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313 Topics
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Automation Anywhere TeamAutomation Anywhere Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
How to Use the Debug Tool

It debugs me that not enough people are using this amazing feature! Let's see how it works.  Watch the video above or read the key points below to get started! What does the Debug tool do? The Debug tool you to see each line your bot is executing during runtime, as well as details on how your variables are currently being filled. Once on Debug mode you will be able to pause/run your bot line by line, while seeing values being processed in real-time. This is especially helpful for longer or more complex bots and when inspecting your code while checking for bugs. How to use it While editing your bot, click on “Debug” at the top-right of the Workbench – alternatively you can press “F10” on your keyboard. Now the only visible lines of code are the ones your bot will use during this run, as all disabled lines will be hidden. This offers a clearer view of what your bot will be processing. Adding Breakpoints enables you to control the bot execution, as the bot pauses for each breakpoint added

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1 year ago
Kate.Ressler
Kate.ResslerPathfinder Community Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Defining Responsibilities in the Automation Development LifecycleAutomation Pathfinder Program

Clearly defining roles and responsibilities is important in any team, especially in the world of automation when there may be lots of stakeholders and team members across the organization. The entire team collectively steers the ship toward successful automation implementation — as long as they know where they’re going and how they’re getting there. Let's explore the key players and their responsibilities in this dynamic ecosystem. Then, we'll uncover why defining these roles is so critical, and share an example of how skipping this step can take things off course. What are the roles and responsibilities to be defined in the automation development lifecycle? Automation roles can vary based on your organization's structure and the complexity of projects, but below are some common roles on the automation team, and their typical responsibilities. Automation Developer: The automation developer is responsible for designing, building, and maintaining automations. This requires a strong under

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Kate.Ressler
1 year ago
Micah.Smith
Micah.SmithPathfinder Community Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Leveraging Virtual Machines to Empower Automation Team Growth and Optimization

In today's dynamic business world, where speed, precision, and adaptability are paramount, the role of automation has never been more crucial. Behind the scenes, a robust automation team works tirelessly to ensure processes are efficient, seamless, and ready for the challenges of tomorrow. Enter virtual machines (VMs) – the unsung heroes that can transform the way your automation team operates. In this blog post, we'll review what VMs are, why automation program use them, and share how you can leverage VMs to realize the full potential of your automation initiatives.What are virtual machines?In the context of an automation program, virtual machines (VMs) are like virtual versions of actual computers — the software kind of magic that lets you run various operating systems and apps all at once on a single physical machine. VMs are isolated from each other, each operating as an independent system with its own virtual hardware – think CPU, memory, storage, and even network connections. The

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Micah.Smith
1 year ago
arjun.meda
arjun.medaPathfinder Community Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Structuring Deployments for Successful Automation ImplementationAutomation Pathfinder Program

What is this blog about? A well-planned and executed deployment process is foundational for achieving successful automation implementations. It ensures that automation initiatives are seamlessly integrated into production processes, providing lasting value and setting the stage for further growth.Why should the reader care about this topic? Production Efficiency: A structured deployment process ensures that automation solutions are integrated seamlessly into the production environment. This leads to increased efficiency in operations. Quality Assurance: A well-planned deployment process includes rigorous testing and validation procedures. This helps in assuring the quality and reliability of the deployed automation, which is critical in a production setting. Minimizing Disruption: A structured deployment minimizes disruption to ongoing operations. This is particularly important in Mission 3, where the primary goal is to optimize existing production processes. Cost Efficiency: An effect

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arjun.meda
1 year ago
Kate.Ressler
Kate.ResslerPathfinder Community Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Evaluating what’s a good fit for automationAutomation Pathfinder Program

Automation can transform workflows and supercharge efficiencies, enabling us to focus on tasks that truly require human creativity and problem-solving. But not every process is suitable for automation, and implementing it without careful consideration can lead to inefficiencies and setbacks. Let’s dive into the aspects and best practices of a use case assessment — an essential process used to evaluate what’s a good fit for automation. What is a use case assessment and why is it important for automation programs?A use case assessment is one of the first steps of automating business processes. This systematic evaluation method identifies and analyzes potential scenarios where a particular solution, such as automation, can be effectively applied to solve challenges. Without a use case assessment, you’re shooting from the hip. And when you’re shooting from the hip, you could be wasting time, effort, and resources on ideas that don’t actually make the most sense for your business or for you

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Kate.Ressler
1 year ago
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mark.goodaireAutomation Anywhere Team
posted in Pathfinder Blog
Conversational Automation (Run Remote via API)

