OCTOBER - 20198One of the constant threads of discussion on Robotics Process Automation (RPA) is the relationship between RPA and artificial intelligence (AI). In reality, RPA just covers a small part of the broad AI landscape. The presentation of AI as being an evolution of RPA probably arises from the fact that RPA has exploded at a time when AI more generally is becoming a mainstream reality. Executives hear about `robotics' in action and assume it is the next step on the AI journey. It helps to position RPA within AI by categorising "what people do" into three main swim lanes:1) Perceiving (the senses)2) Processing (the doing)3) Predicting (the thinking!)In this model, RPA sits firmly in the Processing stream. More broadly, this perceive-process-predict model allows us to position other capabilities which are considered aspects of AI within an Intelligent Architecture framework.So, coming back to just RPA. What have we learned about RPA over the years? What are some of the key observations that can help us to make better use of it in the future, either on its own or as part of a broader Intelligent Automation toolkit?1. A journey to Intelligent Operations As the diagram illustrates, RPA is one element in a toolkit which facilitates increasingly digitised end-to-end journeys that sit above or alongside traditional enterprise IT. This suite of tools can be categorised by the type of human behaviour they mimic ­ Perceptive, Process, or Predictive. What success we have had to date with RPA has been built on the availability of a number of these components including digital channels, data transformation, digital workflow, and digital communications. The more components, the more interactions that can be automated; and the more human functions can be mimicked. 2. Which came first, the Robot or the LEAN process?Should I LEAN before I automate? The risk of not Leaning first is that we obfuscate spaghetti processes even By Jonathan Kidd, Head of Digital Operations & Robotics, Bank of IrelandROBOTICS PROCESS AUTOMATION (RPA) ­ EXPERIENCES FROM TODAY, LOOKING TOWARDS TOMORROWMY OPINIONIN
< Page 7 | Page 9 >