My recent seminars have proved impactful, as they’ve got attendees to think beyond the processes I presented and consider other opportunities for robotic process automation (RPA). In my recent sessions, I demonstrated how RPA could be used for payment reconciliations, including handling remittances and bank statements.
Following the presentation, one attendee approached our stand to discuss a payroll challenge they were facing. Their issue revolved around a line-of-business (LOB) application that required manual entry of timesheet data. This data also needed to be re-entered into two additional applications. The initial dataset was provided in a spreadsheet and required manipulation before it could be used. Despite efforts to streamline the process, the organisation had encountered several roadblocks:
- Direct Import Challenges: They explored importing the data directly but found it impossible because their LOB application lacked the necessary import functionality.
- Digital Timesheet Adoption Issues: They trialled an app-based digital timesheet system linked to their LOB application, but users found it cumbersome and time-consuming, leading to poor adoption.
RPA, however, offers a solution to their problem by:
- Ingesting the Initial Spreadsheet: Automating the import of raw timesheet data.
- Data Manipulation: Transforming the data as required to meet application input standards.
- Simulating User Input: Entering the data via the same screens that users interact with in all three applications.
- Providing Feedback: Reporting success or failure for transparency and improvement.
What continues to amaze me is how many organisations still rely on resource-intensive processes like this. Equally surprising is how guarded some ERP and LOB application providers are with their APIs and import routines, leaving users with no choice but to explore third-party solutions for tasks as basic as data entry.
Most of all, I’m encouraged to see the information shared in these seminars prompting attendees to evaluate their existing processes. They’re not just focusing on the examples I present but are considering how RPA might transform other parts of their operations. This shift in perspective is precisely what makes these sessions so rewarding.
