A-Z of Hyper-automation

A-Z of Hyper-automation

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Whether it is a strategy played out on a board game or planned out in a boardroom, all invested parties have the same end goal—to win—and ideally to win big quickly, smoothly, and easily with minimum risks and mishaps. When it comes to playing Scrabble, a lot of thought and plotting goes into a player mastering the game of wooden tiles to achieve the highest possible score. This game was first played almost a century ago in 1931. Similarly, a great deal of thought process and strategic planning goes into running a business for a smooth operation, from product development and production floor to on-time delivery and post-sale, in order to obtain the highest possible growth and company earnings. However, hyperautomation in a business setting was not available a hundred years ago. In fact, the concept of hyperautomation did not even exist at all.

'More and more companies are realizing the great benefits of hyperautomation and are utilizing the new-age technology not only to save costs, but also to boost productivity and gain efficiencies.' -WaylayClick To Tweet

The term “hyperautomation” first surfaced in October 2019 when research giant Gartner included the new-age technology in its top ten strategic technology trends in 2020, and again in 2021 and 2022, soon after the onset of digital transformation. In just two short years, the use of hyperautomation has increased tremendously in numerous industries, including banking and finance, medical and healthcare, insurance, retail, and others. By 2024, Gartner forecasts businesses will be able to reduce operational costs by 30 percent just by using hyperautomation.

“Hyperautomation has shifted from an option to a condition of survival,” said Fabrizio Biscotti, research vice president at Gartner. “Organizations will require more IT and business process automation as they are forced to accelerate digital transformation plans in a post-COVID-19, digital-first world.”

If you are new to hyperautomation and its many benefits, it is a must-have technology, especially for businesses with complex processes. Hyperautomation is a new-age technology based on the integrated formation of a combination of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and other intelligent technologies that streamlines operational processes. It solves complex problems without human intervention by automating everything in an organization that can be and should be automated. Businesses who do not follow suit with hyperautomation and do not create a winning business formula of efficacy, efficiency, and agility will fall behind their competitors and eventually get left behind.

A-Z Benefits of Hyperautomation

The following are key benefits of implementing and utilizing hyperautomation, from A to Z.

 Hyperautomation Enhances

Benefits A-I

• Automates all possible tasks and business processes by combining all AI technologies with RPA and BPMS.

• Bridges the gap between connected assets and business processes.

• Combines assembly of technologies, tools, and components to increase the extent of automation.

• Decreases manual work leading to fewer mistakes and higher accuracy rates.

• Enhances AI capabilities (NLP, OCR, ML, etc.) so more tasks are processed quickly and efficiently.

• Focuses on more strategic responsibilities rather than mundane and repetitive work.

• Generates better business efficiencies with faster and richer insights for quicker decision-making.

• Helps productivity by enabling bots and people to automate more complex, end-to-end business processes.

• Industrializes tedious and repetitive tasks and processes to make the work of staff easier.

 Hyperautomation Maximizes

Benefits J-R

• Justifies decision-making through data analytics and predictive modeling as computer algorithms process more data than humans at a given point in time.

• Keeps customers happier than ever through faster response times, more accurate results, and other positive results bettering the customer experience.

• Leverages more smart intelligence, improves consistency throughout, and reduces human error.

• Maximizes monitoring and streamlines and optimizes company assets, equipment, and business flows.

• Nurtures team collaboration, improves team productivity, and reduces team stress levels.

• Orchestrates work between staff and bots while processing unstructured data.

• Particularly advantageous for companies with legacy operations or low automation levels.

• Quickly deploys methodology for AI, ML, and OT/IT data orchestration.

• Reduces costs by replacing unnecessary manual tasks and by scaling operations.

Benefits S-Z

• Simplifies processes by eliminating extraneous tasks that hinder production and quality.

• Tackles the tedious invoice process by automating the end-to-end, multi-layered approach to provide successful returns.

• Unlocks maximum potential by enabling everyone to contribute to the automation process.

• Useful technologies and tools to manage and maximize the automation cycle, from process discovery to product delivery.

• Validates automation and elevates it to show how the combination of RPA and disruptive technologies can be used together in an end-to-end automation solution.

• Welcomes everyone to contribute to the automation process to achieve a more significant bottom-line impact and higher ROI.

• X-outs manual work, which leads to fewer mistakes and higher accuracy rates.

• Yields higher-quality products with a faster time to market and less costs.

• Zoom in on and capitalize on the data collected and generated by digitized processes.

Utilizing Hyperautomation

More and more companies are realizing the great benefits of hyperautomation and are utilizing the new-age technology not only to save costs, boost productivity, and gain efficiencies but for the overall operational win, from end-to-end. And with achieving the end goal of “winning” through the ease of hyperautomation, there is now more time during the day to sit back, relax, and play a game of Scrabble, for the win of course.

A Step-by-Step Approach to Mobile GIS Adoption

It’s one thing to discuss reforming Geographic Information Systems (GIS) processes for legacy cross bore inspections from an abstract perspective; it’s another thing to actually put the reforms in place and implement Mobile GIS.

'A new GIS standard needs to be built from scratch - one designed around the capabilities of modern cloud computing and the demands of modern mobile devices.' -UnearthClick To Tweet

Many utility companies, as well as outside vendors, have tried to put together an easy-to-use mapping system from existing GIS tools – none of them have accomplished their goal. Why? Because existing GIS tools were built decades ago and have an outdated architecture that holds them back.

So how can a utility company actually go about reforming their GIS tools to improve legacy cross bore detection? It’s not as difficult as it seems. However, it does require looking to outside sources to accomplish it.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to how you can get it done.

1. Identify the Program Manager for Legacy Cross Bore Inspections.

Before anything can get moving, you have to get the right people together. Find the person responsible for legacy cross bores, and then create a spreadsheet of everyone within the utility company that has a role in running the program.

If no one is in charge of legacy cross bores, go to the person running preventative cross bores and find out why you don’t have a legacy program. If there is no cross bore team, you need to have a broader org-wide conversation. Go to the person in charge of risk management and find out why cross bore mitigation is not a priority.

2. Lay Out Your Current Cross Bore Inspection Process Step-by-Step.

Now that you know everyone involved, you can map out your exact process to find and mitigate cross bores. Start with how you prioritize parcels and plats and go through recording and storing the results.

You should identify the individuals involved, the average time spent per step, the systems used, and the associated costs. This will give you a good high-level overview of what’s going on internally.

3. Calculate the Total Time and Cost of Finding and Resolving Cross Bores, Then Create Some Projections.

This is an essential step because you need to have a baseline reading of where your cross bore program is today and how it’s projected to perform.

With the numbers from step 2, you should be able to determine the average time and cost to inspect a single parcel. With these numbers, you can calculate the time and cost of inspecting every customer served by your utility. This overall number is critical because it will show the value of investing in a different system in terms of time and money saved.

4. Research and Evaluate Outside Software Providers.

Many utility companies make the mistake of trying to build an internal solution for their Mobile GIS.

The money and time spent developing a working tool will quickly outweigh the benefits received. The complexities of GIS require a dedicated software organization to build, manage, and scale operations. Finding a purpose-built Mobile GIS tool for legacy cross bore programs can get you up and running in a couple of weeks for a fraction of the cost.

For this step, you should build a spreadsheet of available options that lay out their cost, licensing structure, features set, plus pros and cons. Only include tools that will support an end-to-end workflow, as that’s the key function that will streamline the entire process.

5. Talk to Your Top Three Software Options.

You shouldn’t try to purchase and implement this kind of solution out-of-the-box. Each provider you’re considering should offer a certain level of customization, onboarding, and specialized service. This is also your chance to discuss the numbers and processes laid out in earlier steps, as well as create a firm outline of the tangible impact these vendors could make.

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6. Make a Decision and Get Buy-in.

Once you’ve decided on a provider, you have to get organizational buy-in. This is potentially the most difficult/time-consuming step. platform smoothly. Everyone should have a detailed set of expectations regarding when and how they will use the software, and a person to contact if they have questions.

8. Track and Record Results.

The final piece of the puzzle is to monitor and record usage.

For the first 3-6 months you should set up regular check-ins with your software provider to ensure that everything is going according to plan. Then after you have a year of data, you can sit down to review performance increases and explore how you can streamline processes even further. From here, the software becomes a natural extension of your operations that can be iterated and developed as needs evolve.

These steps serve as a general benchmark for individual utilities to move towards more efficient legacy cross bore inspection programs through Mobile GIS.

It’s important to keep in mind that the software selection and purchasing process can be long and slow, particularly in a large organization. To stay driven, teams need to remember the ultimate objective: reducing risk and saving lives.

This is a mission-critical effort that benefits everyone.

Getting Started with Mobile GIS in Integrity Management

To effectively accomplish the goal of going beyond GIS for legacy cross bore inspections, a new GIS standard needs to be built from scratch – one designed around the capabilities of modern cloud computing and the demands of modern mobile devices.

We strongly believe in the importance of finding a way to quickly and effectively deal with the legacy cross bore problem in the US and are excited to see the powerful role Mobile GIS will play in integrity management programs.

Fortunately, the Mobile GIS you choose should be of significant help here – particularly if you followed the earlier steps involved in laying out and analyzing your current process. The provider you choose should be happy to provide you with all the materials you need to help present the solution to the broader organization. Many will even fly people to your company to present if you want additional help.

7. Roll it Out.

With everything in place, you’re ready to put your new system to use. Work with your software provider to develop a rollout plan.

They should have a system for getting you and your teams onto the platform smoothly. Everyone should have a detailed set of expectations regarding when and how they will use the software, and a person to contact if they have questions.

8. Track and Record Results.

The final piece of the puzzle is to monitor and record usage.

For the first 3-6 months you should set up regular check-ins with your software provider to ensure that everything is going according to plan. Then after you have a year of data, you can sit down to review performance increases and explore how you can streamline processes even further. From here, the software becomes a natural extension of your operations that can be iterated and developed as needs evolve.

These steps serve as a general benchmark for individual utilities to move towards more efficient legacy cross bore inspection programs through Mobile GIS.

It’s important to keep in mind that the software selection and purchasing process can be long and slow, particularly in a large organization. To stay driven, teams need to remember the ultimate objective: reducing risk and saving lives.

This is a mission-critical effort that benefits everyone.

Getting Started with Mobile GIS in Integrity Management

To effectively accomplish the goal of going beyond GIS for legacy cross bore inspections, a new GIS standard needs to be built from scratch – one designed around the capabilities of modern cloud computing and the demands of modern mobile devices.

We strongly believe in the importance of finding a way to quickly and effectively deal with the legacy cross bore problem in the US and are excited to see the powerful role Mobile GIS will play in integrity management programs.

5 Ways iSIM Reduces Manufacturing Costs for Cellular IoT Devices

Some IoT solutions work great with short-range connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, LoRaWAN, etc. An industrial IoT system may only have to operate within the factory, for instance, or across a limited campus. But if you manufacture devices that travel—mobility tools, inventory trackers, wearables—or you operate in a nationwide or global market, cellular IoT and iSIM are the way to go. 

'iSIM is the IoT solution that finds the perfect balance between low costs of ownership and dependable functionality.' -Sequans CommunicationsClick To Tweet

All the major cellular technologies have reached a fair level of maturity. Across the globe, you’ll find the infrastructure for LTE-M, NB-IoT, or LTE Cat 1 connections (even if these technologies vary from one place to the next). Cellular is the only connectivity technology with a globe-spanning scale, which means it’s the best choice for consumer and/or mobile IoT devices.  

But as manufacturers design cellular IoT products, they have a lot of variables to juggle: power efficiency, reliability, space utilization, inventory management, and more. From the bottom-line business perspective, all of these factors boil down to a single metric: total cost of ownership. Analysis by IndustryWeek suggests that cutting your production costs by just 5 percent can drive profit increases of up to 85 percent over time. Achieving this cost reduction may boil down to a single switch in cellular technology: from removable or embedded SIMs to the integrated SIM, or iSIM. 

