Process automation helps retain employees 

SAP systems are indispensable for many companies - around 77 percent of all transactions worldwide are carried out via an SAP system. On the other hand, the manual, repetitive entry of data tires many employees. In the context of the current shortage of skilled workers, this is a problem that should not be underestimated. In a new, representative study by UiPath, four out of ten full-time employees in Germany state that they are considering changing jobs due to these repetitive tasks, as 37 percent would like more creative tasks in their daily work. 

Automation

Companies should therefore invest in intelligent software automation. Although this process often starts at the C-level and is implemented via the IT department, it does not have to stop there - thanks to the citizen developer approach, all employees can be involved. They themselves identify processes that can be automated and, with the help of low-code tools, are able to set up these automations themselves. On the one hand, this increases acceptance of automation software and, on the other, relieves employees of repetitive tasks.

Bapi and WinGUI

Tasks that can be easily automated include logging into an SAP S/4 Hana system, linking via Bapi, automating user input through SAP WinGUI, extracting data from documents such as invoices or orders, and processing the extracted data in the corresponding SAP system. The intelligent software automation can even be used across programs and integrate third-party applications without a programming interface. Data from CRM systems and internal ERP systems can thus be easily integrated. Thanks to machine learning, intelligent process automation goes one step further: in addition to the automated execution of specific processes, the software can optimize these processes and generate new insights thanks to machine learning. The finance department, for example, can use automation to forecast financial returns. In HR, the software can be used to analyze applicants' records according to predefined categories. 

Artificial intelligence

Compared to traditional automation, AI-powered automation can also analyze unstructured data. Bringing order into a quantity of structured data is time-consuming and should therefore also be automated. However, the real challenge for many companies often lies in draining so-called data lakes and structuring data. Here lies an immense advantage of intelligent process automation. 

Great Resignation

While companies have to deal with the effects of the skills shortage and Great Resignation, it is highly advisable to take advantage of the latest technologies. Intelligent process automation can not only relieve employees of repetitive tasks - thanks to artificial intelligence, the software can analyze data and generate new insights. So automation not only helps companies retain employees, it also helps them gain a competitive advantage thanks to new analytics.