Integrate RPA With ERP: Take ERP To The Next-Level-RPA Solutions

In many industries, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) adoption and its use cases are growing rapidly. Enterprises are now investing in this advanced technology to automate various back-office processes connected to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. With its compatibility to both legacy and modern systems, RPA bots are the cost-effective solutions to scale business with enhanced capacity of existing resources. The digitization transition of companies is changing versions of traditional ERP systems across industries, overcoming limitations, and filling the gaps in the full potential usage of these systems. Moreover, industrial experts say that integrating RPA with ERP can deliver a higher return on investment (ROI) through accelerated speed and efficiency as well as reduced errors and cost.

Enterprises have become more focused on RPA technology as it offers substantial benefits including cost savings, faster processing speed, elimination of manual errors, and enhanced compliance. Therefore, they have been particularly proactive in automating back-end processes within the company's ERP system, identifying various tasks across sales, procurement, finance & accounting, human resources, and other administrative functions to be done by RPA bots.

The use of RPA for ERP-driven processes gives organizations a competitive edge to scale their operations manifold without major disruption in management. In addition, the bots handle the time-consuming, repetitive, manual tasks with more speed and accuracy, allowing the team to focus on other important higher-value tasks.

How Enterprises can leverage RPA to fuel ERP performance

There are many tasks involved in ERP that are necessary to do but are repetitive, prone-to-manual error, and time-consuming. These tasks are common across various ERP modules such as Finance & Accounts, HR & Administration, Supply Chain, and Sales & Marketing. By automating these tasks, RPA adds speed and efficiency to the ERP system along with reducing dependency on human employees.
Following are the top 5 ERP tasks that can be automated by RPA:

1. Multiple Transaction Entry

Some transactions require multiple records to be inserted into an application through different standard forms. RPA-based forms allow users to enter the required information once and then the RPA bot navigates through necessary application forms and insert pieces of the information required by each one. It releases the user from the task of entering the same identifying information multiple times.

2. Create Spreadsheet

With an RPA process, it is easier to generate a spreadsheet with information obtained from different sources, as well as import spreadsheet information into an application to create transactions. It provides system users access to functionality that otherwise would need to be updated manually in ERP.

3. Run Sets of Processes

In some business processes, multiple jobs must be performed simultaneously. Users must launch multiple processes and wait for each one to complete before launching the next process. A software bot can be configured to run an entire set of processes or reports in ERP, requiring the user to execute only single action and leaving the rest of the running set to the RPA process.

4. Reports

Software bots can easily navigate through different application windows, search for relevant information, and then organize it into a spreadsheet for further analysis. This process involves running other reports to use as a data set, filtering records, applying calculations, and adding information from as many sources as required.

5. Send Email

In many cases of corporate communication, an email is created using information extracted from an application. Also with an increase in the number of corporate alliances, there is a significant rise in the emails being received and sent daily in a business. These emails need to be segmented to make sure that a proper response is sent to each sender in a company and to prevent overwhelming and messy accumulation of emails. This tiresome task can be accomplished through RPA easily that simplifies the email process for users by segmenting common emails into relevant folders as per the company’s requirements.

Key Benefits of RPA Integration with ERP

The RPA-ERP combination empowers enterprises to leverage the full potential of ERP systems with higher efficiency and accuracy. Following are the key benefits of integrating RPA solutions with the ERP system:

• Allows for faster reporting, data entry, onboarding, and other activities
• Reduces human dependency for managing ERP System
• Brings scalability and automation
• Enables enterprises to achieve benchmarked compliance by fixing certain conditions within automation rules
• Automates data entry in ERP system
• Increases efficiency and productivity
• Increases cost savings

Both Robotic Process Automation and Enterprise Resource Planning have the potential to make business processes more cost-effective and efficient in many different ways. Both have significant advantages over traditional IT implementations. Before enterprises move forward with an RPA deployment, they should continually evaluate the performance of their ERP system whether it is supporting business requirements or holding them back. This assessment ensures that they are making the right decisions for their short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals.