Intelligent Automation (IA) represents the overall range of technologies that enable the automation and transformation of business processes, from rudimentary process automation such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to Cognitive automation.
RPA is software robots that fulfil repetitive tasks. In other words, RPA is the automation of rule-based processes replicating the steps a human would take to execute the processes such as transaction processing and financial reconciliation.
Cognitive Automation combines machine learning and workflow automation to mimic human activities such as reading documents e.g. invoices and updating the company’s accounting system. Additionally, support with reasoning and deriving insights from big data (structured and unstructured data).
Value drivers and adoption of Intelligent Automation
As IA delivers enhanced efficiency, flexibility and scalability, reduction of operational risks, and improved customer journeys, it is a critical component in today's business strategy.
The pace of adapting Intelligent Automation has been rapid as organizations of all sizes leverage automation to drive value. The Covid-19 pandemic changed the world of business right in front of our eyes, with the massive impact of the pandemic catapulting intelligent automation to the fore.
The disruption caused by Covid-19 has forced business leaders to ramp up investment in innovation, with KPMG research showing that IA, cognitive computing, and robotics are among the top technologies leading in business transformation.
East African business leaders are no exception. The 2021 KPMG East Africa CEO Outlook Survey revealed that over 50% of East Africa CEOs would increase investment in:
- Disruption detection and innovation processes
- Joining industry consortia focused in development of innovative technology
- Assessing their company’s culture and values to align with disruptive technology
- Partnering with third-party cloud technology providers to ramp up digital transformation
Are you ready to leverage Intelligent Automation?
In the transformation journey, business leaders need to advance digitization and connectivity in functional areas and especially back-office processes including human resource, financial operations, and supply chain. In this ever-present age of agility, these processes should be fully automated with seamless self-service delivery models to ultimate users and customers without needing to reinvent the readily available standard operating procedures.
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