What to look for in automation tools in 2022

Gone are the days of overflowing inboxes, piles of files, and walls of filing cabinets. Over the past few decades, businesses have become increasingly digitized, saving paper, and enabling a new era of automation.

At the turn of the millennium, automation tools were limited to robotic process automation (RPA) systems, which handled repetitive, screen-based tasks so people could focus on more important work. Over time, automation tools evolved to streamline data entry and follow rule-based workflows without the need for human input. Now, artificial intelligence has left the realm of science fiction to help businesses unify their digital systems with intelligent process automation. In the 2020s, we are just beginning to scratch the surface of what this technology is capable of.

Five features to look for in automation tools in 2022

Technology has evolved so much over the past 20 years, it can be difficult to keep track of all the developments. With so much information out there, how do you know what to expect from an automation tool in 2022? Here are five features to look for as you decide on a solution:

1. Intelligent document classification

AI can quickly “read” any document to determine what it is — just like a human. By assessing format and the type of information on a page, it can quickly categorize documents as invoices, emails, purchase orders, intake forms, contracts — virtually any type of file that businesses need to process information. Then the automation tool can route documents to the workers who need them or automatically capture the information for further processing.

2. AI-powered OCR

Optical character recognition (OCR) is a low-level technology that converts words in images (like documents that have been scanned from paper) into processable text. OCR enables searching or copying and pasting text, but people still have to look through each document to find the information they need.

Augmented with AI, document processing is even more efficient and accurate. A truly intelligent automation tool will help find and extract only the specific information users need (such as invoice numbers or entries in name fields) without human intervention. This helps employees work more quickly and saves them time on manual editing and searching.

3. Self-service workflow builders

Automation tools are supposed to improve efficiency — but if they’re so complicated users require constant IT support, that defeats their purpose. Users should also be able to refine workflows without filing a support ticket or distracting the IT team from bigger problems. Look for AI platforms that are easy to set up and navigate. A truly intelligent solution is one that anyone can use.

4. Robust integrations

In both large and small organizations, every department uses different software and point solutions for various processes and databases. All of them improve efficiency, but their inability to communicate with each other creates bottlenecks that can hamper productivity.

Look for automation tools that can connect to all their APIs to create more unified workflows. When data flows freely between different systems, organizations make incredible efficiency gains that add up to improved profitability over time.

5. Complete end-to-end intelligent process automation

The most advanced automation tools won’t just integrate with existing systems — they have the versatile capability to drive business decision making as well as automate solutions. Switching to a single enterprise automation platform unifies all business processes so workflows become less complicated and more streamlined.

In addition, robust automation capabilities are actually what makes AI-powered data extraction operational and practical. Some platforms claim powerful AI extraction but do not have the integration, automation-building, and human-in-the-loop features that work with AI to unlock greater return on investment in any use case.

The future of automation tools

Thanks to advanced AI, today’s automation tools are no longer limited to improving simple workflows. Data extraction can eliminate a lot of the mental work that goes into processing documents, freeing workers to focus on more critical tasks. But to leverage it effectively, companies need a true AI platform like Automation Hero that can integrate with all of their systems, build and manage end-to-end workflows, and scale as needed to handle growth and seasonal demands. Explore the full potential of intelligent automation with a personalized demo.