According to a recent IDC study, the potential of intelligent process automation is very high. Technologies and processes such as intelligent process automation and artificial intelligence will continue to rise sharply in the coming months. But how can companies actually benefit from process automation and what should be considered when planning an automation project?
Process automation means effort, but it’s worth it
It has never been more necessary for an industrial company to think about process automation – regardless of whether it is a large or medium-sized business. Nowadays, companies are facing several challenges at the same time. All processes must become even faster, while at the same time the complexity of trading strategies and technologies is increasing.
Those who position themselves favorably in these areas and make good use of the digital transformation can benefit directly on several levels: Costs are reduced, time is saved due to faster processes, the quality of products increases and sustainability is enhanced. The automation of processes also takes the customer experience to a whole new level. At the same time, the possibilities in terms of process platforms or individual customer solutions are more diverse than ever before.
Where automation can provide the best support
The automation of production processes is just one area of application in which digitalization can create enormous added value. Looking at the entire customer sector, automation strategies can also be used to optimize sales processes and make them independent. Even for the customer, the purchasing and user experience can improve significantly, as artificial intelligence learns from every preference, behavior and decision of the customer and can adapt the support process and up- and cross-selling accordingly – without the manual intervention of employees, resulting in improved communication and customer loyalty. But employees in the administrative area also benefit from automated processes. The days when piles of documents had to be sorted and organized are long gone thanks to digitalization.
The biggest challenges in automation projects
Due to the incredibly rapid pace of technological change, many companies may be overwhelmed by the number of offerings, technologies, processes and even the various new technical terms that are merging into more and more variations. Today’s information technology not only serves as a static, cool apparatus, but now has the ability to actively communicate with other systems. The systems must therefore be properly coordinated, which requires a precise digitization and automation strategy. The biggest danger here is getting lost in the many possibilities and details that digitalization brings with it and ultimately not achieving a satisfactory result. So what is the best way to approach an automation project?
- The most important thing is and remains good preparation. Companies need to gather comprehensive information on what options are realistically available and which ones they can, should and want to use. Sustainable strategies can be developed with the help of advice from competent experts and reliable information.
- Not forgetting the consistent view from the customer’s perspective. Which processes bring the greatest added value to the customer? What problems do customers face and how can these be solved with automation? One example of this is the chat bot, which can handle common customer queries quickly and automatically. Simple and recurring questions do not have to be answered each time by an employee at the keyboard, but the machine takes over the research of the solution via the knowledge base in the background.
- IT service providers also need to be on board for a successful automation strategy. A central application platform provided by a service provider, for example, collects all plant data in one place and makes it accessible to the entire team. At the same time, communication between employees, external contacts and subcontractors also takes place via the same interface. A platform like this with the expert support of the software manufacturer at least makes the IT area much easier. KENEXOS® offers the ideal environment for construction and industrial applications. KENEXOS® offers an intuitive and individually scalable cloud solution for everything from technical documentation and the planning of all systems to the networking of individual objects and integrated communication channels.
The need for automation is increasing – both for companies and customers
Regardless of how the topic of digitalization and automation develops in German-speaking countries, one thing is certain: it will continue to develop and demand will increase. Even if both companies and customers are still somewhat more cautious or hesitant at the moment, automation topics are already being pursued more seriously on the corporate side. As customer requirements increase and patience decreases overall, it can be assumed that the desire for automated processes will continue to grow. Companies that create the necessary conditions now and develop and implement their strategies step by step will definitely benefit in the long term.
About KENEXOS®
With Kreutzpointner Business Software GmbH (KBS for short), Kreutzpointner is setting a significant milestone in the technical development of the entire group of companies. Kreutzpointner Business Software GmbH focuses on the special requirements and digital needs of industrial customers with an independent business model. The operational launch took place in October 2020.
With KENEXOS®, KBS offers corporate customers an individually expandable application platform with its own software products and focuses on the implementation of industrial applications. KENEXOS® offers modern web technology for access via a wide range of end devices and enables integration with existing systems via an API interface. The standard modules include, for example, construction site documentation, task and ticket recording, plant management and maintenance and many more. The application platform is available for in-house installation (on-premise) or as a cloud solution (SaaS).
The ideas and the technical basis for Kreutzpointner Business Software GmbH have been successfully developed in recent years as part of the company-wide “Research & Development” process. In addition to the IT systems division, the new digital unit ideally rounds off Kreutzpointner’s large portfolio.
