Find Your RPA Methodology

The issue? A lot of these organizations jump two feet into RPA technology without a strategy. Lacking a strategy can result in low return on investment (ROI), inefficient use of resources and an inability to scale across business processes. It can prevent organizations from achieving all the benefits of RPA or evolving toward intelligent automation (IA) solutions.

To successfully adopt automation, a structured approach (also called an RPA methodology or roadmap) is key. Knowing how to implement RPA following a structured plan ensures consistency and quality, and that you’re putting your efforts – and your investments – into the right place.

Here’s what needs consideration before you select an RPA methodology:

• Defining the scope of your automation project.
• Identifying the processes and tasks suitable for RPA.
• Researching suitable RPA tools aligned to your business goals.
• Understanding the business requirements during the implementation process.
• Determining the potential ROI for each project.

Once you’ve outlined the details in these steps, you can develop or find an RPA implementation strategy suited to your organization. Keep in mind:

• Timeline
• Budget
• Resources
• Goals

What Is an RPA Methodology Framework?

It’s a structured approach or set of guidelines used to plan, implement and manage your RPA initiative. These frameworks provide a systematic approach to identify, prioritize and develop automation opportunities, then ensure effective deployment and maintenance. Most RPA methodology frameworks contain the following components:

Discovering and assessing opportunities

This is where you’ll find potential automation opportunities in your processes. This stage can include process assessments, process discovery, analyzing metrics, and gathering pain points and inefficiencies from people across the business.

Developing a business case

Once you know your automation opportunities, the organization needs to evaluate if it’s feasible and beneficial to implement an RPA solution. An RPA business case tends to include the expected ROI, cost savings and efficiency gains.

Selecting and prioritizing processes

Not every process is suitable for automation. In this phase, you’ll prioritize processes based on complexity, volume, frequency and strategic importance. It’s usually wise to start with automating high-volume, rule-based tasks like moving files from multiple systems or data entry.

Designing and developing

This stage can encompass a lot of steps, including finding your RPA software, process mapping, bot design, scripting and system integrations.

Testing

Before deploying RPA into production, you’ll want to thoroughly test your bots or “digital workers” to ensure they meet your business requirements. This phase involves a range of testing activities.

Deploying

With your RPA solutions tested and approved, they move into the production environment. Here’s where you look at training your people and monitoring the automation’s performance.

Continuous improvement

Ongoing monitoring and maintenance are key to driving a reliable RPA program. To be successful, you need to continuously monitor performance so you can address issues right away and make enhancements where needed.

RPA methodologies will vary in these phases, but the essential thing to look out for is whether you can tailor them to your specific business requirements and goals.

RPA Methodology Examples

There are various methodologies an organization might use to implement an RPA solution. Let’s look at each and why you might consider one over the other.

What is the six sigma methodology in RPA?

The six sigma methodology can be segmented into define, measure, analyze, improve and control (DMAIC). It’s widely used in process improvement initiatives, but you can also apply it to your RPA project.

This approach looks at:

• Defining the problem.
• Measuring current process performance.
• Analyzing root causes.
• Implementing improvements through automation.
• Establishing control mechanisms to sustain the improvements.

What is the agile methodology in RPA?

As the name suggests, the agile method provides a flexible and adaptable approach to software development. It emphasizes delivering value to the customer. Its flexibility allows it to be applied to various project requirements.

The agile methodology is best suited for projects that are:

• Small
• Flexible
• Customer-focused
• Adaptable to various requirements

What is the scrum methodology in RPA?

The scrum methodology is a specific framework within the agile methodology. It provides a structured approach to help organizations manage complex projects. It emphasizes communication, customer service and teamwork.

The scrum methodology is ideal for projects that are:

• Larger
• Complex
• Well defined
• Structured
• Specific

The robotic operating model

Designed with agility and structure in mind, The SS&C | Blue Prism® Robotic Operating Model (ROM™2) helps organizations deliver scaled RPA deployment tailored to their specific business needs. It includes guides, templates and an automation maturity model to ensure a successful RPA initiative throughout your entire automation journey.

What is the ROM2 methodology for RPA?

The ROM2 is the latest iteration of our robotic operating model. It includes five stages, from design to continuous improvement, to help organizations start small and scale quickly. The ROM2 includes:

• Strategy: Develop a strategy and governance framework in line with your organization’s key vision. 
• Workforce: Transition into a unified workforce by seamlessly connecting employees and digital workers.  
• Design: Discover opportunities for your organization’s transformation by researching, consulting and designing your operating model. 
• Development: Align your RPA/IA delivery methods for improved integration. 
• Operations: Use best practices to reach a streamlined workflow and maintain control of business operations. 

With its tailored design, the ROM2 can help organizations by establishing and continuously evolving a wide range of RPA processes.

RPA Methodology Customer Examples

In RPA, a successful implementation requires a good strategy. But that strategy won’t be a one-size-fits-all. It has to be something you can customize to your organization. For example, a bank will likely look for a robust implementation strategy tailored to those highly sensitive processes that require the highest levels of security, governance and compliance.

Your RPA methodology comes by first defining what it is you’re trying to accomplish. Below are helpful examples of how some of our customers used SS&C Blue Prism’s ROM to get the most out of their RPA/IA program.

Financial services and banking 

ABANCA 

ABANCA is the leading financial entity in northwestern Spain with 682 branches in 11 countries across Europe and America, 6,080 employees and a turnover of more than €107 million. 

“We can pay 99% of loans within 24 hours. We managed more than 23,000 financial transactions with intelligent automation. It was a big, big success.”

Carlos Gonzalez Jardon, IT governance and operations, ABANCA.

Manufacturing 

AGCO 

AGCO is a leading global manufacturer of some of the world’s most reliable farm equipment. But look under the hood and the way it operates has many parallels to most corporations of its size. 

“We have over 60 processes in production, with only one process controller who is responsible for the entire operation and maintenance of the processes. He’s able to complete this task in a standard eight-hour workweek. So, the bots are running very, very reliably.”

Levente Illés, head of intelligent automation, AGCO.

Public sector 

Thames Valley Police 

While RPA has already been used by police forces across the country to automate processes perceived as lower risk, Thames Valley Police has been more ambitious. It saw the potential for a series of applications that could make an instant difference to the way policing operates in the third decade of the twenty-first century. 

“RPA is a no-brainer for us. We’ve released time for officers and staff to do other tasks and we can focus them to be in the right place at the right time. We’ve saved money and we’re delivering a much better service to the public.”

Superintendent Robert Brind, digital silver, Thames Valley Police.

Strategize Before You Digitize

RPA plans are a big investment of time, energy and resources – and it can bring huge benefits to your organization, your people and your customers. But you have to do it right.

The ROM2 is designed to guide you through every step, with tailored solutions to get you wherever you need to go, at whatever speed. Automate strategically with SS&C Blue Prism

Alexis Veenendaal is an Associate Content Writer and Editor at SS&C Blue Prism. She’ll tell you all the cool tips and tricks for implementing intelligent automation into your workplace. She has lived and worked internationally as a professional writer and designer for nearly a decade after graduating from the University of Lethbridge for English Literature. Her personal pursuits include authoring books and digital cartography.