Shoba Mallik, Director – Strategic RPA, Emory University

Why do RPA initiatives fail and some tips to avoid failures:

July 20, 2023 cxomagazine

By Shoba Mallik, Director – Strategic RPA, Emory University

Robotic process automation (RPA) is a powerful technology that can help organizations automate repetitive, high-volume, manual tasks and is being embraced globally. However, a 2019 EY study found that 30% to 50% of initial RPA projects fail.

RPA is a powerful technology that can automate a wide variety of tasks. However, with this power also comes responsibility.

Below are 10 reasons why RPA initiatives fail and some tips on how to avoid these pitfalls and ensure the success of your RPA projects

No clear strategy

One of the biggest reasons why RPA initiatives fail is because organizations do not have a clear vision and strategy for how they plan to use RPA. Without a clear strategy, it is difficult to prioritize which processes to automate, measure the ROI of RPA, and ensure that RPA is aligned with the overall business goals.

Lack of senior leadership support

RPA is a complex initiative that requires the support of senior leadership. Without this support, RPA initiatives are more likely to fail. Senior leadership must understand the value RPA brings to the organization, be committed to RPA and provide the resources necessary for its success.

Lack of employee support

RPA can often have a significant impact on employees. For example, RPA can automate some of the tasks that employees currently perform. This can lead to job losses or changes in job roles. It is important to involve employees in the RPA planning process, to communicate with them about the impact of RPA on their jobs and prepare them to make the transition.

Technology only or Business only approach

Business teams may not know how to implement RPA solutions and ensure that they are scalable and secure. IT teams may not understand all the benefits of RPA and how it can help the business achieve its goals. RPA needs to be a cross-functional initiative that requires the involvement of both business and IT teams. RPA initiatives are more likely to fail if these two teams are not aligned.

Poor governance

RPA is a powerful technology that can automate a wide variety of tasks. However, with this power also comes responsibility. It is important to have strong governance in place to ensure that RPA is used responsibly and ethically. This includes having clear policies and procedures for developing, deploying, and maintaining RPA bots.

Wrong processes get automated.

Not all processes are created equal when it comes to RPA. Some processes are better suited for automation than others. For example, processes that are repetitive, rule-based, and high-volume are ideal candidates for RPA. However, processes that are complex, non-standard, or require a lot of human judgment are not good candidates for RPA.

Lack of testing

Before any automation is deployed to production, it is important to test it thoroughly. This includes testing the bot’s functionality, performance, and scalability. If the bot is not tested properly, it could cause errors or disruptions in the business process.

Lack of clear ROI measurements

One of the benefits of RPA is that it can help organizations save time and money. However, to realize these savings, it is important to measure the ROI of RPA. This means tracking the costs and benefits of RPA over time. By measuring the ROI of RPA, organizations can see how much money and/or time they are saving and make sure that RPA is a worthwhile investment.

Long term bot maintenance

RPA projects are not a one-time effort. They require ongoing management to ensure that they continue to be successful. This includes tasks such as monitoring the performance of the bots, updating the bots as needed, and resolving any issues that arise. It is important to have a team of dedicated RPA professionals who can manage the ongoing operations of the project.

Lack of change management

RPA can cause significant changes to the way that organizations operate. It is important to have a change management plan in place to help employees and end users adapt to these changes. The change management plan should communicate the benefits of RPA, address employee concerns, and provide training on how to use RPA bots.