Comments on: 5 Questions to Ask Before You Automate Your Business Processes

By: Christin Brown

Christin Brown — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:25:40 +0000

I would add to each of these how frequently are these processes executed as a qualifying factor, automating a process used once also leads to why does that process exists in the first place. “Thinking through” the automation can yield more than just the “automation” and waste elimination.

By: Thomas Stoesser

Thomas Stoesser — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:30:28 +0000

Thanks for the comment and sorry for the late response. Yes, I agree with you: It does make a lot of sense to look at processes that have proven to be error-prone in the past. However, when embarking on an automation project in that context, make sure that you understand exactly how the automation effort is going to fix the process issues that have been observed in the past. The examples that you are giving (guidance & governance) are spot on.

By: Manmohan Gupta

Manmohan Gupta — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 22:46:14 +0000

Agreed! Many companies have such processes all around them, but nothing happens. It makes sense to therefore first understand the current impediments to change – some of which maybe just entrenched politics.

By: kwkeirstead

kwkeirstead — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:01:07 +0000

I would add to your list “processes that are error-prone” – the two main benefits of ‘automation’ (and this does not mean getting rid of people) are orchestration (i.e. guidance)and governance (i.e. guardrails).