Opportunities and challenges brought by RPA in project management

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is one of the latest trends in business operations. It automates structured, repeatable, rule-based processes by reducing time and cost, eliminating human error, i.e. increasing efficiency and productivity, making people's work and life easier. According to some forecasts, 72% of enterprises expect to invest in RPA in the next few years. But there may also be issues with differences between macro or script solutions and RPA. Unlike macros or traditional software tools that manage simplified basic processes, RPA software solutions automate complex tasks. In addition, RPA can interact with multiple applications at the same time and perform multiple functions simultaneously through interaction. Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to call it a fundamental technology.

However, sometimes employees may not view RPA as beneficial to productivity. In fact, it is sometimes seen as a threat to displace their jobs. In most cases, RPA robots can free up time for employee development or to complete more valuable work, but there are not always different roles.

Another risk of adopting RPA is that although it can reduce costs and increase productivity, and the efficiency is very attractive, there may be unrealistic expectations. Today's RPA may become more complex than most people hope. There is no direct correlation between automation adoption and cost reduction.

The second theme project is management. Project management is a very specific role, that is, managing impactful projects. The industry expert said that he always thinks of a project as an organization, and the project manager is the CEO of the organization. There are many aspects to consider: budget, people, time, strategy, risk, quality, suppliers, etc., just like running a company. As a result, project managers need to act like superheroes or multitasking wizards, adapting to sudden and sweeping changes on a daily basis.

So, considering all these factors, can RPA help project management activities reduce time and cost and increase efficiency? Also, there are some other parameters such as machine learning, cognitive computing, pattern matching, artificial intelligence , artificial intelligence is not just robots, but also incorporates intelligence into the equation. So, is this a threat or an opportunity for project management?

Of course, the current answer is no. As mentioned before about the role of the project manager, whenever the CEO's job will be automated, then there is a possibility.

The most important reason is that project management not only deals with processes or rules, but also risks, problems, changes, and human factors. Therefore, its structure is not very good. Although some methods are used, it is not repeatable and every project has a different story. Businesses always gain experience and lessons learned after every project. So, how do you create rules that robots can enforce? Especially since agile has taken such an important place in people's lives.

But this does not mean that RPA cannot be used in project management. The problem is, companies can’t replace project managers or agile leaders like Scrum Masters with robots. In project management, only some repeatable tasks can be given to robots, not humans. Data-driven schedule management, resource planning, real-time reporting, tracking and closing activities are the first examples that come to mind. Constructing website forms to collect requirements is another good example of using RPA. The functionality of checking user interface elements, data inputs, process flows, API calls, integrations, and system responses through RPA is called test automation, which helps in proper management of time instead of manual testing. Especially in agile sprints, testing or supporting prototypes or pilot projects will significantly increase project costs.

Getting customer support through chatbots is another great practice. RPA is integrated with intelligent systems, including functions such as text analysis, sentiment analysis, and natural language processing. This allows businesses to have responsive chatbots, which is especially important during the maintenance phase of a project.

Therefore, RPA cannot be a threat to the project manager, but a great supporter, which is a key aspect of the role.

The above is the detailed content of Opportunities and challenges brought by RPA in project management. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!