Intelligent Automation (IA) or Intelligent Process Automation (IPA)- whatever the name might be, the impact of hyper-automation in today’s enterprise cannot be denied. According to a Gartner Survey published in 2020, the average number of hyperautomation projects in enterprises ranges from 4 to 10. Furthermore, 85% of the same survey respondents further stated that they would either sustain or increase their spending on hyperautomation projects in the coming year. Even as more and more enterprises adopt HA technologies, we can anticipate this wave to get bigger and bigger with large enterprises and spread to small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in the years to come.  

The concept of automation has evolved from a buzzword in the boardroom to a game-changer for organizations across many industries. Businesses are now utilizing hyperautomation to achieve digital transformation. 

Automation has existed since the third industrial revolution. The commencement of automation dates back to the industrial revolution era when machines were used on a large scale for manufacturing. However, hyperautomation is different from factory automation, where robots aid in improving efficient operation. It deals with the automation of businesses and IT processes using software solutions.  

The process of hyperautomation involves the use of multiple technologies to automate the work process. These technologies involve robotics, ML, NLP, business process management, etc. Unlike normal automation prices, hyper-automation has its focuses on the organization as a whole. As a result, the transformation happens simultaneously across multiple processes, rather than concentrating on one aspect of the organization.  

Benefits of Hyperautomation 

According to Peter Drucker, there is nothing so useless as doing with excellent efficiency something that should not be done. The software industry is undergoing tremendous change with hyperautomation as well. This process can reduce the technology efforts and make development and support teams more productive. The following are some of the areas where hyperautomation can help in: 

• Simplified Work Processes 

The manual effort of workers reduces with multiple technologies like AI and ML running simultaneously. For example, customer support executives can lessen the intensity of queries when an AI-powered chatbot can answer most questions. 

• Avoid Complex Coding 

With a readily usable set of code libraries like ML, the developers need to put great effort into designing a product from scratch. The default code can be customized based on the operating environment. 

• Time-Saving 

With hyper-automation, employees can reduce manual and redundant work like data entry. Instead, they can focus their energies on core developmental work like innovation. 

• Employee Upskilling: 

With automation no reliant solely on IT skills, a business user has the potential to become an automation thinker, influencer and leader. 

• Digital Agility: 

With several automation technologies working together, a company can move past the one-off benefits of a single technology to a state of true digital agility and flexibility 

Is hyperautomation still a dream? 

Even with high capabilities, the question still lies if hyperautomation is still a dream. In e-commerce warehouses, robots are mostly relegated to automating the material transport and the sorting process. This is true even in advanced factories, including Tesla and Amazon. But there is a huge untapped blue ocean of opportunity in dynamic manipulation where tasks involve picking, orienting, and placing objects under unpredictable conditions. Currently, in factories worldwide, only humans can reliably pick a screw, orient it and put it through the hole. Once the parts are in the right spot, automated power screwdrivers can screw them. But the manual task of picking and placing screws leads to huge inefficiencies in production and can compromise up to 50% of total labor costs involved in manufacturing. 

With its phenomenal growth and adoption. The market insights of hyper-automation are promising. According to Coherent Market Insights, the global hyperautomation market will grow at a CAGR of 18.9% from 2020-to 2027. Extensive digitalization of traditional manufacturing plants will be the primary contributor. 

Sources:

Your Story

Times of India