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2022 predictions see robotic process automation expanding
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 . 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 . This is according to Infor VP of solution consulting for the EMEA regions , Phil Lewis .
The RPA software industry has been experiencing explosive growth . The reasons for this growth are well-known in Information Technology ( IT ) circles . RPA can significantly boost employee productivity , freeing workers from time-consuming and repetitive operations . 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 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 backoffice operations involving compliance , order processing and customer requests . As automated workflows become more common in business applications , RPA
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As Industry 4.0 adoption gains traction there will be an increased adoption of robotic process automation in all manufacturing operations .
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 IT and Operational Technology ( OT ), forming a cyber-physical continuum , or computer system monitored by computerbased algorithms , incorporating IoT-enabled intelligent devices . As RPA becomes more integrated with Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) and Machine Learning , the adoption 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 . The results can be 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 the 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 . Industry 4.0 will keep RPA and associated AI functionality at the forefront of organisational change well into the future . CLA
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