There are a lot of misconceptions and inaccuracies about Intelligent Automation (IA)
When people think of IA, they often imagine robotic arms operating on the wine production line or handling bottling tasks, but this image is far from the truth.
At least in the circles I deal with, the aims are bringing processes and tasks to the peak of efficiency using intelligent automation tools in areas such as:
Before we dive into the benefits you can obtain as a manager by automating these areas of your Vineyard, I want to clarify some doubts.
Intelligent Automation is not a new concept, and humans have always found ways to ease their work and obtain better results with less effort and in the shortest time possible.
For example, from constructing aqueducts in 312 BC to using Artificial Intelligence (AI) today, we find milestones in the evolution of Automation and its application.
But the baseline is the same. We need to identify the key elements to make an automation improvement. In this example, the Technology was the aqueduct, the Users were the people that consumed the water, and the Process was water transportation.
Therefore, there are three key elements associated with the concept of Automation:
There will always be a task or Process that will need to be automated, and it is precisely when Artificial Intelligent merges that we begin to speak about Intelligent Automation (IA) properly.
Consequently, IA combines several tools developed and applied since the end of the 20th century (RPA, Smart workflow, Natural Language Generation (like ChatGPT), and Advanced Analytics, to name a few).
This is how we reach a breaking point: Intelligent Automation uses bots that learn and adapt using real-time data.
Intelligent Automation provides managers with more objective criteria that allow them to make better informed and more precise decisions.
The previous approaches show us more clearly what IA is (and is not), So let’s look at some unfounded myths.
Myth Nº1: Intelligent Automation will replace people’s work.
When it comes to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Intelligent Automation (IA), significant doubt about the role of the human being in this process inevitably arises.
All new technology has initially generated fear and has been accepted for contributing to human well-being.
The key element: People. People are essential when it comes to implementing any IA project.
Some jobs will disappear, but there will be many more that will be built. In an article in Leaf Automation a week ago, we wrote that skills like creativity, innovation, and ideation will increase.
Human beings will not be eliminated from the equation; instead, new spaces will be opened so that their work generates even more value.
They will no longer perform repetitive tasks that consume valuable time but will perform fundamental tasks that require knowledge and analytical skills.
Therefore, this fear of people being replaced by bots is an idea that is far from reality.
Myth Nº2: Everything is automatable.
This only exists in some managers’ fantasy (only a few, I hope) who dream of automating all their areas’ processes and managing many bots with one single button without needing anyone else.
This scenario will remain in the fiction of movies, at least for many years.
In this new revolution, the focus is on increasing profits through significant savings in execution times, minimizing process errors, executing more effective strategies and making better-informed decisions.
It is critical to do a good mapping of processes and select the best candidate to automate because, in most cases, it will be a hybrid scheme, with automated tasks executed by bots and human tasks interacting in a day-to-day environment. (I will go into more detail with examples in future articles.)
Myth Nº3: Only big corporations (Vineyards) can implement Intelligent Automation.
Regardless of its size, any Vineyard – or some areas- can benefit from implementing IA.
The main concern regarding a project of this kind is cost.
Currently, software licensing used for Intelligent Automation has not only lowered their prices but also has a variety of excellent providers with highly competitive costs. (UiPath, Microsoft, Automation Anywhere, SAP, Salesforce, Rocketbot Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
It is not the goal of this article, but for example, UIPath offers an excellent free cloud licensing option for those looking to dive into the world of Automation. On the other hand, Microsoft’s PowerAutomate provides licenses starting at just $15 per user/month. In markets with an average hourly wage of $25, evaluating the return on investment for these solutions becomes relatively easy.
With these more straightforward ideas in mind and some myths dispelled, there is a possibility to apply actions to the core tasks and processes associated with the reality of the Vineyards.
There is a sea of options that will adjust to your needs and promote your collaborator’s best performance, which will translate into reduced operating costs and an amplified and more satisfactory investment return.
I would like you to continue reading future articles in which you will find recommendations and values to boost your Vineyard to the next level.
Best Regards
Leaf Automation 2023