5 Common RPA Pitfalls and How to Prevent Them

Hi all! It’s been hot lately and I can’t let go of my fan.

It’s already summer in Los Angeles.

I use an astringent fan from Kagawa Prefecture, and it is very cool just by looking up a little, and it makes me feel that Japan’s technology is really amazing.

Well, today I would like to talk about “RPA (Robotic Process Automation)” in a realistic way that is a little closer to the field.

I think there are many people who are excitedly considering introducing RPA, such as “I want to introduce RPA soon” or “It seems that automation will make work easier all at once.”

But in fact…… Many people stumble more than I thought when it comes to RPA implementation.

So, this time, we will introduce “common mistakes in RPA implementation” and “its solutions” in a slightly frank but useful way!

✖ Mistake 1: “I tried it for the time being” → Straying without organizing work

“I don’t know, but let’s try RPA to process invoices!”
I had to log in to another system on the way”, “This item was entered manually”
, and the pattern that comes out later.

✔ Solution: Take stock of your work first!

Visualize what steps are being taken, who is using which tools.
The most reliable thing is to ask the site.

✖ Mistake 2: “Buy an RPA tool and it’s over” → That’s the start

A common pattern is that you think, “I bought a tool = automation completed!”
… No, RPA is in production after it is introduced.

✔ Solution: Determine KPIs (performance indicators) properly.

It is important to review it regularly while visualizing whether it is going well, such as “it is OK if you can reduce ○ hours a month” or “success if the error rate decreases”.

✖ Mistake 3: “IT or the person in charge proceeds secretly” → The site is in turmoil

As a result of throwing around and saying, “The system will do everything,” the
resulting robot is not used at all from the actual work flow…

✔ Solution: The main premise is to create together with the site!

Ideally, an RPA environment that can be touched and nurtured by on-site personnel is ideal.
Keyence’s “AI Navigation RPA – RK Series” is no-code and easy to operate in the field (this is true).

✖ Mistake 4: “Only the person in charge knows” → Personalization problem!

The scenario is in one person’s head, and the other is a black box…
The moment that person is transferred, no one can maintain it and RPA may be left unattended.

✔ Solution: The scenario should be “a recipe that everyone can read“.

It is safe to create a state where you can see it later, such as adding explanatory comments, unifying rules, and taking over regularly.

With the RK series, you can list and share scenarios on the cloud, which is convenient!

✖ Mistake 5: “Trying to do everything with RPA” → Mistake in selecting the target task

“Let the robot do this too!”,
and chaos occurs when they try to automate tasks with a lot of irregular processing…

✔ Solution: The work suitable for RPA is “routine and has fixed rules”.

For example, “transcribing data” and “issuing a fixed report every day” are their specialties.
With the RK series, you can rest assured that they will also support business diagnosis and business selection before introduction.

〇 In Conclusion: RPA is a Tool to Make People’s Work Easier
When used well, RPA can truly make your job easier.
But if it’s introduced the wrong way, it can feel like “some mysterious robot is just doing… something”—and that’s it.

We actually failed at first too.
But once we started taking it slowly, involving the people on the ground, and reflecting along the way, we finally began to see real results

〇 Bonus Tip: Choose an RPA That Works with Your Team
By the way, the RPA we implemented—Keyence’s “AI Navigation RPA – RK Series”—has been great because:

• It’s no-code and easy to use, even on the front lines

• It uses AI to assist in scenario creation

• The support is incredibly thorough

So, we really recommend it.

If you’re thinking, “We want to improve our operations with RPA too,”
the best first step is to clearly define what you want to automate and how,
then get your team involved and take it step by step.

Also, since Keyence supports you from the initial step of identifying automation opportunities, it’s a solid choice even for companies without much in-house IT expertise.

That’s all for now—have a great day, everyone!