Are you one of those companies that have deployed RPA? A majority of the 450 executives across multiple regions, industries and company sizes surveyed by Protiviti have adopted the technology, the company said recently.
According to survey results, 95% use or are experimenting with RPA, and of those who have already adopted it, 61% expect to increase implementation in the next two years.
Of all regions, Asia-Pacific companies are the most worried about employee engagement and concerns in the process of RPA adoption, the firm noted.
A total of 37% ranked ‘making sure your staff is on board and RPA responsibilities are defined’ as the most important lesson learned while implementing RPA, compared to 23% in the US and 26% in Europe.
In addition, 72% stated their preparedness to manage employee fears that their jobs will be displaced by automation, the most of any region.
Meanwhile, globally businesses classified as RPA leaders have highlighted the importance of transparency and the benefits of increasing employee engagement by eliminating repetitive tasks, Protiviti said.
“To assuage employee fears, organizations are taking key steps by being transparent about their plans for RPA use, working closely with employees to understand and alleviate their concerns, and accentuating the positive relating to time saved on mundane repetitive work,” said Adam Johnston, Managing Director, Protiviti Hong Kong.
“Many companies are already in front of the issue and aggressively managing the options. More than half of organizations are redeploying staff and providing training for new responsibilities as part of their RPA plans,” he added.
Among Asia-Pacific companies, increased productivity, better quality, and a stronger competitive market position were identified as the three most important benefits they have received from RPA, the firm claimed.
As Asia-Pacific businesses realize the benefits of RPA, many plan to devote more of their budget to further RPA applications, the company said.
In the next two years, 70% approximate an increase in budget allocation to RPA, of which 34% project an increase of more than 5%, it added.
This is largely on par with plans for future investment in the US and Europe, the two other regions surveyed, the firm observed.
