Process automation helps organisations speed up repetitive tasks but also enables them to measure performance and use the data to make informed decisions.  That's the view of Paul Holmes-Higgin, the chief product officer of Flowable, the open source BPM (Business Process Management) provider.

When it comes to conversations about automation, it’s typically the possibilities that technology has to offer which grab the headlines. Although it’s important for people to understand the kind of efficiency gains that robots or artificial intelligence can deliver for organisations, there are pre-requisites to consider beforehand to achieve those gains and that merits airtime as well.

Accelerating your digital transformation through the use of automation has reached a tipping point in central government. What was once considered a technology for the future is now entering the mainstream. 

At a recent conference for Java and Software innovation, we bumped into Bernd Rücker, co-founder and chief technologist of open-source workflow and decision automation platform Camunda. We asked Bernd what he felt were the biggest problems facing process automation/process efficiency projects and how Camunda can solve some of these problems. Find out what he said:

The opportunity for any organisation to automate high volume, repetitive tasks is one which is full of allure. When you’re a government department or agency whose core business is built around people-heavy processes it’s even more attractive.   Along with the potential for cost savings and error reduction is the bigger goal of making swathes of routine operations digital and of course, better serving citizens.

How are public sector organisations using automation technologies? Does Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Digital Process Automation (DPA) compete or complement each other?  

Artificial Intelligence provides huge opportunities for government to deliver more for less through increased productivity and to improve the lives of citizens.  The government understands its importance – AI and Data was named as one of the four ‘Grand Challenges’ in the Industrial Strategy White Paper. 

Here is an overview of how we can quickly implement a digital service suitable for both citizens and partners with Digital Process Automation (DPA). The following video shows how a local council can use DPA to digitise and streamline its housing process, empowering public sector employees to create solutions quickly and easily, saving time and money compared to both manual and custom code approaches.

Digital Process Automation (DPA) is a great way to help employees create digital solutions quickly and easily, saving time and money. Here is a real-life scenario, set in a local council housing department, to highlight the advantages of DPA compared to both manual and custom code approaches.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) seems to be riding a crest of a wave at the moment — everyone’s talking about it in digital transformation. But is it the silver bullet it’s made out to be, and how does it work with Digital Process Automation (DPA)?   To RPA, or not RPA? RPA is predominantly screen scraping technology. It’s good for repetitive tasks, quick fixes, plugging gaps and integrating legacy systems with modern applications.