Today I will tell something about automation. Automation means you do certain tasks using computer software/hardware without involving human action. Example, if you submit the details for opening a bank account in a proper format, then there is no need to talk to bank staff etc, the completely the account is opened and your account details are mailed to your inbox.
More complex example is insurance claims process, here there are multiple talks that happen between the stakeholder parties to go for insurance settlement for a claim. But if we automate it, then the software will take care of everything, provided we give the inputs needed in the required standard format.
You can think of many complex examples. Things about all domain, any task where humans are needed, they could be replaced with software/hardware. Other than the emotions of human beings and the situation based intelligence, rest all are getting automated. Now the scientists are trying to have software do decision systems as well as trying to mimic the human emotions.
If the task is simple like checking the mail content for some keywords and then doing a paper work and sending a mail, a dumb rule based program can automate this work. But if the work is complex, like based on analysis of a huge set of data, if some decisions are to be made, then we need to go for machine learning programs, that are not as dumb, but try to match the human thinking and at times, try to better the human thinking.
But now, if you want to automate a business process, what are the things you should do? Think first and strategize and think what may be the complexities involved in this, before moving further. Take 5 minutes and think. Read on. Automated means, the things need to be performed by a computer by itself, by utilizing the instructions you provide to it. So if it has to work properly, you should be able to provide proper instructions in such a way that the computer wont get confused and will be able to perform by itself, just by following the instructions you provide. To reach this level, we need to have many things sorted out.
- Process fitness - See whether the whole process we are trying to automate is fit to be automated. How can you decide this. Based on below few criteria we can decide that.
- Whether the instructions can be given a well defines rules. They should not be ambiguous. They should be clearly expressed as rules.
- The process should be repetitive. If the process is going through unique workflow steps each time, it is difficult to provide a common instruction to the computer right.
- Whether the whole process is standardized and is stable process. Doesn't keep changing constantly due to external factors which are not in our control.
- Whether we can give the input in a standard format. This should also not keep on changing.
- Automation Complexity - We need to see how complex the automation is going to be. This will consider factors like what type of application, number of screens, what are the business logic algorithms in place, what and how many type of inputs to be given etc.
- No Automation - Cannot do any automation
- Semi automate
- High Cost - Fully Automate
- Low Cost - Fully Automate
