CIO Review: Assistant Vice President of Cognizant’s Center for the Future of Work Says Intelligent Process Automation is the new Imperative for Business Services

“Advances in technology, automation, interconnectedness, user experience, process analytics and machine intelligence have finally aligned to redefine and reshape the very nature of work. As a result, we are entering a new era of human-machine interface for repetitive and rote processes, in which software tools have emerged as the robots for knowledge work,” writes Robert H. Brown. Excerpts:  

“Driving down costs—and achieving greater results from process optimization—has been a business mantra since the dawn of computing. For years, the technology services industry has been intensely focused on lean principles (or process elimination) to meet these objectives.

Today, companies are looking for new “levers” to pull. And the next wave of process efficiency gain and business outcomes will be driven by automation that helps smart robots to complement smart people—by using sophisticated software to automate tasks that humans typically perform.

Today’s smart robots are digital software tools that mimic human tasks at desktop computers by eliminating manual steps. As a result, costs decline, while speed and accuracy rise. It also means that the people essential to the process can do more in less time.

Especially when coupled with deep process insight that machine learning and big data can bring—both of which are derived from data unlocked by robots—by automating systems to better sense, predict and deduce the data they consume, employees can work heads up, not down, with a cognitive, robotic intelligence supporting their own.

Businesses need a fresh approach to their organization models and processes—and they need to digitize to analyze.

Staying put is not an option; intelligence process automation is a crucial new delivery model to make that happen—and it’s here to stay. It also sets a scene for smart automation built and operated by smart people freed from the humdrum, who focus on creating greater business value.”

Click here to read more on page 21 of the magazine.