A traditional subscriber identification module (SIM) is a removable card that hosts a chip. That chip tells the network who’s using the device, establishing the connection between the cellular network and the technology itself. An eSIM takes this chip and solders it permanently into the IoT module. iSIM is different; it combines SIM circuitry with the IoT module’s cellular chipset—and this new approach is the key to lower-cost IoT manufacturing.      

The IoT solution that finds the perfect balance between low costs of ownership and dependable functionality will capture the market. Integrated SIM technology helps manufacturers find this balance. Here are five ways iSIM technology is driving down manufacturing costs for producers of cellular IoT products: 

1. iSIM Provides The Most Efficient Use of Limited Device Real Estate. 

Removable and embedded SIMs are small. Integrated SIMs are smaller—significantly so. The iSIM circuitry is built into the IoT module itself, so it doesn’t require an external slot or a permanent, soldered eSIM. You can use that extra space to increase functionality—or just produce smaller devices, delivering more value at a reduced cost. 

2. Manufacturing Processes are Simpler With iSIM. 

Removable SIMs and eSIMs require manufacturers to handle those components; iSIM removes this step. Plus, an IoT module with an iSIM requires less testing than the alternatives. There’s also no need to solder in the iSIM, as there is with eSIM. Removing these steps leads to faster manufacturing lines, which translates into optimized production time—with attendant cost savings. 

3. iSIM Shrinks Your Electrical Bill of Materials (BOM). 

The BOM for a traditional IoT device is extensive and that translates to long-term profit loss. The logic is simple: reduce your electrical BOM and you’ll spend less on each product. That leads to lower costs of ownership for your customers. Removable SIMs require you to buy SIM trays, solders, and SIM cards. Embedded SIMs make you spend on SIM chips and solder. With an iSIM, none of these items appear on your BOM. Going with iSIM also spares the hassle of dealing with another semiconductor supplier in a tense supply chain. It can even lower your carbon footprint!

4. iSIM Reduces Inventory Management Costs by Eliminating SKU Proliferation. 

Global providers of IoT devices spend a fortune on simply keeping track of inventory. Say you make only one device—an IoT scooter, for instance. With traditional SIM technology, SIMs must be provisioned for the cellular connectivity available within each geographic market. So your single product will need one SKU for North America (LTE-M and/or NB-IoT), another for Mexico (LTE-M only), a third for China (NB-IoT only), and so on.

It’s expensive to maintain these complex inventory records. But iSIM’s remote provisioning allows you to track a single SKU for your product, no matter where it’s sold. Your IoT scooters are ready to ship right off the line, and you’ll save all those inventory costs.   

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5. iSIM Improves Device Reliability Across the Product Lifespan.  

Every component you add to your IoT device is another potential point of failure. Cracked soldering, corrosion, heat damage, and mechanical failure can all render your device inoperable—and damage your brand. Because an iSIM is integrated into the IoT module, there are simply fewer chances for something to go wrong. That’s true for your manufacturing line and across the product lifespan, so you’ll save costs in the factory while providing more reliable service for users, today and far into the future. 

Of course, cutting manufacturing costs isn’t the only benefit of iSIM technology. Users are justifiably concerned about security, with a third of respondents to one survey citing serious concerns about the issue. Building with iSIM can help to allay these worries.  

iSIM and Security

How does iSIM improve IoT security across your product’s lifespan? First off, the SIM is impossible to alter physically. Removable SIMs are particularly vulnerable to tampering, but a dedicated hacker with a few tools could also alter an eSIM. That’s not the case with iSIM, since it’s indistinguishable from surrounding circuitry. 

Producers of iSIM-enabled modules also follow GSMA common criteria for secure design. Of course, not every iSIM provider meets the same GSMA evaluation assurance level (EAL). While the GSMA requires cellular IoT devices to meet level EAL4, some iSIM companies achieve EAL4+. As of this writing, only one iSIM-enabled module provider meets a higher level: Sequans’ Monarch and Calliope chipsets offer EAL5+ security, currently the highest certification in the business. 

Ultimately, though, security and cost savings may not be the key drivers of iSIM adoption. The real reason manufacturers will move toward this technology is simpler; it makes manufacturing cellular IoT devices easy. Choose an IoT module with iSIM built in to cut production complexity and costs all at once.