RPA, better known as robotic process automation, is the process of using built software robots to perform human tasks. These tasks range form reading a simple email to AI data mining (Garrett, 2020). RPA differs from traditional automation, because its core is built in user-friendliness. Where traditional automation is mainly based on programming and relies on API’s and integration methods with different systems, RPA mimics user actions at the User Interface level. Thus, these robots interact with computers the same way a human would (Medium, 2017).
But why are companies so interested in RPA?
RPA takes over mundane tasks, so companies can harness their employees to do meaningful work. The software also cooperates with most companies’ legacy systems and works on top op existing software, making implementation and integration a breeze for consumers and developers alike. Furthermore, companies using RPA can reduce baseline FTE costs by 20-60% and increase quality control by 80% with a 24-hour program that is not limited to working hours (EY, 2017). These are only a few of the benefits of RPA.
Threat for existing workforce?
These highlighted benefits would make RPA seem like the perfect solution to remove the boring monotonous parts of everyone’s job and increase productivity. Yet, this technology is becoming a likely threat to job security.
RPA is already being used for NLP and knowledge-intensive activities and its compatibility with AI and Deep Analytics is only advancing. AI is slowly starting to perform context-based judgements and make correct deductions through algorithms (Sinur, 2020). If this technology can correctly be combined with RPA’s automation. These technologies can discover, assess and correctly anticipate market behavior. Mastering these skills could be where this technology transitions from one that enables your output to one that will replace your input.
Impact of COVID-19
As with many other technological developments, COVID-19 has accelerated the adoption of this technology immensely. An airline company has used RPA to increase its claim resolution capability to over 4,000 per day (Garrett, 2020). In the healthcare industry, Dublin’s Mater Misericordiae University Hospital has used RPA to speed up their processing of test results (Team International, 2020). Outside these heavily affected industries, however, the trend is catching on as well. Thirty-one percent of companies have recently increased their RPA spending and it is predicted that 85% of large organizations in the US will have employed some form of RPA by the end of 2022 (Garrett 2020).
With employees increasingly working from home, now more than ever they must prove their contributions invaluable to company results. If they can’t, their robot replacements are right around the corner.
References
Sinur, J. 2020. The Potential of AI & RPA Together. Forbes, [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2020/03/24/the-potential-of-ai–rpa-together/#170bf9b02a71 [Accessed 20 Sept. 2020].
Garret, O. 2020. RPA: The Most Important Megatrend You’re Not Hearing About. Forbes, [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/oliviergarret/2020/08/25/rpa-the-most-important-megatrend-youre-not-hearing-about/#2ae45c640bf6 [Accessed 20 Sept. 2020].
Medium. 2020. Robotic Process Automation vs Traditional Automation. [online] Available at: https://medium.com/@gobiraj/robotic-process-automation-rpa-vs-traditional-automation-6f58c99f8e8e#:~:text=Technology,at%20the%20User%20Interface%20level. [Accessed 20 Sept. 2020].
Team International. 2020. RPA Value – How RPA Proved Its Value During the COVID-19 Times. [online] Available at: https://www.teaminternational.com/rpa-value-during-the-covid-19-times/ [Accessed 20 Sept. 2020].
- 2017. The Dawn of a New Partnership. [online] Available at: https://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/ey-faas-finance-function-automation-ch/$FILE/ey-faas-finance-function-automation-ch.pdf [Accessed 20 Sept. 2020].
Hi Angell, I really enjoyed reading your post. Beforehand, I did not have a lot of knowledge of RPA but your blogpost encouraged me to learn more about it. The benefits that RPA offer are astonishing! However, I believe that the use of this technology will have an adverse effect on society. A lot of people will lose their jobs since the robots are able to reach a high level of efficiency. Furthermore, you emphasize the effect of COVID-19 on this technology and what it means for organizations and its employees. The organizational culture and environment will suffer from this new technology. Employees must prove that their contributions are valuable, which will lead to an environment where employees compete with each other instead of working together to achieve a common goal.
I am very curious what RPA will bring us in the future and what its development will mean to us as future employees. I believe that RPA could be our friend if we are able to create an environment where RPA can be applied to increase productivity and efficiency, while maintaining a focus on the development and importance of the human employee.
Hi Angell, thank you for writing this interesting article. I like how you addressed the threat that RPA brings for the existing workforce. I wanted to provide the example of truck drivers in the US, one of the most common jobs in the country. If truck-driving end up being automized in the near future, a likely scenario in my opinion, truckdrivers are likely to lose their job. What is the best way for these people to get a new job, in your opinion? Do you, for example, believe that the government should provide people the opportunity to get new qualifications or required training?