Process Automation vs Process Management

There is a lot of buzz around Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and there are those that would try to convince you that RPA replaces Business Process Management (BPM). There are others that would have you believe that BPM can be leveraged to do what RPA does in most cases. Let's examine this issue. Right now RPA works on specific tasks and BPM works on orchestrating all kinds of tasks that involve RPA or not while dynamically delivering changing business outcomes. Over time they will have more overlap as both leverage more intelligence through AI and Algorithms.

What Does BPM Do?

BPM manages tasks and the sequences in an end to end style while monitoring results and making necessary adaptations to keep goals and business outcomes on point. BPM is a task or event coordination/orchestration capability that makes sure the best sequencing (flows), even in parallel streams, are chosen at any point in time. BPM applies to simple or complex system and human tasks intermixed and dynamically optimized for SLAs.  Processes are great at exception handling and are often supported by decisioning capabilities (usually visual rules). Processes and process snippets (smaller sequences of tasks) are great a delivering best practises and emerging better practises recognized in cases.

What Does RPA Do?

RPA is great at automating manual tasks and stream lining some parts of an overall process. RPA, today is very task focused and operates with the boundaries of a existing process. As processes flex, this relationship may change. The scope of RPA today are much more focused and limited to single tasks. Though there may be a large number of specialized bots, their power is leveraged by the sequencing that process give them today. This may change over time.

What Can They Both Do?

They both help streamline processes for better efficiency and cost savings. They both support rapid deployment and ability to implement change in an incremental fashion. They both can start out with a low cost approach and grow to value over time. They share many of the operational improvement benefits. Over time as processes and bots increase in intelligence through AI they will both increase the customer, employee and partner experiences to create better journeys. Imagine a bot or a process Cog (AI) assisting you with your job!!

Net; Net:

BPM and RPA are better together for sure and they both will get better as they add smarts. As control moves to the edge, those tasks sequences will likely be short running and smaller in scope putting the advantage to RPA over time. Task sequencing is important in a great number of cases, so process will be there, but not as the BPM of old that many know today. In the future as the bots become more intelligent and are able to anticipate and negotiate, then maybe there will be less pre-built processes.

Is Digital Transformation Reengineering in Sheep's Clothing?

There seems to be an awful lot of parallels between business reengineering, which focused on helping companies radially restructure their organizations by focusing on the ground-up design of their business models, and the way Digital Transformation is being touted by some. There are some "Chicken Little's" out there saying the sky will fall in on you. There are some visible examples in some industries, but radical business model change won't happen all at once in every industry simultaneously. On the other hand, nobody should ignore opportunities to leverage digital opportunities. This is a bit of a tightrope walk, but a necessary one with a safety line whenever possible 

Industries Under Siege:

When your industry is being attacked by better business models that are digitally enabled, then you may forgo the safety line and play it a bit riskier. Make no mistake digital will influence most industries by providing a better customer experience that includes faster, better, cheaper with more visibility. However, rarely is it a situation that requires turn key solutions yesterday. Yes, digital will increase the pressure, but organizations do not have to get out of the business model they have successfully rode for years.  They will, however,  have to pick up the pace of change and innovation. Whenever possible industries under siege should be working with parallel solutions to keep the lights on while trying new ways of doing business (better customer journeys, dynamic value chains or new markets). 

Most Everyone Else:

If your industry is not under siege, organizations should be taking steps to leverage digital in the best way possible to enhance and leverage the strength of your existing business model. If you are in the mortgage business, you better underwrite easily in the context of what the buyer complete journey might entail. You might start with a better data collection, but might end up guiding buyers and sellers through their whole experience, not just the loan process. Incrementally adding crucial and customer pleasing capabilities while being operationally effective and efficient on top a proven business model is a beautiful and profitable thing. If your organization is not working with several proven digital methods and technologies, there is lost opportunity. If your organization is not experimenting with a digital approach that could leap-frog themselves over the competition, there is also opportunity loss .

Net; Net:

There are some who are hiding radical change under the cover of digital transformations, but it isn't always necessary at the speed they demand. It's in their best interest to scare you into working with them to guide your through the dangerous territory of digital. While it's true there are dangers, risk can be lowered and incremental can work with digital. This is why there are many paths to the top of the mountain that can be taken one base camp at a time.