Top-Down vs Bottom-Up: Which Automation Approach Should You Choose?

Starting from the top, the executives spark the first step in this approach, with a clear mindset and vision towards results due to their capability and understanding of every organizational function, this sets a path of clarity for everyone. Every part of the organization benefits through this, with a large thinking to begin with and then towards each integral part ensuring a good ROI (read how to calculate ROI)

Goal

An executive’s mindset is simple- the focus is on ROI. They are looking for automation methods which provide them with a good amount of cost savings throughout the organization, provide them with efficiency improvements and an increased capacity to scale.

Discovery

This approach uses process mining tools to detect processes within your organization which take minimal human intervention and thus can easily be automated. As process mining tools help in discovery, monitoring and optimization of operations, you can utilize it to find gaps within processes and opportunities to implement RPA and fill the gap.

Benefits

• Improved Operational Efficiency: Processes being automated reduce errors and consume less time than manual work (up to 75% faster) thus operational efficiency sees a direct impact due to automation.
• Increased Profitability: As organizational & operational efficiency improves, it is directly reflected in the expenditure leading to a visible increase in profits (up to 60% increase).

How to Track Results?

Execution is just the beginning and industry leaders need solid results. With the Top-Down automation approach, the following are the factors through which you can measure success.

3 Important Considerations

1. Implementing automation and maintaining it invites expenses, the cost required to plan and execute RPA strategies must be considered before moving forward with this approach.
2. Address the employee concerns of job security and organizational and departmental restructuring. Automation always aims towards assisting the personnel, not replacing them.
3. Bringing in RPA to your organization is a huge decision leading to big changes at every level, thus a buy-in from every department is crucial before implementation.

This is a strategy that encourages grassroot innovation and continuous improvement of the workforce. By using the Bottom-Up approach, organizations can utilize the firsthand knowledge and expertise of their workforce, enhancing efficiency from within. This results in more practical and effective automation solutions while also increasing employee engagement and ownership of the automation process.

Goal

This approach is human-centric and thus aims at giving customers a better experience and improving satisfaction. As this approach is fostered within the employees, another objective is a big improvement in employee satisfaction (89% of employees report better job satisfaction with automation).

Discovery

The employees are the grassroot level elements who are best aware of practical and vital places where automation can be implemented, thus discovery is done through crowd-sourced ideas using Automation Hub or Task Capture. This approach makes sure that any automated task is well-aligned with the practicality of employees.

Benefits

• Increased Employee Engagement: This approach fosters a better organizational culture as it enables employees to give in to their role in the automation, empowering them and making them feel valued.
• Increased Customer Satisfaction: Improvement in the employee engagement and motivation leads to better customer experience and satisfaction

How to Track Results?

This approach’s success is measured differently but does have some similarity with the Top-Down approach. Ultimately, they lead to the organization’s growth and development. You can look for the following factors to track the result.

3 Important Considerations

1. Accommodate failures and learn to invest more in employees. As this is a new thing for them, trial and error keeps happening, but it is important to learn from them and avoid certain mistakes.
2. Being flexible and developing an ability to adapt in an agile manner according to the changes due to automation will come in handy.
3. Adopting a flat organizational structure is important to promote a more collaborative environment as everyone needs to be on board with the changes.

Many CEO’s have already realized why they need an RPA strategy. Both the Top-Down and Bottom-Up approaches to automation offer unique benefits and challenges. The Top-Down method is great for quickly boosting efficiency and profitability, whereas the Bottom-Up method promotes an inclusive culture, improving employee and customer satisfaction.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your organization’s needs, goals, and culture. By considering these factors, you can select the approach that will deliver the most value for your business.

If you still are uncertain about RPA needs for your organization, feel free to contact our RPA experts.