Fujitsu simplifies Robotic Process Automation deployment

RPA has generated a significant amount of customer demand, thanks to its ability to deploy fast and unobtrusive software robot technology to automate many day-to-day business processes. RPA enables organisations to save money and increase efficiency by unburdening employees from monotonous, repetitive tasks, while at the same time enhancing customer satisfaction by avoiding delays or human error in data entry. Software bots can also take on more complex assignments, such as performing a range of tasks involved in processing an insurance claim, including the digitisation of handwritten text, and even incorporate elements of machine learning, for example in helping decide whether or not to honour a claim.

However, many organisations are struggling to scale RPA successfully, with numerous automation programs subsequently failing to achieve their objectives. Fujitsu is addressing this issue with the introduction of RPA as a Service, focused on providing easy access to the clear benefits of automation.

Fujitsu’s RPA-as-a-Service is designed to ensure a smooth and efficient start to automation journeys. First, Fujitsu consultants work closely with customers to create a short-term roadmap of the monotonous, repetitive processes that can easily be automated. This information is then used to build a realistic business case that can be presented to senior management. The next step is to run pilot projects to help test the concept and prove the business case. Customers can get started easily and scale when required, all with a pay-as-you-go approach. The fixed-price service includes provisioning, implementation, maintenance and optimisation.

Bjarne Rasmussen, Head of the RPA Center of Excellence at Fujitsu, comments: “Almost all organisations have an automation agenda, but many are failing to achieve the full potential of RPA, which is leading to RPA anxiety. This is worsened as many businesses face contradictory RPA goals: On the one hand, they have to build a business case that shows short-term gains, but on the other hand, they need to deliver long-term benefits in terms of customer satisfaction, agility and increased efficiency. Working with Fujitsu addresses both challenges by achieving long-term value, not only through increased agility and reduced costs, but also via rapid gains in efficiency and a transparent cost structure from the start.”

By deploying Fujitsu’s RPA-as-a-Service, customers can take advantage of process automation with a transparent, pay-as-you-go approach that allows them to document precisely how many hours the automation is delivering back to their businesses. There is no need for a large upfront investment in IT infrastructure and skills acquisition, and as a result, the costs remain closely mapped to the benefits that are unlocked. Furthermore, RPA solutions are easy to scale once the projects are established and have secured stakeholder support.

Once defined, the Fujitsu RPA-as-a-Service runs software bots either on a customer’s own premises or in a Fujitsu data center. Deployments are constantly monitored, maintained and optimised to ensure they are effective, via the Fujitsu Cloud Service K5.