This pattern involves invoking an automation by use the Control Room APIs, from a “ChatBot” application.  The automation will execute on one or more unattended runners/devices.Use this pattern any time you need to provide a conversational interface where users will receive answers by executing automation.EXPERT TIP: With conversational AI/automation solutions, responsiveness is critical to provide a great user experience - not many people want to wait a significant amount of time to get an answer from a chatbot!  Consider use of ‘API Tasks’ to quickly retrieve results from an automation that can be supplied as a response to a chatbot question. Development Framework: Any Automation360 Development Framework can be used.Solution Design (SDD): A sample SDD is attached.  Administration: You’ll need a role defined that can generate an API key, as well as role for the ‘runner’ that will execute the automation.  Several Control Room APIs are used to securely connect to the Control Room, and ex

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1 year ago
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mark.goodaireAutomation Anywhere Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Solution Pattern - Run Remote on Demand

This pattern - one of the most simple - involves logging in to the Control Room to execute the automation when required. The automation will execute on one or more unattended runners/devices.Use this pattern any time you need a process executed ad-hoc - ie. when/as required. This pattern is frequently used for automations supporting project activities including data migration / transformation, often required to upgrade/implement business systems. EXPERT TIP:  If human intervention is needed to resolve process exceptions identified during execution, consider use of the “Unattended + CoPilot” pattern.   Development Framework: Any Automation360 Development Framework can be used.Solution Design (SDD): A sample SDD is attached.  Administration: You’ll need a role defined that has access required to allow scheduling of an automation.  One or more ‘custom roles’ could be created for this purpose - see samples at the following link.How to Use: Follow these steps from the Automation Anywhere Do

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1 year ago
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mark.goodaireAutomation Anywhere Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Solution Pattern - Conversational Automation (Remote via API)

This pattern involves invoking an automation from a ChatBot, by use the Control Room APIs.  The automation will execute on one or more unattended runners/devices. Use this pattern any time you need an external application to execution an automation.  EXPERT TIP:  There is a specific pattern dedicated to execution of automations based on a conversational/chatbot experience.  Check it out here.  Development Framework: Any Automation360 Development Framework can be used.  For this pattern, it is critical that there are ‘output values’ for the automations/taskbots that are called, that can be returned to the chatbot application.Solution Design (SDD): A sample SDD is attached.  Administration: You’ll need a role defined that can generate an API key, as well as role for the ‘runner’ that will execute the automation.  Several Control Room APIs are used to securely connect to the Control Room, and execute an automation.  One or more ‘custom roles’ could be created for this purpose - see sample

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1 year ago
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mark.goodaireAutomation Anywhere Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Solution Pattern - Run Remote via API

This pattern involves invoking an automation by use the Control Room APIs.  The automation will execute on one or more unattended runners/devices.Use this pattern any time you need an external application to execution an automation.  EXPERT TIP:  There is a specific pattern dedicated to execution of automations based on a conversational/chatbot experience.  Check it out here.   Development Framework: Any Automation360 Development Framework can be used.Solution Design (SDD): A sample SDD is attached.  Administration: You’ll need a role defined that can generate an API key, as well as role for the ‘runner’ that will execute the automation.  Several Control Room APIs are used to securely connect to the Control Room, and execute an automation.  One or more ‘custom roles’ could be created for this purpose - see samples at the following link.How to Use: Here is a great video describing how to execute an automation via Control Room APIs.  Troubleshooting Execution:The following references API

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1 year ago
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mark.goodaireAutomation Anywhere Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Custom Roles

Control Room Administration - CUSTOM ROLE SUMMARY The following summarizes custom roles that are based on Solution Patterns.  A role design like this can be used to define the specific role settings required to support different patterns.If the Control Room folder structure is defined by business functions/areas, these roles could also be defined at a Business Unit/Function level as well - ex. CUSTOM_RUN_UNATTENDED_SCHEDULE_FINANCE for users managing scheduled automations in Finance, etc.NOTE: The ‘CUSTOM’ prefix is simply to differentate these roles from the ‘standard/system’ roles available out-of-the-box as part of the Platform. Roles for Automation Consumers Sample Role Name Description Supported Patterns CUSTOM_RUN_ UNATTENDED_ONDEMAND Users who run unattended automations on-demand from Control Room. Run Remote On Demand CUSTOM_RUN_ UNATTENDED_SCHEDULE Users who schedule unattended automations. Run R

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Automation Anywhere TeamAutomation Anywhere Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Solution Pattern - Run Remote via Schedule

