Things you need to know about RPA and Integrating Legacy Systems

Introduction to RPA

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) refers to the use of software that allows businesses to carry out routine, repetitive, and uniform or mundane tasks of managing a substantial amount of data across all applications by connecting core software solutions.

Using RPA software is flexible, faster, and cost-effective as compared to other integrated applications and to carry out mundane tasks.

Simple and monotonous tasks like opening emails and its attachments, moving files and folders, copying and pasting, filling in forms, reading and writing databases, making calculations, extracting structured data from documents, following if/then decisions, etc. can be done with the help of RPA.

Legacy Systems

Legacy systems are complex, outdated technologies that can no longer receive technical and maintenance support. However, most of the huge corporations and businesses have important and significant amounts of data stored in these legacy systems. Hence, it is impossible to completely salvage these legacy systems in the narrative.

Some examples of such systems are outdated financial systems for record-keeping, hardware in power plants, manufacturing machines controlled by computers running on MS-DOS, etc.

When businesses have a well-strategized and apt data management methodology, it can be considered as an efficient pattern to maintain the automation of the processes of legacy systems. Hence, it proves that integrating Legacy systems with the latest technologies, and automating the processes is very important and a need of the hour.

We’ve listed a few points and reasons as to why RPA is an ideal technology to integrate Legacy systems?

1) Cost-Effective

One of the major advantages of RPA is, it provides an instant and noteworthy reduction in expenditure. Most of the manual work is completed faster with automation, by using RPA. So, one can get better output with lesser input in terms of time and effort. This leads to reduced costs and improved savings. Also, it leads to increased efficiency.

2) Accuracy & Quality

RPA is a reliable and consistent source of managing data, thus eliminating the possibility of human errors. This results in increased accuracy. Since it is software that can automate tasks, it follows all the commands without missing a beat. This reduces the cases of re-work or correction and avoids deviation in processes. Thus, resulting in improved quality and accuracy of products and processes.

3) Speed

Robotic Process Automation takes half or even less amount of time to execute the same work as a human. Hence along with accuracy, speed and efficiency are also achieved.

4) The team can focus on higher-value tasks

Automation of repetitive, mundane, and time-consuming processes frees up human resources. These resources can be allocated to carrying out more value-added tasks. This leads to increased strategic contribution in the organization.

5) Increased employee engagement

When the team members focus on high-value tasks, they feel more invested and in control of the work they do. They feel more valued because they’re not solely focusing on clerical tasks anymore. This leads to improved employee engagement, dedication, and loyalty. Thus, resulting in longevity of employees’ staying at an organization.

6) Increased Employee Productivity and Satisfaction

RPA was created to simplify the tasks of employees. It rids the employees of mundane tasks and helps them concentrate on solving client queries. Thus, organizations can focus on achieving customer satisfaction.

The RPA process does not require any special or technical skills. That’s why it’s an ideal application to be integrated with Legacy Systems. It helps in boosting employee morale. Thus, increasing their productivity and satisfaction.

7) Increased Customer Satisfaction

Delivering quality products or services to customers will result in customer delight and satisfaction. This leads to customer loyalty and improved customer relationships for an organization.

8) Creating a better brand image

A company can gain a competitive edge over its competitors by integrating RPA tools and services with legacy systems. RPA is an advanced software adapted to simplify the tasks for both the organization and its clients. Thus, improving the brand image and goodwill of the organization.

9) Auditory relief

Since the data is dealt with by RPA the risk of miscalculation reduces greatly in turn helping the organization with the smooth running of audit and compliance procedures.

10) Consistency

Robotics Process Automation is a safe, non-invasive technology that provides great consistency in performing the activities.

11) Improved Analytics

RPA offers the ability to gather, organize, track, analyze, report on and store valuable data. Having access to correct data from various sources can be utilized to improve on current operations, address and correct issues, forecast, and develop healthier practices to improve the quality and lead to better decision making.

12) Reconciliation from Multiple Systems

RPA can tally data and information from various sites and multiple systems that generate information that helps with the integration of processes.

13) Improved record-keeping

RPA software can easily keep a track of the data collected, reformed, processed, and further distributed for various uses. That makes it easier for the organizations to keep a track of the data for record maintenance and recovery in case of an unexpected error or shutdown. Some of the top RPA software providers are ElectroNeek, Laserfiche, UiPath, Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism, etc.

Conclusion

Application Programming Interface (API) or other integrated applications are better suited for high-volume transactions that deal in millions. They also carry much higher costs of deployment and are less flexible. In comparison, RPA is more flexible, less time consuming (quick), and cheaper.

In this age, the companies have to be flexible and be prepared for fluctuations that continually occur in the ever-changing business environment including rapid technological improvements. Hence, RPA is an ideal technology to integrate legacy systems.