Being “automation ready” isn’t necessarily a quick win.

 Many businesses were putting it off again and again because of the perceived challenge to implement automation software. 

 agree that once automation was thought to take years, can now take a matter of weeks. That’s because the tech behind automation has grown so rapidly in the past 10 years.

For logistics and manufacturing, these advancements in technology means it's now far easier to implement automation. For example, automating shipping lists in the order fulfilment process has a huge benefit for manufacturers and logistics personnel. Hours that were previously spent manually filling in data to a spreadsheet can now be done by a bot.

Use automation to help smooth the supply chain

Process automation can help orchestrate and coordinate process ecosystems to ensure that everything in the supply chain is running smoothly. Logistics teams can outsource tedious manual work to a bot in order to have more time for important core tasks. This will help ease pressure on teams and minimize loss of ROI from shipping list errors or delays in list despatch.

The added benefit of using a process ecosystem platform like FireStart is the process orchestration. Even as orders grow in volume and the process becomes more complex, FireStart will always be robust enough to create order, helping the logistics department to stay on top of orders.

Stay on top of orders with FireStart and UiPath

FireStart is really a single source of truth for your processes because it integrates with existing IT systems. In this case, 

 in order to orchestrate and manage the software robots. Software robots are easy to build and deploy, but to avoid robot chaos, it’s best to have a process management 

FireStart is like the conductor of an orchestra, ensuring that every robot and application is doing exactly what it needs to do in order to achieve process success. When software robots are contained within a process ecosystem, processes run smoother because there is proper governance.

Creating and distributing shipping lists with FireStart and

performing as one means more orders can be fulfilled without mistakes or employees over hours.

First, FireStart empowers users to map and model the ideal process, giving all the humans involved a comprehensive overview of the workflow end-to-end. Next, the UiPath robot jumps in to execute the list filling that was previously done manually. The bot takes the information and collates this all into an Excel spreadsheet. From here, the robot gives the spreadsheet back to FireStart where it becomes part of the overall process again and is stored in the central repository for easy access.

Instead of taking 2 hours every day for an employee, with 

reduce this down to minutes. Employees now have time for their core tasks, leaving the menial, brain-numbing work of filling in shipping lists to the robot.

Try FireStart for free by contacting our sales team.

Automate your logistics department

Logistics departments continue to be overwhelmed as the pandemic continues.

Automating shipping lists has never been easier with FireStart and UiPath together. Keep all your robots in one end-to-end workflow to fulfil more orders now and in the future.

Manufacturing and logistics businesses are feeling the crunch. The pandemic has meant that now 50% of businesses worldwide are needing to automate as a result of Covid-19. The manufacturing industry in particular must begin implementing automation to help with the rise in demand that will follow after the worst of the pandemic is over.

How FireStart and UiPath Can Help with Supply Chain Issues

Ever since the “lean” supplier craze of the 90s, the manufacturing industry has been looking for new and innovative ways to streamline its processes as much as possible. Covid has had an effect on the manufacturing industry, it’s plain to see, and while may feel like a confusing mess, automation has come to light as the new way forward for many companies.

 stated that “digitizing supply-chain management improves the speed, accuracy, and flexibility of supply-risk management,” heralding it as a major opportunity for companies to “review the structural resilience” of their entire supply chain. Automation is the second industrial revolution of our age, and it has even more benefits than you would think.

the global supply chain is running out of almost everything

 because of the pandemic. Manufacturers are scrambling to place orders in order to meet client demands, making it more and more difficult to have a reliable indicator of stock. Previous over-buying and stockpiling led to the supply chain shortage, but automation can actually help manufacturers get out of this precarious situation.

One crucial part of the manufacturing process is evaluating where to source raw materials from. Previously, manufacturers would rely on one main vendor but now because of the shortage, manufacturers are forced to expand their horizons. Automation can actually help manufacturers coordinate with multiple vendors, with a new multitier system 

advised by industry leaders like McKinsey

, in order to have a reliable second option.

Manufacturers can automate and digitize Bills of Materials (BOMs) and invoices, generating standardized documents in seconds and sending them to vendors in just a few clicks. Then, a BPM suite like FireStart can also create transparency throughout the entire sourcing process, so manufacturers can be alerted only when they need to complete the next action (like approving an invoice). 

 source materials without the headache of long email chains, paper invoices, or lack of transparency in the process itself.

2. Automation helps accelerate process cycles

Supply chain process cycles can be long and complex. Without proper process intelligence, it’s difficult to know if a process is performing well, or if the cycle itself could be quicker and therefore more efficient. In fact, “acceleration” is now an industry watchword. To stay afloat, companies need to be quick

getting things done to a high standard. For this reason, leadership teams in the manufacturing industry have embraced technology and data.

The key to more efficient processes is human-technology integration. 

 of this plan going forward. To accelerate a process cycle, companies can detangle their current processes to clarify the essential steps, see which tasks can be automated, assign clear department roles, and integrate all existing systems like SAP into one overarching framework to maintain a single source of truth.

An intuitive process ecosystem like FireStart does exactly this. FireStart helps take the stress off employees by automating the tasks that humans don’t have time for (like filling forms with data). Then, humans can have the time for faster decision-making and improved company innovation. The end result is a winning recipe that helps manufacturing businesses stay viable in a time of economic uncertainty.

Cutting down on time can mean errors in the traditional sense. Making a process faster in the past created a microcosm of stress on employees, causing a macro “bullwhip” effect further down the supply chain. Automation however utilizes robotic intelligence to ensure that human errors (like copying and pasting the wrong information or accidentally inputting the wrong amount) don’t cause disruptions and potential lost costs.

 means that manufacturing companies can request resources in minutes, generate purchase orders instantly, and integrate all the digital paperwork into one robust system so details don’t get lost. Automated procurement systems make it possible for humans to have more headspace to develop relationships with vendors, see areas for potential innovation, and strategically plan to negate potential disasters.