This pattern involves use of the Control Room scheduling capabilities.  The automation will execute on the scheduled dates/times on one or more unattended runners/devices.Use this pattern any time you need a process executed on a schedule.  When an automation requester starts mentioning a need for output “every Monday”, “once a month”, etc - your automation can likely use this pattern.   EXPERT TIP:  If human intervention is needed to resolve process exceptions identified during execution, consider use of the “Unattended + CoPilot” pattern.    Development Framework: Any Automation360 Development Framework can be used.Solution Design (SDD): A sample SDD is attached.  Administration: You’ll need a role defined that has access required to allow scheduling of an automation.  One or more ‘custom roles’ could be created for this purpose - see samples at the following link.How to Use: Follow these steps from the Automation Anywhere Doc Portal to schedule an automation.  Troubleshooting Execut

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1 year ago
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Automation Anywhere TeamAutomation Anywhere Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
How to Download a Bot Store Bot into your Automation 360 Control Room

 In this Automation Anywhere tutorial, we'll learn how to download Automation 360 bots from Bot Store. Bot Store is directly integrated with the Automation 360 Control Room to allow you to easily publish bots to Bot Store from within the Control Room.

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1 year ago
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Automation Anywhere TeamAutomation Anywhere Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Stellar Keynote Recap: Managing Your Automation Pipeline - Identification, Prioritization and Scaling StrategiesMVP | Community Event

 Welcome to our Stellar Keynote Recap Series! As part of the 1st Annual Pathfinder Community Space Camp & Generative AI Showcase, we’re hosting live sessions with Community MVPs and industry experts to share the latest developments in intelligent automation—especially Generative AI!—and provide you with learnings and resources to drive success at scale. If you don’t have the chance to attend the live session or want to come back to reference some of the critical mission information that was discussed, we’ve captured key intel from each session to share with you! Day 5 Stellar Keynote is Your Pipeline Lifeline!  For our final keynote session, we’re throwing you a pipeline lifeline! Mark Goodaire, our Director of Automation & Business Transformation, chats about all the different approaches to pipeline, pipeline management, and leveraging tech for your pipeline with Adam Favreau, Sr. Manager of HR Technology at Boston Scientific, and Tim Long, Director of Digital & Data Busin

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1 year ago
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Automation Anywhere TeamAutomation Anywhere Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Using the IQ Bot API to fetch Dashboard Data

This is a guest post from ChanduMohammad S, a Module Lead and a Senior RPA Developer. If you have an idea for a blog post or tutorial that you think would benefit the Automation Anywhere developer community, let us know at developer@automationanywhere.com. IQ Bot provides a comprehensive dashboard with details about the documents processed in each learning instance. This data is not only available on the UI, but can also be fetched from the API, so that you can use this data for further processing and custom reporting as per your management needs.In this article, we will explore how you can use the IQ Bot Dashboard data API to fetch the dashboard data using Postman. You can also use REST action in Automation 360 bot to get the same details.Kindly note this article is applicable for Automation 360 (formerly Automation Anywhere Enterprise A2019) Enterprise Cloud IQ Bot only as there are limitations with using APIs in the Community Edition.The outcome of this API is to fetch IQ Bot dashbo

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1 year ago
Kate.Ressler
Kate.ResslerPathfinder Community Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Unlock Expert-level Skills with Pathfinder Academy for Pro DevelopersPathfinder Academy

In the fast-paced world of automation, staying ahead of the curve is vital. Automation developers must continuously hone their skills to remain competitive in a dynamic job market, where 81% of organizations plan to grow their automation programs. But with technology evolving at breakneck speed, it's crucial to have the right training resources at your fingertips. Enter Pathfinder Academy, your ultimate destination for developing your automation career with quality, hands-on learning — for free. What is Pathfinder Academy? Pathfinder Academy is a new learning resource - your go-to source for automation training. Whether you want a clear path from automation novice to ninja, or you want to hone in on specific, in-demand skills, you’re just a few clicks away from engaging in training. Join Pathfinder Academy to explore:Flexible paths with courses that build on each other Engaging, video-based learning Quick, digestible lessons designed to fit into busy schedules Hands-on challenges that

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Kate.Ressler
1 year ago
Kate.Ressler
Kate.ResslerPathfinder Community Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Introducing: Pathfinder Academy, the fastest way to upskill your automation teamPathfinder Academy

