Why Automation Is Key To Digital Transformation?

Automation is the only way for organisations to accelerate their digital transformation by freeing IT teams of repetitive tasks so that they are able to focus on driving transformative projects. IT teams implementing new enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, for instance, often cannot cope with the myriad other tasks which are going on in the business at the same time.

Imagine if we are able to automate all these tasks, then we can free IT from countless hours of support and, at the same time, enable them to implement the new ERP without pressure and to do a proper job. The alternative solution is to keep using people, which is insane.

Is There A Distinction Between Digital Transformation And Automation?

Although the terms ‘automation’ and ‘digital transformation’ are often used interchangeably, they have very various meanings. Automation involves applying technology in order to make processes run themselves, making those processes more efficient as well as increasing transparency and reporting abilities. In short, automation is a tool to achieve end, and the anticipated end is digital transformation.

Gartner argues that digital transformation necessitates not only making existing processes more efficient, however creating or unlocking new value for customers.  It’s true that customer expectations are continually evolving apace with emerging technologies, and that organisations are largely adopting digital transformation in an effort to continue to meet those expectations.

However, this is a rather limited view of digital transformation, as it excludes any benefits of digital transformation which don’t directly benefit the customer, such as altering company culture by giving employees increased job satisfaction by allowing them to focus on more interesting projects as opposed to repetitive administrative tasks.

Actions To Automation

The primary step is for leadership to take a holistic view of what they would like to achieve, why they would like to accomplish this, how they will know as well as what has to occur in order to make the vision happen. Every process within the organisation is mapped as a chain of tasks, with each action reviewed for effort, time, quality as well as value outcome.

This amount of data necessitates IT automation tools (technology) in order to derive the possible options and enable employees to start to work differently. The cloud can assist by acting as your inexpensive sandpit to attempt various tools and process changes to assert the desired results.

Opportunities for IT automation:

• Removal manual and monotonous tasks
• Gathering intelligence on customer issues as well as demand
• Monitor time and excellence of work along the value chain
• Alert on issues to permit teams to swarm solutions
• Get feedback and deliver this information to teams in order to support decisions on products and services: new, pivot, or stop
• Escalation to leadership for direction and support

CIOs and senior IT stakeholders need to change from “We want technology, so now go make it take place” management to “We understand how technology can assist us, and we need your assistance to achieve our vision.”

IT process automation will allow any value chain; however it can also make a business outdated in a matter of minutes if launched incorrectly. Look at the news stories of data leaks or service outages which have outraged customers. You do not want to be one of these stories! Work with your vendors in order to upskill your business with the knowledge required to be a digital business.

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