FINAL WORD
If you ’ re serious about automation , it needs to be embedded into a primary C-suite role that ’ s not transitional and a person able to tie-in , and federate tasks or projects across the organization .
Our automation champion needs to be a senior leader tasked with driving digital transformation , by optimizing resources and able to keep pace with evolving customer demands , and fluid market and technology dynamics . They ’ re also the pathway to efficiency and agility , streamlining workflows , enabling the organization to allocate resources to focus on higher-value activities , while maintaining compliance according to internal and external policies .
To succeed and unleash the full potential of intelligent automation ( IA ), organizations need to foster collaborations with their sales , finance , compliance , legal and other functions , as they deploy automation to boost productivity and revenue opportunities across the enterprise . It demands strategic vision , crossfunctional collaboration , and a deep understanding of the enterprise ’ s digital infrastructure .
This is where your product and IT support teams become indispensable as – with a top-down mandate from your CIO / CTO and CEO – everyone is laserfocused on faster tangible outcomes and can capitalize on synergies as internal communication channels are more open and have less barriers to overcome . And if you ’ re working in a constantly changing fast-moving market , as you automate , you ’ re more flexible and better able to control and direct customer conversations based on outcomes when scaling digital workers .
The Importance of Prioritizing Automation at C-level blend of skills , including a deep understanding of technology , business acumen , and change management expertise .
Able to align automation initiatives with business objectives and drive organizational change , they can constantly identify areas ripe for automation , prioritizing initiatives based on their potential impact and securing executive buy-in for automation investments . Moreover , they play a pivotal role in fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement , where automation is embraced as a strategic enabler of business growth .
Build Your ‘ E-Suite ’ with An Eye on the Future
Placing automation directly in the boardroom signals a paradigm shift in managerial leadership , but it also raises questions about the requisite skills and qualifications .
While a CAO sounds great in principle , you need a diverse skill set encompassing technology , business strategy , and change management gained from a process management and IT systems background and a diverse network and knowledge of the business and IT environment .
In most cases , your CIO and / or CTO is the orchestrator of automation initiatives , driving alignment between technology investments and business objectives , understanding of both the technical aspects of automation and the strategic imperatives driving business transformation . They may choose to identify a dedicated role within their leadership team , but will have the overall mandate , breadth of influence and knowledge to drive true transformational and cross departmental change .
The success stories of companies that have embraced automation underscore the transformative potential of strategic automation initiatives . Take , for example , Zurich UK , which identified intelligent automation as a solution to enhance efficiency and bridge process gaps . By prioritizing automation at the executive level and investing in teams , the company streamlined operations , allowing frontline staff to prioritize exceptional customer service .
This is all great , but the journey to automation excellence requires more than just deploying digital workers or implementing robotic process automation ( RPA ) tools . Zurich is a great way of showing how you take a non-traditional IT approach embracing business and operations , and in the process build a multifaceted team with a unique
Looking ahead , automation is poised to become an increasingly critical part of your organization as it continues to evolve . With the proliferation of technologies such as artificial intelligence ( AI ), RPA , and process orchestration , the scope of automation initiatives will only expand . As such , organizations that invest in building automation capabilities and placing automation leadership within the primary C-suite will be best positioned to thrive in the digital age .
The need for top-down thinking and sponsorship underscores the strategic importance of automation in driving digital transformation and business success . By doing so , organizations can accelerate innovation , optimize operations , and gain a competitive edge in today ’ s fast-paced business environment . p
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