Enterprise automation is the use of technology to reduce manual processes and streamline complex workflows across multiple departments in a large organization. Integration platforms, artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics tools are all examples of enterprise automation technologies.
Jitterbit’s AI-infused, low-code enterprise automation platform — Jitterbit Harmony — is transforming the way businesses orchestrate critical processes, operations and workflows.
How does an enterprise automation platform work, what technologies make it possible, and what benefits do these technologies bring to large organizations? In this article, we’ll explore the unique challenges enterprises face regarding process automation, as well as strategies to address them and a look at where enterprise process automation is headed.
Types of Enterprise Process Automation
Enterprise automation is driven by various technologies that work together to optimize workflows, such as:
- Integration Platforms: Enterprise process automation relies heavily on integration — the ability to combine different software, applications and data sources into one unified system. By implementing iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) technology, businesses can automate processes and data flows between CRM, ERP and other core applications.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI technology has the power to automatically transform massive enterprise datasets into actionable insights, allowing businesses to make more informed decisions. AI and machine learning can also be used to automate customer support through chatbots, process documents and identify opportunities to optimize existing workflows.
- Robotic Process Automation (RPA): RPA refers to technology that automates repetitive, rule-based tasks using bots. RPA can be used to enter data, process transactions and respond to simple customer queries.
- Business Process Automation (BPA): Business process automation refers to technology that automates more complex, multi-step workflows than robotic process automation. BPA technology is capable of automating processes across systems and departments to improve operational agility.
- Data Analytics Tools: Data analytics tools allow enterprises to quickly process and interpret large data volumes, monitor performance and predict future outcomes, enabling faster decision-making and reducing reliance on manual data analysis.
- Low-Code Application Development Tools: Low-code app development tools empower teams to create and deploy new automation solutions. These tools feature a visual interface with pre-made templates and drag-and-drop components, letting users without extensive coding knowledge create without having to rely on IT staff to custom-code new automated workflows.
Unique Challenges of Enterprise-Level Automation
For high-growth enterprises, or “scale-ups,” process automation is especially crucial to maintain operational efficiency during periods of rapid expansion. Without an automation strategy, these businesses easily get caught in a “growth trap,” increasing their revenue with a successful business model, but failing to generate profit as they struggle to manage an increasingly complex organization.
It’s not just these new, rapidly growing businesses that benefit from automation: Established enterprises that rely on outdated manual processes and legacy systems must also evolve to meet modern market demands. However, large organizations face unique challenges when it comes to implementing automated systems due to their size.
Let’s look at some of the most common obstacles to becoming an automated enterprise, and how Jitterbit Harmony can help overcome them.
Challenge #1: Company-Wide Adoption of New Processes
Manual processes — recurring business workflows that must be done by people, such as manually transferring data between platforms — are not only slower than automated processes, but also more prone to error. Relying on individuals to carry out manual processes can lead to inefficiencies, inconsistencies and increased operational costs.
While manual processes are a pain point for businesses of all sizes, enterprises have the most to gain from switching to automated, integrated systems. At the same time, enterprises have a higher hurdle to jump when it comes to company-wide adoption. Getting thousands of employees across multiple departments to embrace new processes is no easy task, requiring effective change management and comprehensive training programs to ensure a smooth transition.
How Jitterbit Harmony solves this challenge: Harmony’s automation capabilities help connect data and automate processes across departments and systems, ensuring consistency and reducing manual processes throughout the enterprise. Harmony’s user-friendly, low-code design also helps to simplify the onboarding process for both technical and non-technical teams.
Challenge #2: Lack of Integration
When a company’s software solutions, platforms and technologies are not fully integrated, it creates siloed data and disconnected systems. This fragmentation makes it difficult for departments to access and share critical data, delays decision-making and increases operational costs. This lack of synchronization undermines the effectiveness of the automated enterprise, resulting in incomplete and inconsistent data.
How Jitterbit Harmony solves this challenge: With comprehensive integration platform capabilities through Jitterbit iPaaS, the Harmony platform ensures a smooth, real-time flow of data across all departments. With pre-built connectors and a visual interface, disconnected systems can be integrated quickly without extensive technical know-how.
Challenge #3: Large Data Volumes
Large organizations generate and collect massive volumes of data — customer data, inventory, sales, supply chains and HR information are just a few examples of business-critical information that enterprises have to manage.
Enterprise automation relies on a seamless flow and integration of data. When data is fragmented across disparate systems, it not only disrupts the automation process, but also reduces the accuracy and effectiveness of automated workflows, making implementation difficult.
How Jitterbit Harmony solves this challenge: The Harmony platform provides a 360-degree view of your business by integrating data across all systems, applications and platforms, providing consistent data for automated processes. This 360-degree view of data provides better insights and improves enterprise decision making.
How to Create an Enterprise Automation Strategy
Most C-level executives agree that enterprise-level automation would make it easier to scale, operate and grow their businesses — but as we’ve already outlined, these large organizations face unique challenges when it comes to implementation. To navigate these challenges, it’s crucial to create an enterprise automation strategy that addresses both the technical and organizational aspects of the process.
1. Identify current pain points and desired outcomes
Start by assessing existing workflows and identifying specific pain points where automation can provide the most value. Set measurable goals based on your desired outcomes —for example, reducing data entry errors by a certain percentage, reducing operational costs by a certain amount, or reducing the amount of time it takes to respond to customer inquiries.
2. Choose the right automation technology
Enterprise process automation is the result of various technologies working together. Select technologies that are compatible with your existing systems, align with your business objectives and address your pain points. For example, an enterprise struggling with disparate systems should consider an integration solution as part of its automation strategy.
3. Create an implementation roadmap
Develop a detailed plan for deploying automation solutions. This roadmap should outline key milestones, timelines and resource requirements. A phased approach can help manage complexity and ensure a smooth transition.
4. Engage employees and stakeholders
Effective change management is essential for successful automation. Communicate the benefits of automation to employees and stakeholders, and provide the necessary training and support to facilitate adoption. Engaging these groups early on will help in ensuring a successful rollout.
5. Monitor performance and make adjustments
Once automated processes are implemented, it’s important to monitor their performance based on the key metrics you established in the first step. Regularly evaluate their impact on business operations and make data-driven adjustments as needed to optimize performance and achieve your desired outcomes.
The Future of Enterprise Automation
There’s no doubt that the future of enterprise automation will continue to be shaped by advances in AI technology. In a digital world where businesses have to navigate increasingly complex IT environments, AI-powered automation will play a major role in bridging the gaps between systems, applications and data sources.
Enterprise process automation isn’t just getting smarter, though — it’s becoming more user-friendly, too. Low-code is another trend shaping the future of automation, allowing non-technical teams to develop, maintain and manage complex automations without relying on IT resources, leading to faster time to value.
Jitterbit Harmony: An AI-Infused Enterprise Automation Platform
Using a powerful combination of AI and low-code technology, Jitterbit Harmony empowers enterprises to automate complex processes, improve operational efficiency and achieve a unified view of their operations. Learn how the Jitterbit Harmony platform, including iPaaS, API Manager, App Builder and EDI, can future-proof your operations and drive business innovation. Talk with an automation expert today.