Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Intelligent Automation (IA) is leading the conversation in boardrooms around the country and across industries. Bizmod founding partner Seugnet van den Berg says that while this new way of working is the future and seen to be a cost effective solution, it is often forgotten that the key element that will enable these programmes to generate a return on investment is the human element and not only the technical abilities.
“The crucial capability required to help make these initiatives focus on the human element is Change Management,” says Van den Berg.
A traditional definition of Change Management is the process, tools and techniques to manage the people side of change to achieve the required business outcome. Van den Berg says even though the discipline has formalised and matured over the last few years, Bizmod is still finding that organisations don’t have a good enough understanding of Change Management requirements in relation to IA and robotics implementations. Most clients think it is communication and training, but few clients pay attention to the impact of the changes they are implementing and the effect it has on the company culture in the long run.