From Desktop Automation to Artificial Intelligence - A journey

In my previous post i.e. Do you really need RPA in your Business? I stated the high level criteria for any enterprise automation seeker to classify  a process as eligible for automation or not. 

Automation can also be classified into various stages. Some process automation only require partial automation or automation of certain steps within a workflow which is now popular by the name of desktop automation or RDA (Robotic Desktop Automation), Where as other business cases are more of enabling the organization wide systems with power to take autonomous rule based decisions which is popularly know as AI or Artificial Intelligence. 

The objective of this post is to understand the stages in the journey from RDA to AI and what are the criteria to achieve each state. 

1.     RDA (Robotic Desktop Automation):

The basic need for any enterprise that is very new to automation is that it wants to reduce the redundant work for its work force or increase the output of the workforce. This need is generally answered b automation of certain steps in the tasks which are conducted by the workflow. These steps may still need human intervention as the decision making is done by human beings. 

• RDA is process driven
• Manual intervention is needed as trigger is human initiated
• Decision making is done my humans
• Some steps in a workflow are automated to reduce tasks which were earlier done by human beings
• Examples are copy pasting data from excel to form or vice versa

2.     RPA (Robotic Process Automation): 

The next obvious step is to allow the process to take decision to trigger the event so that human intervention is reduced even further. Thus this level of automation intends to automate not just few steps but move towards increasing the level of automation in the entire workflow or process to achieve a final state of complete process automated with minimal or no human intervention

• ·          RPA is also process driven
• ·          Triggers are digital and self serviced
• ·          Intent is to automate the end to end workflow
• ·          Triggers are rule based
• ·          Examples are digital customer journey for opening of a new bank account

3.     ML (Machine Learning):

The next successive state for any enterprise in this journey is to allow the system do make decsions based on previous decisions made by humans. The in the previous two states we have seen that the triggers or decision are either made by humans or based on rules made by humans. This state however takes it to a new level where the decisions are made based on the data and decision rules are selected by machines based on the data.

• ·          ML is data driven
• ·          Perspective analysis and decision engines are at the heart of this stage
• ·          Triggers are based on historic data, rules are made based on historic data
• ·          Its not focused on one workflow but is capable of enterprise wide transformation
• ·          Examples are running decision engines and data analysis on customer journey’s and repeat purchase to come up with decision on product positioning and marketing mix

4.     AI (Artificial Intelligence):

The ultimate state for an enterprise is to be able to create intelligent systems which can not only make decisions but are also able to assist its stakeholders in making intelligent decisions. Intelligent systems can not only make decisions based on historical data but also are capable to deducing future events based on current set of steps and information from past.

• ·          AI data driven
• ·          Deductive analysis is the heart of this stage
• ·          System is intelligent to guide humans to take certain steps
• ·          Examples which I can think of “Jarvis” from Age of Ultron

Social media consulting as a career

Since now we have read about how to drive traffic to your blog http://madhurdhawan.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html and how can businesses generate sales leads using LinkedIn http://madhurdhawan.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html , lets now understand that if you have limitless passion for social networks and even tweet about what time you went to the loo today, you convert this passion to a career!

Just imagine how much fun it would be if you get paid for being on facebook or just for tweeting :p.

I am not kidding. In today’s internet active business environment, every business understands the importance of Social Media and the impact of web presence on the business. Management understands the importance of social media but on the other hand do not have dedicated experts to work on the same. Organizations are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with the fast paced social media scenario and the amount of time required to maintain their web presence.

You, yes you can be the solution! How? Just read along to know...

Businesses today look for one stop solution to maintain and upkeep their face on social media world, freelance consultants are best solution for this as organizations find it easier to hire them and get expert advice without taking them on their payrolls :)

So it does not matter if you are an internet junkie or are a master in business studies, you can choose to be a social media advisor or social media jockey for a business. This business might be your own college or a coaching class.

The only thing I would like to highlight is that you would have to prove your worth before you start earning on per hour basis, so don’t mind doing a couple of projects for free ;)

cheers!