While many businesses will cite increased productivity and efficiency as the two biggest drivers of automation software adoption, the use of these tools to safeguard operations from certain disruptions is also a viable reason to invest. In today's threat-filled, complex working environments, so many variables exist that could essentially lead to outages stemming from poor IT management, unforeseen issues with staff members and beyond.
Automation, notably for workflow and business process management, can help companies bolster the effectiveness of their continuity plans, as certain core procedures will run without any need for human intervention. Additionally, with respect to ensuring preferable uptime of systems, the use of automation for vulnerability checks, system maintenance and other routine matters can improve the accuracy and efficiency of these oversight responsibilities.
In the past several decades, a wealth of organizations hailing from diverse industries have either positioned automation deployments to be used specifically for these matters, or ended up falling back on the tools in place when an adverse event occurred. Whether firms want to improve daily operations or strengthen their resilience to disruptions, a breadth of automation software can be used to reach greener, safer pastures in no time.
A refinery tale
Bloomberg recently reported that many refineries have started to hit snags with respect to talent gaps and other issues that are leaving their technician workforce shorthanded, thus threatening to slow down production and potentially decrease revenues. According to the news provider, a strike that is estimated to be the worst in more than three decades has been the real cause for concern, but enterprises in the sector are not waiting for it to come to an end to begin making changes.
Although there is an argument to be made that automation works best as a tool that supports employees, there is also something to be said about leveraging the tools to protect productivity and revenues in situations such as this one. The source explained that the use of automation for certain core technician processes is helping U.S. refineries surpass this massive obstacle, and that is likely good news for a wealth of the general population given the fact that these industries serve utilities and public infrastructure.
Officials from some of the relevant firms seemed confident that automation, along with other procedures, would ensure the continuity of service investors and clientele expect from refineries.
"Refineries are highly automated operations that should be able to run with minimal disruption in the initial days and weeks," Wells Fargo Securities analyst Roger Read told investors, according to Bloomberg. "Strikes are not new to the industry and a combination of non-union management and contract workers will be called in to maintain operations."
Later on in the article, the news provider pointed out that companies forced to overcome these obstacles are far more automated today than when the last major strike occurred in 1980, making them more resilient to these challenges and disruptions.
Applications in other industries
Regardless of which sector a business might be competing in, the risk of talent shortages, strikes and other disruptions can be moderate to severe, and having failsafes in place will be critical to maintaining a strong brand image. After all, if production comes to a screeching halt every time an adverse event strikes, investors and clientele are not necessarily going to put that much stake in the company's ability to perform.
As such, leveraging BPM automation, as well as similar tools for workflow, content management, reporting and other core functions, can boost continuity performance and ensure that hiccups do not translate to a loss of business.
