In the fast-evolving landscape of import processes, innovation has become the driving force behind streamlined operations and enhanced efficiency. One innovation that's transforming the industry is robotic process automation (RPA) – a technology that, coupled with Artificial Intelligence, promises to reduce manual and repetitive tasks while significantly enhancing the quality of work performed by the import specialists.

Stress and Overload in Import

In an enlightening conversation on the Procuretech podcast, Romain Fayolle, the co-founder of Holocene, takes center stage to talk about the most common challenges of import professionals and import specialists.  

Listen to the podcast here (from 1’50’’to 9’05’’): [The Procuretech Podcast]

Romain explains how not too long ago, import professionals had to do a lot of things manually, doing the same tasks over and over.

The real issue here is that the way things used to work was pretty time-consuming and repetitive. Just imagine: when import specialists send orders to suppliers, they get back a ton of documents to deal with. This is where the problem comes in – handling all of this can be overwhelming. It's like getting stuck in a never-ending cycle of paperwork and tasks. This can be really tiring and frustrating, and it leaves very little room for focusing on important tasks and responsibilities.

According to a Gartner report “Staff is experiencing extreme levels of burnout, giving rise to trends like the “great resignation” and “quiet quitting.” With every fresh venture into import transformation, the import team finds themselves entrusted with fresh duties, supporting novel value streams, and striving to meet new metrics and expectations.

(source: https://www.gartner.com/en/supply-chain/trends/leadership-vision-chief-procurement-officer-2023)

This overwhelming load of tasks and constant arrival of information exhaustes import professionals. The constant pressure to meet deadlines without errors drains their energy and motivation, often leading to burnout. This cycle leaves little room for creativity and a positive work atmosphere, causing frustration. It's crucial to find ways to address this stress, as it affects both work and personal well-being. 

RPA in Import Process: Saying Goodbye to Manual Repetitive Tasks

Holocene software supports import coordinators and import specialists by automating manual tasks, making processes more efficient. Using hyperautomation, it simplifies documentation, ensuring timely and accurate submission of import-related paperwork. This saves time and reduces errors from manual input. The platform also optimizes the execution of import operations, further enhancing efficiency.

These combined benefits enable coordinators to dedicate more time to strategic decision-making and proactive collaborations, significantly boosting productivity in the import field.

Want to see it in action? 

Watch our video:

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For more details, read more here.

Using RPA for Import

As we step into the era of Robotic Process Automation in import, we're looking at a future with the promise of working better, being more accurate, and focusing more on important tasks. Think of Holocene as a digital helper that marks the start of a new phase for import coordinators or specialists and everyone dealing with import complexities. 

By adopting RPA, we can say goodbye to feeling overwhelmed and stressed, and welcome a time of getting more work done and being smarter about how we work. The future holds a place where professionals can leave behind boring tasks, so they have more energy for exciting innovations and working together in better ways.