Decision automation, powered by robust platforms like InRule, has evolved to become the driving force behind various enterprise applications. Whether it's mortgage approvals, insurance claims, or loyalty program promotions, automated decisions play a pivotal role. Forrester Consulting's recent report showcased an impressive composite user ROI of 421% for InRule Decisioning, underlining its significance in the realm of automation. As diverse as its applications are, businesses, both private and public, often grapple with the question of when to drive their automation initiatives forward.
To provide insights into this journey, we've compiled a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) based on over two decades of experience and interactions with hundreds of satisfied customers.
1. Can we afford automation?
Investing in a top-notch, no-code decisioning platform is not an insignificant investment. It's crucial to assess not just the immediate costs but also the scalability of the solution to meet evolving needs and growing complexities.
2. Will automated decisioning replace human decisions?
Absolutely not. The most advanced decisioning relies on the expertise of human authors/managers. Automation excels at routine determinations based on preset parameters, freeing up senior staff and subject matter experts to focus on intricate, outlier decisions that demand their unique qualifications and expertise.
3. Who controls all decision logic?
InRule Decisioning features robust access controls, placing the power to restrict or democratise logic authoring and deployment capabilities in the hands of a specified automation gatekeeper, whether a technical or business specialist. Further insights on choosing decisioning managers can be found in our guide on Good Beginnings: How to Start a Rule Project.
4. Who should author decision logic?
While IT or business managers control access to automation logic, effective decisioning optimisation requires direct authoring capabilities by those best informed to create and update automations. No-code systems remove technical barriers, empowering business users to manage complex decisioning using robust business-language commands and menus. Decisioning democratisation eliminates errors, enhancing corporate agility and response times. Dive deeper into this discussion in our guide on Good Beginnings: Discovering Rule Authors.
5. How soon can I expect to realise returns?
Determining ROI involves identifying and weighting key performance indicators (KPIs) and establishing baseline data for "before" metrics. Realising meaningful returns soon after deployment is contingent on accurate baseline measurements, effective tracking of the "new" state, and ensuring decisioning logic operates as intended. Regular assessments and logic refinements enhance ROI.
6. What if decisioning outcomes go askew?
The complexity of automated decisioning demands human-in-the-loop oversight and governance to align outcomes with expectations. Robust explainability serves as a digital roadmap, allowing logic authors to trace automation misfires and update logic promptly. Discover more about AI explainability and its significance in our article The Significance and Necessity of AI Explainability.
7. Which decision process should we automate first?
For a successful first foray into automation, keep it focused, simple, measurable, and meaningful to customers, staff, and your bottom line.
For more details on the many benefits of InRule Decisioning, augmented with powerful machine learning and process automation, contact one of our InRule experts today.