Software ‘robots’ that
utilise machine learning and
artificial intelligence are
expected to bring significant
value to business processes
in the next three to five
years as they help automate
middle-office functions.
A poll of 537 senior
decision-makers conducted
by Cognizant, a provider
of information technology,
consulting, and business
process outsourcing services,
highlights how intelligent
process automation (IPA)
and more effective use of big
data can speed up processes,
reduce errors, cut costs and
improve decision-making.
Respondents are currently
automating 25-40% of their
workflows, typically those that
follow rote procedures and
manual inputs. Next generation
IPA technologies are likely to
extend automation to more
complex workflows.
Charles Sutherland,
executive vice president of
research at HfS Research, said:
“By implementing software
robots, service providers can
ensure that work is done around
the clock, eliminate human
error and ensure scalability
as they save costs and drive
revenue. Process automation
also allows clients and service
providers to share benefits
including enhanced compliance,
reduced risk and improved job
satisfaction of staff.”
Paper reporting systems not fit for
purpose
Reliance on paper forms and filing means that two thirds
of days taken off due to sickness or holiday entitlement go
unregistered.
So claims online absence management specialist aCloud
TeamSeer, part of Access Group. It surveyed 127 UK businesses
and found that 81% still rely on paper-based reporting systems,
even though two thirds (66%) don’t consider such systems to be
accurate.
Joshua Gilbertson, head of aCloud at Access, said: “It is
staggering to see that over four million businesses are still using
paper documents to monitor sickness and holiday. We are calling
for UK businesses to abandon their paper systems in favour of
digital software.”
Message on a bottle
The Dutch vodka brand MEDEA
is using ‘message on a bottle’
technology to interact with
consumers. The combination of
programmable LED displays on
bottles, Apple’s iBeacon Bluetooth
technology and a MEDEA app
enables retailers and/or consumers
to compose and wirelessly transmit
scrolling messages to the bottles’
LED displays. Each bottle is pre-
programmed with six familiar
phrases, such as ‘Happy Birthday’,
‘Congratulations’ and ‘Thank you’, that crawl across the label in
electric blue. Owners can also add their own messages.
Digital boarding passes take off
The number of airline boarding passes delivered by mobile
phone is expected to double over the next four years from 745
million this year to 1.5 billion – or one in three of all boarding
passes issued by airlines – in 2019.
In its report
Mobile & Online Ticketing: Transport, Events & NFC
2015-2019
, Juniper Research says that take-up is being driven by
frequent flyers rather than leisure passengers, who are less likely
to be familiar with the technology, and by the greater number of
airlines offering this facility.
According to SITA, the airline IT specialist, 53% of airlines have
already implemented mobile boarding passes via apps and it
expects this figure to rise to 91% by 2017.
Juniper Research warns that greater adoption of barcode-based
mobile boarding passes is likely to delay the transition to NFC.
Research author Nitin Bhas said: “The ultimate position that NFC
can reach in the airline industry is ‘the extinction of the boarding
pass’ , as boarding pass, baggage tickets and identity information
can be stored on the phone and simply accessed using NFC
readers. However, this transition will not only be delayed by the
success of barcode but there is the need to gain agreement and
investment from airlines and airports around the world.”
Software robots to improve
business processes
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Bridging the paper-digital divide
Zodiak Rights is bringing its catalogues to life with an
augmented reality app developed by Blue Sky Creative.
The market leader in the worldwide distribution of television
programming commissioned Blue Sky Creative to create interactive
catalogues promoting
Wallander, Location, Location
and other
programmes for the annual MIPCOM event in Cannes.
Pointing an iPad at static images in the catalogue triggers
promotional videos, so that programme buyers can see what they
are getting as well as reading about it.
Paul Houlton, Managing Director at Blue Sky Creative Ltd, said:
“Zodiak had glossy catalogues and great videos, so AR was the
perfect way to link them up. Using the iPad’s camera and the image
recognition software in our app, the salespeople could launch video
clips directly from the hard copy catalogues. By providing a bridge
to rich digital content, AR breathes new life into good old paper
catalogues.”
BA is one of a growing number of airlines
to issue mobile boarding passes
