Why RPA Projects Fail (And How to Avoid It)

There is a reason why Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has become so popular in the business world. According to a recent study, the average ROI for cloud-based RPA is 250 percent. The list of benefits RPA can provide is long, from unlocking human potential to improving data quality. Yet, this does not mean that RPA implementation should be rushed. Along with numerous success stories, there are also a number of failed RPA initiatives. Below are some of the most common reasons why RPA projects fail to produce the desired results:

Starting too big

As with any digital transformation, implementing RPA takes time. When companies try to accelerate their RPA implementation, the project can quickly get out of control, and goals become difficult to achieve. Working with an RPA expert like Ciphix can help you set realistic ambitions for your RPA project and create a step-by-step plan to achieve them.

Using RPA to automate a broken process

Automating a process is not the same as improving the process. Unfortunately, some organisations have tried to fix a broken business process with RPA, which often led to the abandonment of the entire RPA initiative. To avoid applying RPA to a broken process, it is important to carefully analyse the process you want to automate, gather feedback from employees, and study available data. With the right partner, process optimisation will always come before automation.

A gap between business and IT

Often, RPA initiatives start with the business teams. They perform some Proof of Concept (PoC) work but need input from IT for larger projects. If IT is not fully behind the project when it starts, progress can be delayed by lengthy technical discussions. Setting up cross-functional steering committees can help consider different perspectives. Effective communication, better information sharing, and alignment within the company can help RPA projects run smoothly.

Inability to scale up

RPA initiatives are not always easy to scale up. If companies want to make a complete digital transformation, RPA can help, but it will not achieve this on its own. Work with your RPA vendor to determine what you want to achieve with RPA, what business processes it can support, and what technologies it can integrate with. RPA is about more than just “building robots.” It includes vision, governance, roles, and responsibilities. Getting a trusted partner on board can help with these new developments.

Managing expectations

Unfortunately, some RPA projects do not deliver the results companies had hoped for. If that’s the case, don’t give up on RPA. Contact your RPA vendor, analyse the results, and evaluate why the expected benefits were not achieved. RPA processes are often surrounded by great expectations in terms of business cases, which sometimes turn out to be unrealistic. With RPA, the first steps should always focus on proving that the technology works. Enthusiasm will naturally follow.

Want to avoid the pitfalls we mentioned above? Then contact Ciphix to find out how our RPA experts can get the most out of your human employees.