-
Platforms, Low-Code, and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) are key topics of the conversation. They are considered essential technologies for process automation and efficiency improvements in organizations of all sizes.
-
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is highlighted for its potential to automate mundane tasks, especially in systems that lack APIs. It's seen as particularly useful in legacy systems where you might need to move data from one place to another.
-
Low-Code/No-Code solutions enable users to automate processes and create applications by linking programming elements without needing to write extensive code. It's compared to constructing a PowerPoint presentation or storyboarding, allowing people who can't code traditionally to contribute to application development.
-
Appian is mentioned as a comprehensive platform that offers a data fabric and end-to-end capabilities. Appian's data fabric is designed not as the authoritative source of data but as a transformational and caching layer, making it easier to integrate and work with existing data systems.
-
Strategic vs. Tactical Technology Adoption: The conversation emphasizes that organizations tend to adopt technological tools, like Appian, tactically rather than strategically. Instead of looking holistically at an organization's needs and processes before choosing a tool that best suits all of those needs, companies often choose tools to solve immediate, isolated issues.
-
Challenges with Large ERP Vendors: It's pointed out that big ERP vendors like SAP and Oracle often sell the idea that custom processes are unnecessary, promoting standardization. However, businesses find themselves distinct from competitors, and their existing processes may not align with the 'standard' ones offered by these platforms.
-
Complexity in Organizations: Organizations are naturally complex, with mergains and acquisitions creating systems and process heterogeneity. This complexity is why one-size-fits-all solutions are often impractical.
-
Advice for Listeners: For businesses considering using such platforms and technologies, it's advised to think about how to apply these in a way that doesn't strive for perfection but rather focuses on making incrementable progress.
-
Outlook on Business Processes: It's stated that while process optimization is crucial, it has never been the most important aspect for businesses to get right. Thus, it's essential to be pragmatic in approaching process automation and improvement.