In the fast-paced world of automation, staying ahead of the curve is vital. Automation leaders, in particular, face the task of not only nurturing their own skills but also ensuring their teams are equipped to drive automation success. Finding the right resources, training programs, and materials can be a daunting, time-consuming, and expensive task. That's why we created Pathfinder Academy — your one-stop solution where you can supercharge your automation team toward excellence with quality, hands-on learning for free. What is Pathfinder Academy? Pathfinder Academy is a new learning resource — your go-to source for automation training. Whether you want to give your automation team members a clear path from automation novice to ninja or you want to close specific skill gaps, you’re just a few clicks away from engaging training. Join Pathfinder Academy to explore:Flexible paths with courses that build on each other Engaging, video-based learning Quick, digestible lessons designed to fit

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Kate.Ressler
1 year ago
Kate.Ressler
Kate.ResslerPathfinder Community Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Meet Pathfinder Mission Control: The Game-Changing Companion for Automation LeadersPathfinder Mission Control

Intelligent automation is a team sport. While thriving automation programs across industries are comprised of both lean and large teams, the non-negotiable role essential for a successful program is the Automation Leader—the job function dedicated to leading strategic alignment to business goals, implementation, executive relationship-building, organizational evangelism of intelligent automation, and more.If you are an automation leader, we want you to know we see you. We understand the responsibilities on your plate and the pressure from senior management to deliver and scale. As your team’s leader, there are many ways to approach building and nurturing a successful automation program, as well as many ways you might find your efforts stalled. That’s precisely why we developed Pathfinder Mission Control.Pathfinder Mission Control is your trusted companion for automation success. It is a game-changer for automation leaders by providing expert tools and guidance to build resilient, scala

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Kate.Ressler
1 year ago
Micah.Smith
Micah.SmithPathfinder Community Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Building a Case for Gen AI: Unleash Your Automation InnovationGenerative AI

Automation leaders across the globe are tuned into the developing power and potential applications of generative AI. But trepidation around the unknowns of this rapidly evolving technology is stopping them from putting this tool to work for themselves, particularly regarding security and compliance. Does that sound like you, too? We’re here to address these concerns and offer guidance to approaching your first generative AI business use case with confidence and success. In this blog we’ll discuss:Approaching challenges with generative AI adoption Use case possibilities Preparing to build your first generative AI business use case Adoption is the challenge8 years ago an unfamiliar tech was growing in prominence. There was uncertainty around how it worked, whether it was safe and secure, and whether it threatened existing jobs. That tech was intelligent automation. Fast forward to present-day, we’re observing the same unfamiliarity and uncertainty with generative AI. When speaking to our

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Micah.Smith
1 year ago
arjun.meda
arjun.medaPathfinder Community Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
The Unsung Hero: The Importance of SDD Template Organization in AutomationAutomation Pathfinder Program

Solution Design Documents, otherwise known as SDD templates, lay the groundwork for success for your automation program. The way you design, store, and manage SDD templates can be a game-changer — improving efficiency, minimizing opportunities for error, and streamlining processes.Whether you’re getting ready to create an SDD template for your first automation program or your hundredth, you’ve come to the right place. In this article we’ll explore considerations and best practices in SDD templates — their creation, storage, and management — at every phase of your automation program, from Start to Accelerate to Scale. Introduction to SDD TemplatesBefore we dive into specific phases, let’s first establish what an SDD template is. A Solution Design Document (SDD) outlines your end result, or what the process will look like once it’s automated. It serves as a technical guide for the developer, and contains important details like key process steps and how they will be automated, the applica

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arjun.meda
1 year ago
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Automation Anywhere TeamAutomation Anywhere Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Developing a Compelling Vision and GoalsAutomation Pathfinder Program

It’s not an uncommon scenario. Sometimes, during Automation Pathfinder Program sessions we hear: “We’ve been having trouble with our leadership understanding our vision for automation.” We immediately ask “What has your program accomplished so far, where do you plan to go from here, and how have you communicated these things with your leadership team?”.  Sometimes we’ll get a response like, “Well, we created 15 bots last year and plan to launch another 20 this year. We told our executives about it, but they didn’t seem to care that much. They didn’t really understand the work it takes to build a bot or the benefit that it brings to the organization.” This is how we know a team has missed several steps in developing a clearly defined vision, tracking the metrics that matter, and effectively communicating the value the automation program is bringing to the organization. Here’s where we go from here:  Developing a Compelling Vision Have you ever known someone who had a killer idea but cou

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1 year ago
Kate.Ressler
Kate.ResslerPathfinder Community Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Everything You Need To Know About Renewing Your Automation Anywhere Professional RPA CertificationAAU Update

