Nearly 70% of automation initiatives fail. Two of the most common reasons that senior executives gave for the failures was “failed to deliver on expected strategic outcomes” and “didn’t deliver significant value”.
The lack of a shared Automation Roadmap was common in nearly 80% of the failed initiatives.
What does an Automation Roadmap give the business that dramatically increases the likelihood of success? A Roadmap gives the business a “what is says on the tin” outcome. A starting point, a destination and a clear set of milestones along an expected route. Take away any of these three key features from a Roadmap and you are setting off on a far riskier journey. Take way all three key features and the journey is unmapped and to a degree random.
Add in the complexities of change management, choosing appropriate automation technology and understanding and aligning automation outcomes with strategic intent.
A core part of our Strategic Automation methodology to deliver successful outcomes and value is the creation of an Automation Roadmap. This is done by:
- analysing existing business challenges and their root causes
- being clear on the businesses’s strategic intent
- being clear on the core activities in the value chain for the business
- identifying potential automations based on the above analysis
- building in the likely costs, complexities and risk of each potential automation
- identifying a low cost, low risk automation project for a pilot
- creating a roadmap of automation projects to deliver on the strategic intent, help with business challenges and create positive returns on investment.
- ensuring change is managed
Need help with your automation initiative? We can help.