Book Review - Practical Process Automation by Bernd Rücker
Bernd Rücker's "Practical Process Automation" is a comprehensive guide for IT professionals looking to implement process automation solutions effectively. Rücker draws upon his extensive experience designing and deploying automation platforms to present an accessible, informative, and engaging exploration of the topic. He covers everything from selecting suitable use cases, choosing the right technology stack, and designing scalable and maintainable architectures to handling exceptions, testing, and monitoring automated processes.
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Read Practical Process Automation by Bernd Rücker
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Rücker emphasizes the importance of first identifying manual processes ripe for automation and then carefully considering whether they meet certain criteria, such as being rule-based, mature, and frequently executed. Only once a suitable candidate has been selected does he recommend turning to available technologies like Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Business Process Management (BPM), and iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service). Throughout the book, Rücker provides concrete examples and comparisons to aid in understanding these sometimes abstract concepts.
Key topics covered in "Practical Process Automation" include:
- Understanding process automation patterns and anti-patterns
- Evaluating ROI and TCO for automation projects
- Selecting appropriate process automation technologies
- Orchestrating humans and machines within automated processes
- Monitoring and exception handling for fault-tolerant systems
- Testing and debugging automated processes
- Dealing with legacy systems and APIs
- Security considerations for process automation solutions
Read Practical Process Automation by Bernd Rücker
Takeaway Points:
- Carefully evaluate potential automation candidates based on rules, maturity, frequency, and variation.
- Consider various process automation technologies, weighing pros and cons according to specific needs and constraints.
- Ensure proper orchestration between human and machine participants within automated processes.
- Address fault tolerance, exception handling, testing, and security early on in the design phase.
- Engage in thorough planning, budgeting, and evaluation to justify investments and manage expectations.
Read Practical Process Automation by Bernd Rücker
Bernd Rücker's "Practical Process Automation" serves as an excellent starting point for anyone interested in exploring the world of process automation. Packed full of actionable insights, helpful diagrams, and real-world scenarios, this book makes complex ideas easily comprehensible while avoiding unnecessary jargon. Regardless of whether you are just beginning your journey or already knee-deep in existing projects, Rücker's guidance will prove invaluable in helping you navigate the ever-evolving landscape of process automation.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
