In the modern era of digitalization, no organization can rely only on manual labor. With the invention of AI and machine learning, investment in automation technologies is rapidly increasing.
Every industry is strategizing and formulating to embrace digitalization. Still, many fail to implement automation at the functional level. There could be various reasons behind it including lack of planning, wrong tools, absence of technical skills, or inability to identify the resources.
To achieve all ends successfully, a new model has been introduced known as the ‘Automation Maturity Model’ that we are going to discuss in detail in further sections.
What is the Automation Maturity Model?
Considering the problems faced by industries and to help them establish automation programs effectively, Microsoft developed the Automation Maturity Model.
It is a structured framework designed to access an organization’s automation capability and progress.
The Model functions at different levels. Digitalizing any organization is not a one-step task. Several factors need to be considered at different points of time. Let’s explore how organizations proceed from the initial to the advanced stage.
Levels of Automation Maturity Model
In today’s software development environment, there are mainly 5 maturity levels of the Automation Model.
The industry has to figure out at which level it should begin, whether it has to be from the beginning or any middle stage. It’s also okay if you don’t have any automation level applied. Choose automation only when your organization needs it.
Let’s discuss the five levels automation levels:
Level 1: Initial or the Ad-hoc Stage
Sometimes, there is no clear strategy behind adopting automation, a company might imply it out of some urgent need. So, they implement on an Ad-hoc basis. In such a situation, it might lack a comprehensive approach.
If the organization strategically plans automation, it will still start with the initial stage. This includes specific steps:
Evaluation of its alignment with the company’s requirements.
Stating the business goals.
Updating the technology being used.
Establishing the KPIs to measure the performance.
Level 2: Repeatable or the Reactive Stage
Once an organization starts recognizing the benefits of automation, it looks forward to a more reactive approach. They utilize the knowledge gained from the initial stage. It involves the use of specific automation tools to address immediate issues.
Level 3: Defined or the Proactive Stage
Reaching the third stage, the organization starts redefining the new goals based on experiences in the previous stages. It works on a more proactive approach and starts making strategic efforts to promote its scale,
It implies several features, including licensing, machine management, DLP requests, and much more.
Level 4: Capable or the Strategic Stage
It is a much mature level where the organization implies automation on a larger scale. It develops its technical abilities with process mining tools and artificial intelligence. A comprehensive automation strategy is now aligned with the business goals.
Level 5: Efficient or the Innovative Stage
This is the utmost level of automation where the organization achieves the maturity stage. It completely integrates the automation into the functional level where almost every sphere is digitalized.
It now starts focusing on setting new goals and implementing the latest technology to achieve them. The innovative level is the stage of experimentation and improvement.
What Are the Main Essentials of an Automation Maturity Model?
To successfully implement the automation model, it is essential to understand the key components that are related to it.
Leadership-For successful implementation, strong leadership is essential. In the initial stage, there might be a lack of awareness among the authorities. But, with the increase in level, they understand the benefits of automation and foster a culture toward innovation.
Optimization- It involves identifying the requirements, streamlining the workflows, and setting up the environment for the automation process.
Technology Infrastructure-In the initial stages, one can rely on the essential tools but as the level increases, it demands a well-structured technology infrastructure. Integrating with advanced technologies like AI, cloud computing, etc is essential.
Technical Experts-It’s okay to continue with your regular staff initially. Still, as the organization progresses, one must hire skilled and talented people with prior experience in AI, automation, and other related domains.
Compliance-With the technical improvement, the organization must establish robust governance frameworks to ensure compliance with data privacy and other regulatory requirements.
Metrics and Analysis-To compare the company’s growth, one needs to prepare the required metrics to evaluate customer satisfaction and innovative rates and analyze the company’s performance.
Conclusion
The Automation Maturity Model is an effective tool for any organization’s digitalization and technical development. But it is not a short-term process. It requires a holistic approach and continuity to achieve the benefits of automation.
By embracing the automation model in an organized way, one can explore new possibilities for success and growth.