Robotic process automation or RPA is the technology that makes it possible to program software and empower machines to mimic human actions, replicate human motion, and perform human functions automatically, and repetitively.
RPA is powering waves of transformative change in manufacturing industries, defense, aerospace, business, and healthcare. The intelligent software and its visible application, the robot, don’t rest, is error-free, and is more productive and profitable than a human.
Robotic process automation is not only changing the way we work; the technology is quietly revolutionizing the future. It should be useful to review the developments that set the stage for RPAs dominance so that we gain a better appreciation of the role and significance of RPA.
Kansas software experts at Tricension explain the history and role of RPA in enabling companies to enhance quality and improve productivity by streamlining business processes.
The 1950s and 60s: Emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Foundational research conducted by eminent American computer scientists led by John McCarthy and Arthur Samuel paves the way for imbuing computers with the capability to think and respond like humans.
AI, ML, computer engineering, and linguistic sciences were combining resources to deliver a single toolkit that could boost robotic process automation.
Artificial Intelligence was focusing on creating smart machines that could mimic human intelligence (using logic, and reasoning) to solve complex issues that were beyond the range of the human brain.
Machine Learning, developing as an offshoot of AI, was coding software algorithms that could gather and analyze big data. We designed algorithms that could think and learn on their own without being expressly programmed to do so.
Advancements in Natural Language Processing enabled us to bridge the gap between computers and natural human language. Artificial Intelligence technology-enabled computers to analyze large volumes of natural language and accurately comprehend the meaning and intent behind human-oriented spoken and written commands.
The 1990s: Web/Screen scraping impacts RPA development in a significant way
RPA depends a great deal on extracting big data from a variety of sources like programs, websites, and documents. The emergence, in the 90s, of new tools enabling web harvesting and data extraction, gave a significant boost to RPA evolution.
The decade sees a significant improvement in workflow automation revolving around information gathering, data archiving, and processing and routing of information among people connected through computer systems.
These developments open gateways for RPA to remove the tedium and repetition in tasks, freeing workers to focus on adding more excellent value to their work.
The 2000s: Cognitive RPA makes sense out of chaos
For robots to work flawlessly, RPA needed continuous streams of big data neatly structured as spreadsheets, web formats, or databases. The difficulty lay in making sense of unstructured data.
With advancements in Machine Learning, it became possible to probe unstructured or semi-structured data and extract/transform the data into structured formats that could be read by RPA software.
The growing cognitive capability of machine learning algorithms increased the efficiency of RPA. There was no stopping RPA from making strong inroads through a broad spectrum of enterprise activities.
RPA: Streamlining business processes with future-ready solutions to gain a competitive edge
The famous adage, the future is already here, applies comprehensively to RPA, and we’re seeing plenty of innovation powering new applications across many industries. The futuristic scenarios discussed here are already transforming many sectors touching our daily lives.
RPA migration is trickling down from larger companies to mid-caps and small businesses
As massive cost savings open the floodgates of productivity and profitability, we’re seeing RPA breaking ground in medium and small businesses operating across a broader spectrum of industries. The competitive edge provided by automation is a low-hanging fruit too useful to be ignored.
RPA is instilling transparency and accountability, enhancing security, and boosting data quality in many sectors
RPA is creating a virtual workforce replacing human intervention in sectors that witness intensively repetitive work and large operations. Banking, financial services, and insurance claims processing, manufacturing and retail businesses, and law are a few of the most important sectors where RPA is redefining global dominance.
RPA is strengthening external capabilities through innovation and new applications
As the focus shifts from internal processes to external customer-oriented processes, RPA adoption is encouraging innovation across significant sectors.
Retail: RPA is keeping customers updated at each stage of the processing, shipping, and delivery process. Retailers and vendors are sharing the inventory status of essential products in real-time, resulting in accurate logistics management.
Banking: Analytical data on consumer behavioral patterns finds its way into CRM systems. Machine learning algorithms, accessing consumer profiles, are suggesting financial products most appropriate to the customer category.
Insurance: RPA, wedded to Intelligent optical character recognition (OCR) software, is pulling customer information automatically from the archives for issuing new policies, policy renewals, underwriting, and claims processing.
Healthcare: RPA is handling patient appointment scheduling, supervising account settlements, streamlining claims management, and monitoring discharge protocols in clinics and medical institutions.
RPA is enabling end-to-end integration of digital processes
Instead of one stand-alone technology making a valiant (yet unsuccessful) attempt at integration, we see a combination of technologies – RPA, AI, and Data Analytics – bringing people, processes, and platforms together.
We see users more focused on addressing objectives, and change management becomes hassle-free. With more organizations adopting RPA-inspired integration, we’re witnessing a quantum leap in the functionality and efficiency of applications.
Smart Process Automation or SPA has become the new intelligence paradigm
New generation entrepreneurs are sensing the power and potential of RPA and Smart Process Automation. The battle against unstructured data is well and truly over with RPA combining with SPA, machine learning, big data, and AI. The continually improving cloud technology platforms are efficiently extracting data from unstructured sources and processing the same data into a more intelligible and actionable mold.
Conclusion
Robots and robotic process automation have become an integral part of the scenery. Organizations aiming to stamp a global footprint are eagerly unraveling RPAs potential to cut costs and boost productivity while keeping a steady eye on profitability.
The rapidly evolving RPA bandwagon is pressing the accelerator in streamlining workflow, ensuring scalability, and making businesses more flexible in responding to change. RPAs most impactful contribution lies in helping companies personalize their responses to specific consumer needs.
The robotic software is your constant companion, supporting you as you grow bigger and better. RPA is continually enhancing your operational efficiency, fine-tuning business predictability, and strategically improving your global reach.
