6 Steps to Successful RPA Implementation in 2024

RPA implementation is straightforward if you have a clear and detailed roadmap. Most RPA deployments take less than 2 months (see Figure 1). This includes time required to configure, test and launch RPA bots into production.

Figure 1. Average speed to RPA deployment

Below, you can find a detailed roadmap for RPA implementation. If you want to know more about RPA first, here is the most comprehensive article for that.

1. Identify processes that will yield the greatest benefits

To maximize the impact of RPA, identify the most impactful processes. These processes tend to be

• Highly impactful on revenues
• High volume 
• Fault tolerant
• Error prone
• Speed-sensitive
• Requiring irregular labor

2. Select processes that can be easily automated with RPA

Such processes tend to be:

• Rules based
• With few exceptions
• Company-specific
• Mature
• Not on the roadmap for new systems

Explore processes identification in detail in our in-depth article about identifying processes that benefit the most from automation.

3. Convince the organization

Even in automation, it’s really about the people. Therefore, it is important to:

1. Get management buy-in
2. Get team buy-in
3. Convince other business units

Explore in detail who and how to convince business units to invest in RPA in our in-depth article

4. Prepare for implementation

In order to prepare for implementation, the first step would be to:

• Understand the process: To understand the processes, business leaders can combine two approaches:
  • Interviews with operators that currently run the process
  • Deploying task mining and process mining to derive data about processes’ automatability.
• Improve the process: Processes can be improved by process improvement methodologies, and many processes within an organization have potential for improvement and simplification before implementing automation solutions.

5. Implement the solution

To implement the solution, follow the best practices:

1. Choose your partners
2. Choose your task mining / process mining solution
3. Choose your RPA solution
4. Choose the AI/ML providers to facilitate your RPA deployment
5. Choose your RPA implementation partners
6. Develop your solution
7. Test your solution
8. Run a pilot
9. Go live
10. Maintain the RPA installation

Explore these steps in detail in our in-depth article about the preparation and implementation of a successful RPA solution.

6. Post-implementation

To manage your RPA solution post-implementation, follow these steps:

1. Measure the impact of RPA
2. Manage your technology in light of RPA
3. Consider launching an RPA center of excellence
4. Manage RPA impact on jobs
5. RPA Training

Read in detail how to measure RPA success in our comprehensive article on managing RPA post implementation

Now that you are ready to implement RPA solutions, check our data-driven list of vendors, and we can help you choose the right tool for your company’s size and industry so you can proceed effectively: