Robotic Process Automation

Well put intro piece in Venturebeat  by Peter Wayner

Robotic Process Automation in 2022

In 2021, enterprise teams turned to robotic process automation (RPA) to simplify workflows and bring some order to office tasks. The next year promises to bring more of the same sophisticated artificial intelligence and task optimization so more offices can liberate their staff from repetitive chores.

The product area remains one of the poorly named buzzwords in enterprise computing. There are no robots in sight. The tools are generally deployed to fix what was once known as paperwork, but they rarely touch much paper. They do their work gluing together legacy systems by pushing virtual buttons and juggling the multiple data formats so that the various teams can keep track of the work moving through their offices.

Here are the 10 ways that RPA marketplace will shift and adapt in 2022:

Better Integration

The main job for RPA is to knit together some hundreds of legacy systems that now make up the backbone of many companies. The main challenge for each RPA company will be strengthening the connections between systems. That means more modules or bots in the marketplaces and better versions of the existing ones.

Lower Code

One of the major selling points for many RPA vendors is that their tools can come close to programming themselves through what some call “process discovery.” While this may never be as magic as anyone wants, the tools will continue to simplify this job. It may even approach “no-code” level automation for some simple tasks.

Higher Code

It seems contradictory to imagine that RPA platforms will simultaneously get easier to program and harder, but these changes will be seen in different levels of tasks. While the interns and managers will be able to automate more simple tasks, the developers will be called to customize the RPAs for more complex integrations. In many cases, RPA tools make good frameworks that sophisticated programmers can revise and extend. The RPA handles 95% of the work and the development team handles the last 5%. This is why some companies are reporting that RPAs are more complicated and expensive to maintain than they thought. Companies are asking them to do more and more sophisticated jobs, and that means bringing in better programming talent.

More AI

Craig Le Clair at Forrester Research predicts that every RPA company will either embrace AI or “become a dinosaur”. While this may never become strictly true, there’s no doubt that RPA is one of the simpler vectors for inserting AI into corporate DNA. The standard modules tackle tasks like optical character recognition, machine learning, and machine vision. RPA firms that ship better, smarter AI modules will be able to win more contracts. The accuracy and depth of the AI algorithms will rise in importance.

Divergence

Some firms need all the cleverness that AI scientists can deliver. Some firms, though, do not. Many of the AI options are aimed at dealing with older, paper interfaces or other tasks that require adaptability. One popular job for AI is to convert paper documents into digital form and then search for relevant data like the invoice number or the expiration date for a driver’s license. Some workflows, though, are pretty mature and don’t need this extra dose of smarts. Companies that process little paper or don’t need the extra intelligence may find they’re not as interested in AI-based innovations.   ... ' 

AI Based Traffic Management

Or other kinds of of process management?  Could be integrated with RPA?

AI-Based Traffic Management Gets Green Light    By ZDNet

The new system switches traffic-light coordination from a timer-based model to one based on demand.

The NoTraffic autonomous traffic management company has deployed an artificial intelligence-driven traffic management system in Phoenix, AZ.

The NoTraffic autonomous traffic management company has deployed an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven traffic management system in Phoenix, AZ, switching traffic-light coordination from a timer-based model to one based on demand.

The goal is to improve traffic flow and cut vehicle and pedestrian delays at intersections, and the system has reduced vehicle delays by up to 40% in some instances.

The NoTraffic platform monitors road assets as they approach an intersection and calculates optimal service for the intersection in real time, autonomously changing signals accordingly.

Phoenix Street Transportation director Kini Knudson said, "We are now seeing the convergence of technology-enabled automobiles and traffic management systems working together to move vehicles more effectively through busy corridors."

From ZDNet
View Full Article

IBM to Buy WDG Automation

IBM linking process to detect AI opportunities to approaches like RPA.   And they already have integrated BPL capabilities.  WDG Automation is in the process of building/using RPA methods.

IBM to buy Brazil's WDG Automation to boost AI-infused capabilities  in MarketWatch

International Business Machines Corp. announced Wednesday a deal to buy Brazil-based provider of robotic process automation software WDG Soluções Em Sistemas E Automação De Processos LTDA, referred to as WDG Automation, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition is part of IBM's aim to advance its artificial intelligence-infused automation capabilities, which IBM believes is now more essential given uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic. "IBM already automates how companies apply AI to business processes and IT operations so they can detect opportunities and problems and recommend next steps and solutions,"   .... ' 

Microsoft Buying its Way into RPA

Microsoft buys it way into RPA capabilities, announced last week.  Late to the space it seems, but now a flurry of activity.  With claim of AI capabilities.

Microsoft + Softomotive: What Does This Deal Mean For RPA (Robotic Process Automation)?
Tom Taulli in Forbes

At Microsoft’s Build conference this week, CEO Satya Nadella announced the acquisition of Softomotive, which is a top RPA (Robotic Process Automation) vendor. This technology allows for the automation of repetitive and tedious processes, such as with legacy IT systems.

