Intelligent Process Automation: A Game Changer for Operating Model Innovation

Organizations that have “accelerating digital transformation” at the top of their agenda are most likely also focusing on “process automation” as a critical enablement technology. Yet, scaling operations and optimizing productivity and efficiency can only get them so far.

Unfortunately, most organizations may be missing a critical opportunity to drive better outcomes and reimagine their future competitiveness with business model innovation. Two-thirds (68%) of executives surveyed by Deloitte adopted automation to respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these deployments were more often viewed as a lifeline for business continuity, rather than a tool for transforming operating models.

According to Jagdish Sahasrabudhe, chief technology officer of the Global Partner Organization at SAP, the right platform can help unlock a wide range of scenarios that go beyond digitalizing simple processes, tasks, and workflows.

“Many of our partners are using SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) to help customers take advantage of this trend to build applications that drive revenue growth,” he writes in his latest blog. “By embedding modern automation in line-of-business systems, they can improve information usability and process efficiency with automation capabilities such as verification workflows, approval processes, content integration, or the retirement of outdated materials and inventory.”

For SAP customers, all these approaches to automation can set a foundation for critical capabilities, such as continuous process improvement, unified work experiences, improved and extended customer connections, and more proactive lead-to-order management. And more importantly, they can help customers gain essential insights into key performance indicators, discover new ways to meet new regulatory requirements, stay ahead of emerging customer expectations, and more.

Check out how some of our partners’ latest projects are helping businesses reimagine the possibilities of their operating models with automation. Read Sahasrabudhe’s blog “Digital Process Automation: Kicking Off a New Generation of Operating Models.”