to discover, analyze, design, automate, measure, monitor and reassess. Hyperautomation applies AI and machine learning (ML) to automate processes at an increased rate. Furthermore, hyperautomation can lead to the creation of a digital twin of the organization (DTO). This gives organizations a digital representation of how functions, processes and key performance indicators work together to add value. In addition, DTO makes business processes more efficient, optimizing business opportunities and providing real-time, continuous intelligence.
Hyperautomation involves robotic process automation (RPA) and intelligent business management software (iBPMS).
RPA
RPA is a form of technology that automates business processes. Robots are designed and implemented to “capture and interpret applications for processing a transaction, manipulating data, triggering responses and communicating with other digital systems,” according to CIO. This type of software provides several benefits, including low cost, reliability, accuracy, and increased business value. Examples of RPA include generating automatic responses to emails, transferring data, and payroll processing.
According to Gartner, “by 2020, automation and artificial intelligence will reduce employee requirements in business shared-service centers by 65 percent,” and the “RPA market will top $1 billion by 2020. By that time, 40 percent of large enterprises will have adopted an RPA software tool, up from less than 10 percent today.”
iBPMS
iBPMS takes business process management (BPM) to the next level, resulting in greater intelligence and agility, as well as improved business outcomes. Its capabilities include “enhanced support for human collaboration such as integration with social media, mobile-enabled process tasks, streaming analytics and real-time decision management.” In this time of digital transformation, sophisticated automation tools that are flexible enough for current and future transformation, such as iBPMS, are necessary. This is how businesses can ensure optimal customer and employee experiences.
Impacts of Automation
There’s no doubt that the impact of automation is significant. From improved efficiency to more focus on high-value roles, it’s evident that there are many benefits to gain from automation.
Robots have already made a dent in health care for instance, working alongside medical staff at hospitals, and automating routine tasks with RPA such as claims processing and taking patients’ vitals.
No matter how sophisticated technology gets, there will always be a need for human assistance, expertise, creativity and leadership, which simply cannot be replaced by robots. But in order to keep up with an ever-changing workforce, organizations must keep up with the evolving digital landscape by staying well-read, and making the effort to develop the necessary skills to succeed in the future of work. In China, learning new technology is a major focus. AI and robotics has boosted China’s economy, now exporting more than it’s importing, leaving a significant impact on the global supply chain.
References:
Enterprisers Project: Robotic Pricess Automation (How It Works)
Gartner: Gartner Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2020
Gartner: Intelligent Business Process Management Suites Market
CIO: What is RPA? A Revolution in Business Process Automation
With over 30 years of expertise in the technology market, Stefanini drives business in companies of all sizes.
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