A typical organization has hundreds if not thousands of standardized processes that are performed during the normal course of business. These include simple processes such as the issuing of invoices, and more complex processes like how a new employee should be onboarded. Many of these processes can be automated with robotic processing automation (RPA).
The original value proposition of computers was to make life simpler for humans by reducing repetitive manual tasks, and the robotic processing automation built into ERP solutions such as S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition delivers on this original value proposition.
When triggered, robotic processing automation automatically performs a highly logical task within the ERP system that doesn’t require human decision-making. It performed these tasks through pre-defined logic and digital inputs that are programmed into the RPA.
One example of RPA is automatically entering data from a connected device into a spreadsheet, then applying calculations, data formatting, and generating a report based on a trigger such as the day of the month.
The “robotic” part of robotic processing automation is that these automation are logical and process-driven, unlike artificial intelligence engines that more closely replicate the way humans perform tasks. Robotic processing automation is exception-based, so it can be programmed to continue operating even if an error is encountered at a particular step. But it still operates on a step-by-step basis with conditional logic, which is what most people expect when they hear the word “automation.”
Robotic processing automation is available throughout all parts of the S/4HANA Cloud solution. Since ERP encompasses all parts of a business, this enables a wide range of automation opportunities that a business can take advantage of to eliminate repetitive tasks and simplify the complexity of the business. This system-wide robotic processing automation is one reason that ERP is so valuable as a unified system.
Intelligent Robotic Processing Automation
S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition makes robotic processing automation more intelligent by combining it with machine learning. This intelligent robotic processing automation is able to perform more complex automation tasks than what is possible with purely procedural automation routines.
With intelligent robotic processing automation, a business can include more complex automation that historically only could be performed by humans. These dull but necessary routine tasks now can be done by the ERP system instead, enabling employees to focus on higher-value tasks.
One good example of intelligent robotic processing automation is the automatic creation of sales order requests from unstructured data. An intelligent robotic processing automation bot can monitor incoming e-mails and find those that contain attachments with sales order keywords. The bot then can extract this sales order and add it to the ERP system.
This intelligent automation both saves time and cuts down on manual errors during processing.
Robotic Processing Automation in Practice
The range of robotic processing automation that a business apply with S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition almost is limitless, and it can touch all parts of the business.
For example, a manufacturing business can use it to automatically post goods movement between a plant and storage location, saving time for warehouse employees. The output of each order can be tracked in a spreadsheet and a robotic process automation bot can submit the goods receipt for multiple orders in one request. The bot can automate these records of materials movement.
Another example is automation for procurement. Robotic processing automation can maintain the catalog items for purchasing on a daily basis. An intelligent bot can create catalog items from Excel, maintain a catalog for purchasing, and automatically pick only those catalog items that are marked relevant for update/deactivation and then perform the action.
Some of the other common ways that businesses can use robotic processing automation include automated upload of general ledger entries, automated release of supplier invoices upon customer payment, intelligent production order conversion, mass update of asset master data, creation of customer returns, collection and update of dispute case information, and many others.
Templated Automation and Build Your Own
S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition comes with a range of pre-defined robotic processing automation that a business can draw from. These pre-defined automations encourage a reduction in manual processes and are easy to use and set up.
Businesses also can develop their own automations with S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition by using SAP Build, a low-code development editor available on the SAP Business Technology Platform.
With SAP Build, authorized employees can build their own intelligent robotic processing automation for the particular needs of their business. These custom automatics can draw from external company systems that are connected through integration, as well as cloud services and online marketplaces connected via API. With SAP Build, a business can deeply automate processes even when data lives on another system within the business ecosystem.
This combination of pre-built and custom automation dramatically increases the scope of potential robotic processing automation that a business can put in place to reduce complexity and drive increased efficiency.
Learn More About How ERP Can Help with Robotic Processing Automation
To learn more about robotic processing automation or how ERP can simplify the complexity of your business, contact one of our experienced ERP consultants at (801) 642-0123 or by writing us at info@nbs-us.com.