Your Automation Anywhere RPA Certification validates your expertise level within your organization and to prospective employers, so keeping it current is imperative to safeguard your personal career investment. Certification renewal is easy and we’re here to walk you through the process and answer frequent questions we get about certification renewal. Plus—We currently have a special offer to renew your certification for free! Keep reading below to learn more.Here are the questions this blog will answer:Why should I renew my Automation Anywhere Certification? Why is it important to maintain my Automation Anywhere Certification? Am I eligible to take the Automation Anywhere Renewal Certifications? How do I access Renewal Certifications? What is the format of the Renewal Certifications? What is the cost of renewing my certification?Why should I renew my Automation Anywhere Certification?Automation Anywhere professional RPA certifications remain active for two years. Once your certificati

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1 year ago
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Automation Anywhere TeamAutomation Anywhere Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Bot Store Spotlight: File Conversion Package

 File Conversion package enables bot builders to quickly and easily convert files from one file format to another to simplify the process of making file adjustments. It consists of 11 actions and supports file formats such as JPEG, JPG, GIF, PNG, TIFF, PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, CSV, and HTML.Here are a couple of use cases for which you can use this package:Emailing files to customers in a non-editable format for the purposes of a professional-looking output (Microsoft Word to PDF Conversion) Converting large, color images to their grayscale alternatives as color images can often be 10x the size of a grayscale image. (Image to Image conversion) Saving out presentations to be shared with customers or partners (Microsoft Powerpoint to PDF) Converting a file to make modifications more easily (CSV to Microsoft Excel) Breaking up multipage files into single-page files for processing in document recognition or storage solutions (PDF to Image, Image to Image)NOTE: Converting files (especially com

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1 year ago
Micah.Smith
Micah.SmithPathfinder Community Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
Human In-The-Loop (Co-Pilot)Automation Pathfinder Program

Human In-The-Loop means that user involvement is expected during the automation's invocation - and possibly during its execution. Click the link below matching the Solution Pattern Model for your use case for additional details and assets for each Solution Pattern. How will your automation be executed?Desktop AutomationThere are 4 Solution Patterns for running Desktop Automation. These Solution Patterns are generally executed locally on the user’s machine/desktop (optionally including ‘Picture in Picture’ mode) and use a Process to join together Task Bots and human-readable forms.Co-Pilot Desktop - Standalone - Run on Demand User invokes automation when required, via Control Room, or Copilot Desktop Assistant. Stand alone’ = not embedded in any application (no application/screen/transactional context) Can be used with “Picture in Picture” Automation renders in a ‘picture in picture’ screen (using Microsoft’s Child Sessions built into Windows), allowing the user to continue to use

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Micah.Smith
1 year ago
jimfrost
Most Valuable Pathfinder
jimfrostMost Valuable Pathfinder
published in Pathfinder Blog
Key Considerations when Building an Automation Team for Long Term Scale & Growth – Part II: Growing Your TeamMVP | Automation Pathfinder Program

IntroductionHello again, and welcome to Part II of my blog series on how to build an automation team for long term scale and growth. Part I focused on establishing the foundation of your team by asking some key questions about your organization's strategy, culture, structure, and project management approach. I emphasized the importance of having clear roles, responsibilities, expectations, vision, and communication for the team members. I also provided some examples of different types of teams based on different organizational models and suggested some best practices for creating a successful automation team.In this post, I will be moving on to the next stage which covers how and when to grow your team. I will cover the key indicators you need to monitor, the questions you need to address as you begin discussing your team's growth, what roles should you consider expanding or creating, and what the impact will be on your organization during and after this growth period. One thing to kee

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jimfrost
Most Valuable Pathfinder
1 year ago
Kate.Ressler
Kate.ResslerPathfinder Community Team
published in Pathfinder Blog
5 Must-See Sessions for Automation Leaders at Imagine 2023Imagine 2023

Imagine 2023 in Austin, TX is rapidly approaching and, per the usual, we’ve meticulously curated a schedule brimming with informative, inspiring, and interactive sessions that will engage every person in every role and stage of automation. (If you haven’t purchased tickets yet, what are you waiting for? Book your spot today!) But with only two days to spend at our annual event, we don’t want you feeling like it’s the first day of secondary school—frantic to figure out your class schedule, where you need to be, and when. Nobody’s got time for that!With that in mind, we’ve curated a list of the top sessions from Automation Anywhere’s Community Team for automation leaders and/or business analysts that will benefit you the most. We want to maximize our impact on YOU at Imagine 2023, and these five sessions are where we bet you’ll gain big insights and bigger takeaways (everything is bigger in Texas, after all). 5 Habits of Highly Effective Automation ProgramsScale Your Program for Success:

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Kate.Ressler
1 year ago
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