Bob – Have you heard about the new project they are starting in the Ordering department?
Jane – yes, I did… maybe we’ll get laid off…
Conversations like these may happen around a proposed automation project if we don’t keep tabs on the grapevine. In my last article, I talked about the benefits of automation to an organization. In this post, I would like to talk about how to go about making an automation project a roaring success.
Get Management Buy in – This is absolutely essential. Machine automation is something most people are aware of, process automation is still a relatively unexplored concept here in the Middle East. Making the management aware and getting buy in is paramount. They need to understand clearly before and after scenarios so that they support the project wholeheartedly. A message from the top in favor of a project goes a long way in clearing potential roadblocks.
Fear of redundancy – This one competes with the first in its importance, in many cases, it may rank as the first thing to keep in mind. Strong proactive steps should be taken to make sure that an automation project doesn’t create a sense of panic in the department. Identify the human capital impact and work with the HR team to allay any fears.
Tech Savvy Business Users – Each business has tech savvy business users who are eager adopters and welcome change. Identify & nurture them, let them be the flag bearers of the project and it’ll go a long way in how the project gets perceived by the organization.
Exception Handling – Process automation throws up many exception scenarios. The implementation team needs to be aware of these in detail and make sure they are catered with manual overrides or other workarounds. One of the biggest reasons for failure of automation projects is the failure to handle exceptions. 20% of the scenarios usually create 80% of the problems.
Before/After scenario – This is a very important step from an internal PR perspective. Its an Achilles Heel when it comes to IT teams because its last on their agenda. The achievements of the automation project should be circulated far and wide to raise awareness and open doors for subsequent projects. A good info graphic paints the picture clearly.
Finally, do not lose momentum, create a road map for different areas of the organization where automation can bring benefits and journey on…