With children, growing pains aren’t a sign of weakness but a normal part of development. The same goes for businesses, especially when they’re preparing to embark on a rapid phase of digital transformation. Still, with the right tools, knowledge and support, the challenges of implementing new technology can easily be overcome – even when it’s something as game-changing as Intelligent Automation (IA). The result is a healthier, more agile and resilient business ready to kick on to greater success.
In this article, Laiye look at some of the common challenges of implementing IA and how to solve them.
Challenge #1: How to ensure smooth integration
As the saying goes, people don’t fail, processes do. There are vast numbers of failing or unproductive processes in industries such as Banking & Finance, Retail, Logistics, Education, and Healthcare, that can be fixed with IA. Previously, many businesses in these sectors have tried deploying AI-powered process automation using a piecemeal approach in which AI is involved in individual tasks but not across the entire process chain. These legacy automation solutions were hard to integrate and have failed to deliver what was promised.
To succeed at digital transformation, businesses need IA tools that integrate different systems and workflows to capture and process data in a fast, safe and responsible way. And from that, produce useful insights that can be rolled-out across the entire organization.
Solution: Avoid a piecemeal approach with Laiye’s hyper-Intelligent Automation. This holistic and integrated IA solution can either co-exist with or replace, legacy RPA at low risk. By linking traditional automation with smart AI capabilities, Laiye optimizes business processes. As well as smooth integration, this can help technology teams achieve a greater ROI than legacy RPA solutions. The scale and complexity of the implementation is no issue, either; Laiye can guarantee business results thanks to 500,000 developers on our platform who are innovating and developing out-of-the-box solutions to future-proof specific business needs. Reliable support is an essential part of the deployment process. Laiye places enormous importance on customer service; unlike some technology suppliers, we don’t disappear once a solution has been sold. It’s one of the reasons Laiye has been recognized as a Customers’ Choice in the 2021 Gartner Peer Insights “Voice of the Customer” for RPA report, earning the distinction after receiving an excellent Overall Rating of 4.8 out of 5.0 based on customer reviews.
Challenge #2: How to maintain data security
The roll-out of data-driven AI initiatives and automated processes has accelerated during Covid-19. With companies using RPA tools and applications able to capture increased productivity gains of up to 60%, the attraction is clear. Meantime, the unprecedented speed of adoption has led to a new area of concern for businesses of all sizes: the ability to protect consumers and maintain digital trust. Fears of data loss and data breach are real, on average a cyber security attack going undetected for 279 days.
Solution: So, how do you prevent IA opening a door for cyber criminals and hackers? For a start, proper IA implementation by skilled experts is essential. Speed of deployment is a priority, too, but never at the expense of data security. Laiye will ensure your business has the right systems and procedures in place to take advantage of IA in a safe and responsible way. Secondly, robust systems need to be in place to ensure that your data will be processed in strict compliance with privacy laws at regional, national and international levels. For example, Laiye recently announced a strategic partnership with global software leader Microsoft designed to provide UK and EU customers with advanced IA capabilities ringfenced to comply with data regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). And the good news is that IA is a tool that can help build robust risk management for the future, helping businesses stay one step ahead of any threats.
Challenge #3: How to manage employees’ expectations
While the future of IA-powered work can cause concern among employees, most experts believe these advances will “create new, adjacent, and expanded jobs… and new ways of working”. According to a report in The Economist, the fears are unfounded, as IA can enhance existing tasks while freeing up employees to do more creative, meaningful work that leads to higher job satisfaction and increased well-being. For instance, shifting a company’s accounts team away from manual and repetitive processing towards value-added reporting and analysis can help to change mindsets.
Solution: Bots will not replace humans, but employees need to understand why IA is being deployed and how it will improve their ways of working. Before implementing IA, businesses should carry out an impact assessment to consider how changes to roles, processes, tasks, and ways of operating will impact its employees. After all, one of the biggest challenges of IA lies not in the technology itself but the culture and mindset of companies and their employees. Educate and nurture leaders and employees to embrace new ways of working. Train employees and arm them with IA skills and knowledge helps to dispel fears of the unknown. Laiye’s online learning platform, Laiye Learning Zone, comes with free courses and developer certification.