Keep in mind that Microsoft recently launched a new version of its own platform, called Power Automate, and also led a venture round in an AI-based RPA company, FortressIQ (here’s a Forbes.com post I wrote about it).

So let’s get a quick background on Softomotive: Founded in 2005, the company was one of the pioneers of the RPA industry. It initially focused on developing a visual scripting system, using VBScript, for desktop automation. Softomotive would then go on to evolve the platform, such as by creating ProcessRobot for larger enterprises.

As of now, there are over 9,000 customers across the globe. Interestingly enough, Microsoft will make the Softomotive’s WinAutomation application free for those who have an attended licence for Power Automate.    ... " 

Embedding Machine Learning into RPA Process

Something we did, but with BPM models and process flow.   Makes sense because you can better understand the context involved.  Process models, even simple visualizations, can help sell the model, get useful data, and promote the contextual design and value.  Rules are understandable, but algorithms are usually not to decision makers.

Small ML is the next big leap in RPA
Instead of doing big ML projects, embed ML into your day-to-day RPA work and be amazed.   By Eljas Linna in TowardsDataScience

The boom in robotic process automation (RPA) over the past few years has made it pretty clear that business processes in nearly every industry have an endless amount of bottlenecks to be resolved and efficiency improvements to be gained. Years before the full surge of RPA, McKinsey already estimated the annual impact of knowledge work automation to be around $6 trillion in 2025.

Having followed the evolution of RPA from python scripts towards generalized platforms, I’ve witnessed quite a transformation. The tools and libraries available in RPA have improved over time, each iteration widening the variety of processes that can be automated and improving the overall automation rates further. I believe the addition of machine learning (ML) in the everyday toolbox of RPA developers is the next huge leap in the scope and effectiveness of process automation. And I am not alone. But there’s a catch. It will look very different from what all the hype would lead you to believe.

Why even care about machine learning?
Imagine RPA without if-else logic or variables. You could only automate simple and completely static click-through processes. As we gradually add in some variables and logic, we can start automating more complex and impactful processes. The more complex the process you want to automate, the more logic rules you need to add, and the more edge cases you need to consider. The burden on the RPA developer’s rule system grows exponentially. See where I’m going with this?  ... " 

Contract Management with AI and RPA

Have seen a number of contract management approaches now, from the very simple to the complex.  Make sense to start simple and progress based on goals, needs, and risks.

Contract Management 2.0: why AI and RPA will boost outsourcing results

The world is changing in a fast pace due to the overwhelming developments in Technology and operational models. Just like any market, also Contract management is subject to the influences of digital transformation. Technologies like artificial intelligence and robotic process automation are slowly entering the Contract management market. How will contract automation impact contract management? Technology evangelist Arjen van Berkum wrote an interesting article on these topics. We are happy to share his vision with our readers.

Overall, Technology is improving the way we work. When it comes to managing contracts these improvements – mostly contract automation related – have a positive impact on  business results, supplier management as well as on customer and employee satisfaction. Technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and blockchain can improve contract management issues like compliance, data management, invoice settlement and contract analysis.

Technology does not need any sleep, it is not bound to a nine to five mentality and it doesn’t get sick. It offers a 24/7 availability and, when implemented well, it is more accurate than humans can ever be as long as it is bound by rules and repetition. As like almost everything in our professional lives, contract management is being influenced by digitization. Contract managers are changing their way of work and are eager to embrace the technological developments surrounding them. This is only logical, because technology carries a lot of potential in the contract management field, and I will explain how.   ... " 

IBM Process Modeling and Automation Anywhere

Attended the first webinar given about the partnership of Automation Anywhere and IBM notably about the integration of RPA (Robotic Process Automation) with other business processes.  A very good high level view.    There are essentially three parts to be considered:

  Business Process Modeling (BPM)  (IBM has this capability)
  Robotic Process Automation (RPA)   IBM does not do this, AA does, but IBM has a rules engine JRules that could be further applied to RPA,
  Operations Decision Management (ODM)  Being integrated with the other parts by IBM.

And IBM has Watson, which could tie together with the other parts, especially at a lower level to provide supporting solutions to humans or systems.  Watson was not brought up by IBM,  nor was the term AI used,  but participants brought up its integration. IBM seemed to indicate it could be applied as needed.

The participants also asked if this could be integrated with ERP systems.  The answer was yes.  No specific ERP was mentioned.  Are the ERP systems planning anything like this?

We saw these needs starting in the expert systems era,  but the integration of the different kinds of needs were forced with rule based systems.  An approach that ultimately failed.   The systems then and those now will also need close maintenance.

See the tag RPA below for more.