Strategies for rolling out automation at scale in large organizations
Automation, as part of digital transformation, can be a complex process, as leaders from Japan Tobacco and AT&T explained
For large organizations, particularly multinationals, rolling out automation at scale comes with a series of challenges that could have an impact on the strategy for the entire project.
Anna Alechno, intelligent automation lead – global IT at Japan Tobacco International, told a panel discussion at PEX Live: Digital Process Automation 2022 about striking a balance between top-down and localized approaches when rolling out an automation program. She said it is “a myth” that automation could be rolled out globally and in a standardized manner across all parts of the business, largely because of differences in fiscal and regulatory regimes across borders.
David C. Williams, assistant vice president – automation at AT&T, agreed, adding that when taking fiscal and regulatory differences into account, large organizations seeking to automate could be challenged by differences between departments. He advised standardizing wherever possible, including software and security protocols.
