The ABCs of Enterprise Automation

For newcomers to the automation world, the number of commonly used abbreviations can get pretty confusing. Maybe you’ve heard them and thought to yourself: RPA? BPM? OCR? WTF?! It can be frustrating to keep up with the alphabet soup related to automation software. Trust us – we’re right there with you.

Today’s blog is meant to be a resource you can go to whenever you need some clarity on an abbreviation. All of the most common automation-related abbreviations are defined below with some helpful links to external resources.

Without further ado, let’s dive into the ABCs of Enterprise Automation:

AI – Artificial Intelligence

This term refers to intelligence that is exhibited by a machine, allowing it to understand elements within its environment and perform certain tasks.

Learn more about "The Future of AI in Robotic Process Automation."

BCP – Business Continuity Plan

According to Investopedia, creating a BCP involves identifying potential risks to business operations, and implementing and testing procedures to mitigate those risks. Your BCP is what helps your business to continue operating during an unplanned event, such as a natural disaster.

BPA – Business Process Automation

Differing from RPA, BPA focuses on restructuring the actual core operations and workflows of a business to make day-to-day tasks more efficient.

Check out the article “Business Process Automation vs. Robotic Process Automation” to learn about the difference between BPA and RPA.

BPM – Business Process Management

See BPA above.

CMS – Content Management System

This phrase is used to describe a collaborative program that supports the creation, modification, and publication of digital content, in the form of web pages.

CRM – Customer Relationship Management

A CRM is a system that helps you manage all of your company’s relationships with current and prospective customers. An Enterprise Automation Platform like DocuPhase can integrate with your CRM, keeping all of your data updated and in sync across your entire organization.

DAM – Digital Asset Management

A DAM process takes care of the organizing, storing, and retrieving of a company’s digital assets.

DI – Document Imaging

This is a term used to describe the conversion of paper files into digital images. DI systems include fax machines, copiers, multifunction devices, and dedicated document scanners.

DMS – Document Management System

A DMS allows you to secure all of your documents in an online repository. Simply put, a Document Management System (DMS) ensures that all information in your organization is available at the fingertips of the people who need it, no matter where they are.

DRP – Disaster Recovery Plan

Your DRP will help you restart operations after a disaster. Why is this important? Because, according to NFIB, 30% of small businesses will experience a natural disaster at some point. Of the businesses that experience major data loss, 70% of them are out of business within a year! Find out how a Document Management System can help your business survive a natural disaster.

EAP – Enterprise Automation Platform

The DocuPhase platform includes a unified foundation of Document Management, Web Forms, Process Design, and Workflow that can be seamlessly integrated into your business applications and programs. Enterprise Automation combines the power of these four cores, using them to transform the entire organization.

Find out how one Enterprise Automation platform can outperform a collection of single-purpose software purchases: Enterprise Automation vs. Point Solutions.

ECM – Enterprise Content Management

ECM software is used to manage all of a company’s structured and unstructured information, across all departments, in all of its forms.

EDM – Electronic Document Management

See DMS above.

EHR – Electronic Health Records

An EHR is a digital version of a patient’s chart. It may contain a patient’s full medical history, contact information, allergies, family history, list of medications, history of hospitalizations, and more.

EMR – Electronic Medical Records

Differing from an EHR, and EMR contains a patient’s medical records that are specific to a single medical practice. Beyond medical records, an organization’s files can all be held by a Document Management System, and internal processes can be automated using an Enterprise Automation platform.

ERP - Enterprise Resource Planning

Companies use ERPs to track business resources, such as cash and raw materials. An Enterprise Automation Platform like DocuPhase can integrate with your ERP, keeping all of your data updated and in sync across your entire organization.

ICR – Intelligent Character Recognition

A more specific form of OCR technology (defined below), ICR can be used to learn fonts and styles of handwriting, and translate them into data.

LMS – Learning Management System

When your company implements a new software system, your team will need to be trained. DocuPhase offers an online learning environment to help your users get up to speed on how to use your new solution. For access to the DocuPhase Learning Library, contact your Account Manager.

MICR – Magnetic Ink Character Recognition

This is a technology used most commonly in check printing to verify the legitimacy of the document. Information is encoded in magnetic characters, using special ink.

ML – Machine Learning

Taking technology a step beyond AI (defined above), ML refers to the algorithms used by machines that allow them to learn and improve their performance. This can involve growth of their knowledge base, which in turn helps improve the accuracy of their pattern matching.

OCR – Optical Character Recognition

OCR technology allows software to read typed, handwritten, or printed text from an electronic document. It may be part of an Advanced Capture system that automates the indexing of electronic documents within your DMS (defined above).

OMR – Optical Mark Recognition

Frequently used in the scoring of multiple choice examinations, an OMR scanner collects data that has been recorded on sheets with a pencil or special marker.

RAA – Robotic Accounting Automation

RAA is a specialization of RPA (defined below) that consists of a combination of Accounting-specific RPA tools and software robots. It can be integrated with whatever ERP (defined above) you’re currently using, automating repetitive tasks and syncing your data.

Learn more about RAA by downloading our ebook, What Is RAA?

ROI – Return on Investment

Investopedia defines ROI as “the benefit (or return of an investment) divided by the cost of the investment.” Before investing in new software, you’ll want to have an idea of what the return will be on your investment. If you won’t be saving more money than you’re spending, you probably won’t make the investment.

Calculate your ROI here.

RPA – Robotic Process Automation

RPA uses software to augment the performance of existing processes. As technology advances in the workplace, Robotic Process Automation refers to intelligent programs and systems performing the tasks and labor of office workers. Some tasks that can be automated include receiving and filing documents, performing data entry, syncing data between systems, and sending alerts and notifications.

SOP – Sales Order Processing

Achieved through automated workflows, SOP involves all of the steps of processing an order, from allocating the items ordered to printing and sending the associated invoice.

SOP – Standard Operating Procedure

The Environmental Protection Agency defines an SOP as a “set of written instructions that document a routine or repetitive activity followed by an organization.”

Learn more about the EPA’s regulations for preparing SOPs here.

For information about how to select a DMS that will allow you to manage your SOPs, check out our blog post, 7 Features to Look for in an SOP Management System.

That wraps up the ABCs of Enterprise Automation! We hope this info will help you navigate the sometimes-confusing world of automation software.

Think we missed an abbreviation? Leave it in the comments, and we’ll add it to the blog post for you.

In the meantime, if you’ve got any questions about DocuPhase and the specific solutions we provide, check out our FAQ page.

For more info on Robotic Process Automation, download our free ebook, What Is RPA?