Abstract

The case “Levi’s Adopting Robotic Process Automation to Liberate itself from Manual Work” describes the efforts of US-based clothing company Levi Strauss & Co. to adopt Robotic Process Automation (RPA) as part of its endeavor to bring about a digital transformation. The case provides detailed information on the implementation and benefits of its first two proofs-of-concept bots. Levi’s was able to save nearly 500 hours of manual work with the installation of the first PoC bot and the second PoC bot was able to do the work that five people did for several hours over multiple days, saving nearly 750 hours of manual labor. The case also provides a glimpse into other key initiatives implemented by Levi’s as part of its digital transformation. In addition, the case also talks about the future of RPA at Levi’s, including the implementation of a new bot called Purchase Order Closure Bot, in 2022. Will Levi’s huge investment in RPA pay off? What would be the long-term repercussions of the use of RPA in the clothing industry?

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Examine the need for a digital transformation.
• Analyze processes to identify areas that are suitable for the implementation of RPA.
• Study the impact of automation in operations management.
• Understand the significance of automation technology for the future of work.
• Recognize the challenges for HR managers in managing the changing nature of the workforce.

Keywords

Process Analysis; Digital Transformation; Information Technology; Process Throughput Time Reduction; Operations Planning; Robotic Process Automation; Technological Innovations; Artificial Intelligence; Software Robots; Human Resource Planning; Competitive Advantage; Center of Excellence; Cost Management; Enterprise Software; and End-to-End Solution