Could 2019 be the year AI and automation become mainstream?

If you agree with the position that artificial intelligence (AI) is the next step in the evolution of robotic process automation (RPA), you could argue that businesses are already adopting some forms of AI. For example, research from Deloitte suggests that 53 per cent of businesses already support their human employees with some sort of robotic process automation (RPA). This number is also expected to increase to 72 per cent by 2020.

As organisations develop a better understanding of the potential of RPA to transform business processes and employee experiences, adoption will increase and organisations will even begin to consider RPA for more complex scenarios than they do at the moment. We are only at the early adoption stage and many organisations are still waiting to see the impact it has before they invest.  

Looking forward, those businesses that take a wider view of automation will make a breakthrough when it comes to adoption. By using a capability that goes beyond ‘unattended’ RPA and out into the wider operations, the opportunity to expand is exponentially increased. By having ‘human augmentation’ as part of the capability, it is possible to target wider areas of an organisation that would benefit from the technology, rather than being confined to a few back-office processes.

The biggest question businesses face with RPA and AI is where to start, and many automation projects fail simply due to selecting the wrong processes – i.e. ones that are too complex, too niche etc. Automated discovery tools like NICE’s Automation Finder can be very useful for organisations trying to decide which processes to automate. These tools use sophisticated machine learning algorithms to make recommendations on which processes will yield the best ROI. 

I would also advise organisations to consider more than just the efficiency benefits. AI and automation can also be helpful for transforming the employee experience. For example, consider what can be achieved through real-time guidance, decision-making support and best practices provided when they are needed. A data-driven approach can also help as it gives you the real picture, rather than having to spend weeks or months analysing every area of a business.

Lastly, I recommend that enterprises look at automation and AI as an opportunity to repurpose their existing workforce. Take the time to map out processes across various parts of the business and focus employees on areas which require human input and skill, and employ robotic automation for the processes which are more suited for automation and will make a more significant impact on business results.   

There are many reasons. Not knowing where to start, waiting for the early adopters to show business results and the perception that automation replaces people are all factors that come into play. Ramping up a digital transformation project is a long journey with many components – and there's no doubt that automation is a part of it – but before starting to automate there's an earlier stage of revisiting current processes and optimising them.

Not knowing how to scale can also be a hindrance, as well as the size of the process – deploying AI is often an end-to-end digital transformation project that demands a comprehensive change management program.

AI can be a powerful tool for employee engagement. It can help with personalising the employee experience and providing them with the necessary level of assistance and support.  By helping them go faster though their tasks, AI will ensure they are always motivated.

AI-driven personal assistants can be deployed for every employee, enabling them to make better decisions and become more productive and effective in their work. At the moment, the average employee spends an average of 80 percent of their day on mundane, routine work that don’t necessarily need human input. As a result, a significant amount of potential often goes unrealised. By integrating automation and AI into daily routines, employees are free from monotonous tasks to undertake more exciting and rewarding tasks that add real value. For many organisations, this means improved employee satisfaction, with employees feeling that their time is better valued.  

Automation and AI are both generating a huge amount of excitement in the market. However, the challenge for businesses will be keeping up the momentum. As previously mentioned, businesses will need to make sure that they have an effective change management plan to help manage this process. This requires addressing challenges head on, providing training to employees, monitoring progress, asking for feedback to work on areas that need improvement.