Future-proofing is on everyone’s lips right now as we prepare to head into 2022. Manufacturing companies want to be more cost-efficient so they can future-proof themselves against the detrimental effects of Covid-19 that continue to haunt the industry.

Automating the entire supply chain means processes are leaner and more precise. There are no more hiccups with the wrong amount of raw materials being ordered, meaning more cash in the reserve. Employees have more time to make crucial decisions rather than filtering through lengthy spreadsheets, saving costs on staff hours. Partnerships with suppliers can be strengthened, leading to more problem solving like developing improved distribution infrastructure. A more nimble, more refined supply chain means at every corner, cost-efficiency can be boosted, helping manufacturing businesses to be more resilient.

We’re sure you’ve heard about the warnings of not automating. 

 was a problem even before the pandemic began. What is becoming common among manufacturing businesses is a “nerve-center” or control tower approach to manage business processes so manufacturers can survive.

The hidden cost of not automating is the small costs that mount up throughout the supply chain, leading to massive potential losses. Automating business manufacturing processes is about building resilience for the future. Industry analysts like 

 are stressing the importance of a future supply chain built on automation in order to future-proof against further disruption.

This kind of future-proofing goes beyond automating invoices to suppliers. It’s more about having clarity over your entire supply chain, knowing where resources are being allocated and how much stock is in the reserve at all times. It’s about instantly generating Billing of Materials (BOMs) so that you can the stock you need in time to make the next shipment. With a robust iBPMS platform like FireStart, you can not only orchestrate all your processes but also create automations to alleviate the workload from existing staff, and better gain better insights with process intelligence.

chose to digitize key business manufacturing processes with FireStart and as a result, have future-proofed themselves years to come. Lenze, a global innovative automation company specializing in solutions for mechanical engineering, is now 75% more resilient. They reduced their product portfolio by 50% leading to 10% more output. So far, they report better synergy between their staff and the technology they use, while also being more efficient in their daily tasks.

Intelligent process automation helped Lenze to be an example of what manufacturing companies can be. Increasing productivity by focusing on the products that matter, all the while outputting more to bring in more revenue and meet customer demands. The world may feel more uncertain than ever, but automation is how we can step forward on solid ground.

Try FireStart free by contacting our friendly sales team.

Want to learn more about workflow optimization?

Avoid the costs of not automating and face the challenges every manufacturer is dealing with.

Manufacturing companies face hardships ahead because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The good news is that digital process automation can help, setting a new standard for the future.

5 Reasons Why Every Company Should Automate Manufacturing Processes

New hires want to start providing value, and 

wants to help all new employees to start quickly. So why doesn’t every new hire start contributing as soon as they step into the office on day one? Often, it has to do with steps in the 

 that are still running manually. Logins need to be set up, papers need to be signed, and payroll needs to be informed with all the employee data – all these processes take far too much time when done manually.

 has risen in awareness for its citizen-developed software bots. Members of the HR team are now able to create and deploy their own software robots to automate their previously manual tasks.

The problem now facing citizen developer teams is to do with organization. Multiple active robots can be difficult to keep track of when considering an entire end-to-end workflow. 

Added transparency over where robots are running

 and what tasks need to be approved can greatly help HR teams to perform as one with people and technology.

Onboard employees with UiPath robots and FireStart governance

Onboarding new talent is a crucial step to building an organization with talented individuals. The onboarding process itself has many manual tasks that can result in disorganized communication, delayed starting time, and sometimes, incorrect employee information. FireStart can resolve organizational onboarding issues by 

, FireStart and UiPath together can make the onboarding process seamless.

 in FireStart, detailing all the necessary steps to streamline the overall workflow. Then, automate each task by integrating UiPath robots to do previously manual tasks in minutes. Generate contracts automatically and 

, and generate employee logins and passwords. Easily register employees with payroll, accounting, e-learning, and other IT systems in seconds.

By the end of the workflow, new candidates have electronically signed all necessary documents, IT permissions have been approved, and new hires are ready to start on their first day. Automating the onboarding workflow means the HR team has more time to focus on real people, 

helping HR professionals boost their time efficiency.

Only one platform for multiple applications

. In any process, employees can login and see exactly which tasks they have to complete and where RPA software bots are running in the process. This means that even with multiple UiPath robots being triggered by FireStart, the bots always return to FireStart to finish the process.

Users can create UiPath queue items directly from FireStart. To check the status, users can create a periodic check with FireStart timer events to see if the queue item is in process or complete. When the timer event is complete, the completed UiPath activity returns to FireStart and the workflow continues.

With a range of integrations like SAP, Celonis, and 

, the entire process itself is completely streamlined. FireStart empowers users to contain all pieces of a process in one place, so no data ever goes missing, and every member of the team can see a process status.

Talk to an Account Executive for a complimentary demo.

Interested in learning more?

Orchestrate your onboarding processes even if you have existing RPA solutions in place.

Use UiPath and FireStart to orchestrate your onboarding process to improve the hiring process. UiPath RPA and FireStart Process Management together can improve governance and help make the best impression on new recruits.

Delivering a meaningful onboarding for each employee is an important step in building a flourishing company. The HR department are experts in managing people, so it’s crucial that they’re not weighed down by excess paperwork. Using UiPath and FireStart together empowers your company to seamlessly onboard new hires in less time than you think.

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How FireStart and UiPath Can Help with Supply Chain Issues

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