Robotic Process Automation ( RPA ) continues expanding from IT to non-IT Stakeholders
By Anwen Robinson , Infor GM and SVP for UK & Ireland
In 2022 , robotic process automation ( RPA ) is poised for a breakthrough into the mainstream consciousness . RPA refers to the automation of business processes via software platforms that script and operate pre-defined tasks across a variety of applications . Many repetitive business application tasks can be automated in this manner and RPA can be combined with Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) to create more advanced automations , with the AI providing the requisite context and self-correction to the automated process .
The RPA software industry has been experiencing explosive growth , with the reasons for this growth well-known in IT circles . RPA can significantly boost employee productivity , freeing workers from time-consuming and repetitive operations , and we are now seeing the awareness and utilisation of RPA expand into traditionally non-IT domains , promoting exponential growth of RPA across the organisation .
NON-IT APPLICATIONS OF RPA Examples of RPA applications are appearing right across the enterprise . This includes smart bots that speed up the processing of external vendors ’ invoice approvals ; RPA workflows that incorporate AI to automate monthly data collection and metric calculations , and RPA bots automating back-office operations involving compliance , orders processing and customer requests .
As automated workflows become more common in business applications , RPA functionality will increasingly be built into commercial software . Recent trends such as Industry 4.0 demonstrate the utility of these tools .
RPA AS AN ACCELERATOR OF INDUSTRY 4.0 Industry 4.0 focuses on the synchronisation of Information Technology ( IT ) and Operational Technology ( OT ), forming a cyberphysical continuum , or computer system monitored by computer-based algorithms , incorporating IoT-enabled intelligent devices . As RPA becomes more integrated with Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) and Machine Learning , the adaption of RPA tools utilising AI will accelerate the effectiveness of Industry 4.0 across the entire value chain .
For example , shop-floor processes are still often driven by paper-based tracking . Custom-defined workflows enable users to automate and streamline tracking as new functionality is needed , with the results used for advanced dashboards and reporting . As Industry 4.0 adoption gains traction , we will see increased RPA adoption in manufacturing operations .
RPA AS AN ENABLER OF BUSINESS RESILIENCE COVID-19 has caused a series of disruptions , significantly in global supply chain and human resources . In response , firms are increasingly turning to RPA projects to deal with these disruptions and increase resilience in their business process operations . Such large-scale adoption implies growing recognition of the value of RPA among non-IT stakeholders .
As we have seen in other areas of digital transformation , widespread adoption of RPA across the enterprise will drive yet another technology-driven shift in the modern workforce . Thomas Friedman , the New York Times bestselling author , and three-time Pulitzer Prize winner , assures us not to be alarmed . “ The robots are not destined to take all the jobs ”, he writes in his 2016 book , Thank You for Being Late . He predicts a future workforce freed from repetitive and mind-numbing tasks , allowing employees to maximise their creativity .
As RPA becomes the norm for firms across the globe , there will be a growing awareness of its potential among non- IT stakeholders . RPA ’ s resilience and scalability were demonstrated during the onset of COVID-19 disruptions and Industry 4.0 will keep RPA and associated AI functionality at the forefront of organisational change well into the future .
www . infor . com / en-gb
20