Digital Process Automation (DPA) – what is it and when is it needed?

Digitalizing a business is no longer a goal reserved solely for large organizations. Small and medium-sized enterprises are also interested in digital adoption and are seeking tools to support their transformations. Once they have moved past the initial stages, they often begin reviewing automation-related technologies. One of these is DPA.    

What is Digital Process Automation (DPA)?

  Digital Process Automation (DPA) is a method of using digital technology to automate processes and optimize workflows. It is particularly effective for processes that require human interaction (e.g., sales or marketing). It supports Business Process Management (BPM) solutions and extends their reach to external users, such as customers, suppliers, or shareholders, resulting in an overall improvement in user experience.    

RPA vs. BPA vs. DPA

  DPA, or Digital Process Automation, is obviously not the only technology of this type. It is impossible not to mention RPA and BPA, which stand for Robotic Process Automation and Business Process Automation. Their goal is, among other things, to relieve the burden on employees and shift some of the workload to computers, for example, by creating a virtual workforce. The first solution is used to automate tasks (even those related to marketing and sales), while the second handles multi-stage processes. This is naturally reflected in the costs—implementing RPA is usually much cheaper. It also takes less time, and achieving a return on investment does not always require re-engineering a process. Furthermore, RPA vendors offer low-code platforms that allow business users to create their own bots to streamline their work. BPA, or Business Process Automation, requires more complex coding and IT department support for implementation. It usually involves prior analysis and improvements to ensure optimal returns. These platforms can, of course, be integrated with RPA solutions to take automation to the next level and increase efficiency in areas such as customer relationship management or enterprise resource planning. For example, bots can fill out forms used in communication with suppliers, while BPA software can streamline all workflows associated with an ERP system. Both technologies work together on the path of digital transformation. DPA, on the other hand, is used when it is necessary to automate a long and complex process from A to Z. It may involve making many decisions that RPA bots might not be able to handle, or where maintaining them would prove too difficult. It is also worth remembering that digital automation is primarily aimed at providing solutions that help people interact with various systems and improve their experience in this regard. RPA and BPA focus more on “relieving” employees. However, there is nothing stopping you from combining these technologies to achieve different goals. RPA bots can perform repetitive and time-consuming tasks that are part of a process optimized by DPA solutions.    

What are the main advantages of DPA?

  Digital automation brings many benefits, including:  

• Time savings

By automating hundreds or even thousands of manual, repetitive tasks, employees can focus on other challenges.

• Cost reduction

Human labor is expensive. Process automation contributes to financial savings that can have a significant impact on a company’s bottom line.

• Greater accuracy

DPA eliminates situations where documents might be lost or process steps overlooked.

• Adaptability

Digital Process Automation enables organizations to quickly deploy and scale solutions that align with market needs.    

Examples of Digital Process Automation

  Most business processes that require human interaction with external users can benefit from DPA. They can be digitized and automated to improve the user experience. Here are a few example use cases:  

• Customer onboarding

Manual onboarding requires gathering significant amounts of information, processing documentation, organizing training, and completing many other steps. When the process drags on, customers can become frustrated. To prevent this, companies can use DPA to automate most onboarding stages. This removes workflow bottlenecks and facilitates transitions between individual steps, while ensuring information remains accurate and up-to-date.  

• Loans and credit

Collecting documentation and assessing a client’s creditworthiness is a challenging task that requires significant time and effort when performed manually. Automation allows lending institutions to process a higher volume of applications and continuously monitor the financial health of applicants. In turn, customers not only save time but also receive the best possible offers.  

• Order fulfillment

Placing a business order often involves obtaining necessary approvals, which frequently causes delays. DPA automatically routes these requests to the appropriate personnel while notifying the requester of the action taken.  

• Transport and logistics

Logistics companies often manage some of the most time-consuming and labor-intensive business processes, such as issuing and storing invoices, planning and tracking shipments, securing proof of delivery, and resolving payment disputes. All these tasks are highly time-consuming when performed manually. Furthermore, they are prone to errors that can result in significant losses. DPA can optimize these processes to improve the customer experience. By streamlining workflows and providing better visibility into order and shipment statuses, this technology helps grow the business and build lasting relationships with partners.