In 2023, Johnson Controls faced a cyber event that significantly altered its approach to automation. As critical processes stalled and customer invoicing was disrupted, the company's automation efforts, previously seen as auxiliary, were elevated to a top priority. Ramnath Natarajan, Director of Enterprise Integration & Automation CoE, shared insights on the company's journey, the challenges encountered, and how UiPath became integral to their automation strategy.
Initially using Blue Prism, Johnson Controls faced scalability issues due to fluctuating workloads and stability problems, prompting a review of their automation solution. According to Natarajan, the transition involved careful evaluation of UiPath capabilities, leading to a full migration and decommissioning of Blue Prism by May 2024.
Key challenges during this migration included optimizing licenses with UiPath to accommodate the growing automation needs, eventually leading to an expansion from zero to 256 automation processes. Natarajan commented on their rapid development cycle, stating, "Every other week, we see new automation deployed.”
Automation has greatly improved Johnson Controls' invoice processing capabilities through AI-driven intelligent document processing (IDP). Natarajan noted that the company processes approximately one million invoices annually, incorporating robust post-processing logic to address data discrepancies. Moreover, RPA has successfully bridged the gap between legacy systems and modern automation platforms, enhancing operational efficiency without costly system overhauls.
As Johnson Controls scales its automation, workforce development has become a priority. The team is transitioning from traditional automation roles to focus on AI and intelligent document processing. Natarajan emphasized the importance of governance in this process, ensuring that citizen developers can create automations safely.
Looking forward, Johnson Controls is committed to reducing human intervention while recognizing the broader implications of automation beyond cost savings, focusing on productivity and business impact. Natarajan concluded by highlighting the strategic importance of UiPath’s orchestration capabilities in their ongoing transformation efforts.