Best practices for an automation Center of Excellence that drives business value
In an environment where automationhas become strategic, many organizations create a Center of Excellence in automationto coordinate investments and accelerate results (a recent study indicates that structured automation programs can reduce operating costs by double digits). A well-designed CoE concentrates talent, governance, and standards to maximize impact.
Define the vision, scope, and operating model of the CoE
A robust CoE begins with a clear visionaligned with corporate strategy. It is essential to specify which types of processes will be prioritized, which technologies will be managed, and what benefits are expected. The operating model should define roles, governance, and case selection criteria, avoiding isolated projects and favoring a coherent automation portfolio.
Governance, metrics, and talent as pillars of sustainability
Best practices recommend establishing a governance framework that covers security, changes, and the lifecycle of bots. This framework should also define roles, policies, standards, and audit mechanisms to ensure compliance and traceability.
Agree on clear indicators (time savings, reduction in errors, user satisfaction) with calculation methods and measurable objectives.
Review them periodically using dashboards and follow-up meetings (e.g., quarterly) to adjust actions.
A mature CoE invests in continuous training: courses, certifications, and hands-on workshops to keep skills up to date.
Establish career paths and internal communities of practice (mentoring, technical sessions, knowledge repositories) to retain talent and share best practices.
Scaling, culture, and continuous improvement in automation
For the CoE to generate real traction, it is advisable to start with high-impact, low-complexity cases, document lessons learned, and standardize reusable templates to accelerate deployments.
Prioritize measurable quick wins and document lessons learned: clear ROI, metrics, and replicable playbooks.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration in business with committees, training, and shared KPIs.
Share successes, guides, and component libraries (repositories, APIs) to scale automation sustainably.
Adopting these best practices makes the Center of Excellence in automationa strategic partner, capable of orchestrating technology, people, and processes to generate measurable and repeatable value. Organizations wishing to evaluate or strengthen their CoE can contact Digital Robotsto explore governance models, metrics, and roadmaps that accelerate their maturity in automation.
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