In the rapidly evolving world of business, digital transformation is no longer a choice; it is a mandate. In an effort to stay competitive, organizations are tirelessly searching for new ways to increase efficiency, cut costs, and enhance customer experiences. A West Monroe study shows that 61% of C-suite executives agree that digital transformation is highly important for their organizations, with an astonishing 94% of the decision-makers in large companies across the US and the UK having a digitization strategy already in place in their organizations. In contrast, just 5% of survey respondents admit to not having a digital transformation plan.

As organizations reimagine the future of work, traditional automation technologies like Robotic Process Automation (RPA) are maturing into even more advanced solutions. Intelligent automation—an innovative technology paradigm that not only does the work of repetitive tasks, but over time, learns how to do these tasks better in real time—is being adopted far more expeditiously by today’s enterprises.

Intelligent automation is the next phase of the digital evolution of enterprise workflows. When infused with artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), data & analytics, and data-driven decision-making (DDDM), traditional automation can evolve into end-to-end processes with a self-improving mechanism. This evolution is allowing companies to accomplish more while saving on costs, and providing measurable healthy benefits across all facets of business.

Let’s Understand Intelligent Automation

Intelligent Automation (IA) represents the augmentation of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) with advanced technologies, like AI, ML, advanced analytics, and cognitive capabilities to build self-learning and adaptive processes. Basic automation handles a specific set of rules, whereas intelligent automation learns and improves its methods using feedback and data over the course of time.

According to Deloitte’s automation survey, organizations that have gone beyond the pilot mode of intelligent automation have achieved an average reduction of 32% in costs. This phenomenal statistic highlights the real value of intelligent automation in driving down operating costs and enabling innovation and agility.

Core Components of Intelligent Automation:

At its basic, intelligent automation consists of several key technologies:

• Robotic Process Automation (RPA): RPA mimics human actions to handle repetitive, routine work. This is the workhorse from which automation is built by automating rote tasks.
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: AI and ML give automation systems the ability to analyze large data volumes, identify the patterns in data, and also make predictions. This allows systems to auto-improve over time, such that they do not require human input.
• Cognitive Technologies: Such as NLP (Natural Language Processing) or Computer Vision (CV), which help systems to comprehend unstructured data—for example, text, sound, images, etc.—thus processing information more intelligently with the environment.
• Integration and Process Orchestration: This component ensures that the various automated processes, legacy systems, and new digital tools work in concert. It offers an integrated stream of information and decision-making across the entire enterprise.

How Intelligent Automation Drives Digital Transformation?

Enhancing Operational Efficiency

One of the most attractive advantages of intelligent automation is its potential to improve operational efficiency drastically. McKinsey suggests that organizations adopting intelligent automation can:

• increase their productivity with a 35% rise and observe a significant 20% decrease in operational costs
• as well as a 50–60% decrease in straight-through process time
• and ROI most often in triple-digit percentages.

It enables humans to focus on higher-value work by automating the mundane and streamlining workflows. So, this is not just about minimizing error rates; it is also about speeding time-to-market for products and services, which improves overall business performance.

Empowering Data-Driven Decision Making

Data, today, is the lifeblood of decision-making. Intelligent automation systems are formulated to interact with real-time data at various levels within the enterprise. These systems make raw data, often unstructured, actionable, enabling decision-makers to move quickly and make accurate decisions. From optimizing supply chain logistics to customizing marketing campaigns, the power of effective data utilization empowers organizations to make informed decisions that continue to drive improvement.

Improving Customer Experience

The customer experience has become a key differentiator in the marketplace. According to Gartner, by 2029, AI would automatically handle 80% of typical customer service problems without the need for human participation, resulting in a 30% decrease in operating expenses. Intelligent automation utilizes bots and virtual assistants to enhance customer service and customize communication plans. By reducing the amount of time it takes to respond to a query, these tools further enhance the quality of service by making certain that customer inquiries are addressed in a quick and accurate manner.

Delivering Cost Savings and ROI

As we discussed earlier, organizations that have moved past the pilot phase of intelligent automation report an average cost reduction of 32%, according to Deloitte research. These savings come in the form of lower labor costs, decreased error rates, and improved resource allocation. The significant ROI achieved by intelligent automation makes it an appealing offer for businesses seeking financial restraint while stimulating innovation.

Agility and Competitive Advantage

Intelligent automation provides organizations the agility to quickly adapt to changing business needs. As they streamline core processes and embrace data-driven decision-making, organizations are able to out-maneuver their competitors and weather the storm of disruption. The resulting ability to turn a risk into an opportunity gives them a sustainable competitive advantage, allowing them to take advantage of emerging opportunities.

Industry-Specific Use Cases for Intelligent Automation

The impact of intelligent automation is being felt across a wide range of industries. Here are some sector-specific examples:

Manufacturing

• Production Monitoring: Ensuring production is being operated in an efficient manner, and with relevant quality through monitoring the production lines in real time.
• Audit Compliance and Processes: Automated audits to identify mistakes and ensure standards compliance.
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Integration: Enabling easy collaboration with ERP systems for better resource management and streamlined processes.

Healthcare

• Patient Onboarding: Automating the registration and data collection process, significantly decreasing wait times and administrative loads.
• Invoice Processing: Automating the billing process to help reduce mistakes and accelerate reimbursements.
• Revenue Cycle Management: Optimizing the overall financial health of the organization by intelligent claims tracking and processing.

Transportation and Logistics

• Load Tracking and Tracing: Giving you real-time tracking of the shipments to ensure on-time deliveries and optimized routes.
• Warehouse Automation: Use of robotics for inventory management, order picking, and packaging, to drive throughput.
• Inventory Management Automation: Automated stock level monitoring to avoid shortage and overstock situations.

Retail and Commerce

• Customer Support and Engagement: AI-based chatbots and assistants are used for addressing queries and providing personalized services 24/7.
• Order Fulfilment: Automatic programs for transacting orders quickly and efficiently to lead to fast deliveries and greater customer satisfaction.
• Supply Chain Visibility: The integration of automated tracking systems enables real-time monitoring of supply chain dynamics.

Banking and Finance

• Loan Application Processing: Automating data extraction and evaluation from loan applications to accelerate the approval process.
• Accounting: Smart automation to simplify financial reporting, reconciliations, and compliance checks.
• Account Opening and Onboarding: Minimizing manual data entry and optimizing the onboarding process for new clients while ensuring proper compliance.

Conclusion

Intelligent automation is redefining digital transformation for the better through efficiency, decision-making, customer experience, and cost savings. Implementing them with RPA, AI/ML, and cognitive technologies grants agility, optimization of costs, and innovation—factors necessary to remain competitive in a digital economy.

At Recode, we understand that every organization’s digital transformation journey is unique. Our AI-led Automation Services are designed to help you harness the full potential of intelligent automation. Our comprehensive suite of solutions includes:

• Business Process Automation
• Human-Bot Collaboration
• Cognitive Automation
• Collaborative Automation
• Data Center/IT Operations Automation
• Customer Contact Center Automation

Our Software-First approach ensures tailored solutions for your success. Let’s transform your business—contact us to get started.