The API Testing Primer: Digital Acceleration through Automation
Organizations that have multiple touchpoints need to dynamically collaborate and...
When it comes to RPA implementation timeframes, there are multiple estimations given by several practitioners and vendors. The RPA tool vendor may state this time frame in weeks, an implementation specialist may say it is a few months (2–4), and you might also have heard of implementations that have taken a longer time. The right way to look at timeframes may depend on various factors. Here, we have discussed the key factors based on our RPA implementation experience at Imaginea.
First-time implementation
The reason for your RPA implementation could range from reducing costs and errors to improving process efficiency, or it could be a part of your digitization efforts. Whatever the reason, you need to do the following:
For first-timers, like any other initiative, chances are that the duration might be longer than the estimated schedule.
Using the existing environment setup and IT policies of the company
Often organizations tend to overlook existing infrastructure and policies, which leads to chaos at various stages. For example, using the same versions of the technology stack in all environments can ensure that the application runs properly after production. Likewise, a policy that does not allow code change in any environment, except Dev, can help prevent unwanted surprises. Here are the main points to keep in mind:
If environments are taken care of during the initial setup, the time taken for future deployment of new functionalities or new processes will be considerably lower.
Managing implementation partners
There is a widespread notion that an RPA implementation does not require IT experts. This is not true. You will need IT experts at least to some extent. In fact, it becomes advantageous to have IT vendors who come with multiple enterprise implementation knowledge and experience. They also come with a host of reusable components that they already have built, which will speed up development. Let us see how RPA implementation timelines get affected according to the implementation teams.
Procuring licenses
Acquiring the necessary licenses is a complex process since there are multiple parties at play. The governance team has to carefully consider these before making recommendations for procuring licenses:
The governance team plays a crucial role since RPA implementations cannot be technology driven nor can it be just business driven. It needs multiple teams — from the upper management to the people on the field — to be educated and aligned on the purpose of every RPA implementation.
Acquiring assets
Getting the infrastructure for an enterprise level implementation is a task on its own. The complexity increases with the compliance requirements of the organization (SOX, GDPR, etc…).
RPA vendors, Implementation vendors, IT infrastructure, and business teams have to work together, and they must all be bonded by a strong governance team. This team should be looking at these factors:
RPA vs IT Automation vs Cognitive solutions
RPA is a surface technology that mimics human actions. In a typical enterprise process RPA implementation, the solutions quickly drift towards cognitive because most processes deal with data. We need to exercise caution since dealing with data is a different ball game.
Any solution that needs just an RPA implementation will be faster than any cognitive solutions. A process that deals with semi or unstructured data will need some degree of cognitive solutions, and this, in the strictest sense, goes beyond the traditional RPA. At least the expectation of RPA implementation in weeks does not take cognitive solutions into the picture.
Sometimes processes will need a level of IT Automation or a Business Process Automation along with RPA. The process selection for RPA needs to be carefully done for such processes. However, in the course of time, this scenario might become inevitable and take more time than a traditional RPA implementation.
Conclusion
So, how much time should an RPA implementation take? Any attempt to answer this question without considering the factors, mentioned in this discussion, becomes futile. After satisfying the needs and requirements of these key factors, achieving a closely realistic RPA implementation timeframe becomes easier.