The Future of RPA Calls for Increased AI
How Combining RPA with Machine Learning Will Change the Pace of
Modern Business
RoboWorx Staff | August 2019
I
n today’s world of technology, the use of
robotic process automation and machine
learning are quickly becoming mainstays
of everyday business operations. We live in
an age where robots are often portrayed as
the antagonist on the silver screen but act as
reliable assistants in real life. These machines
add to the value of an already skilled workforce
by redirecting human psychological capital into
tasks where it can be more valuable. Through
the use of these tools, companies earn higher
ROI by doing more with what they already have.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) describes
a digitized process of accruing data into
structured formatting for reuse, analyzing, and
manipulation. This process can import existing
databases or a series of values and build its
own database through basic commands. RPA
then uses pre-programmed commands to
carry out simple to complex rules-based tasks.
Common examples of RPA are accounts payable,
reconciliatons, and claims processing.
Machine Learning (ML) describes the next
step in the RPA journey, where a basic level of
artificial intelligence (AI) recognizes patterns
within RPA usage and data. In detecting these
patterns, ML helps RPA systems to adapt to the
interactions by predicting behavior and making
simple, intuitive decisions. Much like algorithms
on a search engine, ML reads the past history of
data to detect patterns based on engagement
and helps RPA processes to adapt to different
situations.
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Putting It Into Practice
To give an example of the differences between
RPA and ML and how they function together,
consider a growing company that sees
increasing traffic in its order processing
department. The company has not been able
to manage the growing orders and update
customers with real-time information using
the current staff employed. Because the
issue needs addressing to maintain steady
operations, the company considers outsourcing,
hiring additional staff, or looking for a way to
automate processes. Both outsourcing and
hiring additional staff will increase expenditures
without a high ROI in productivity, compliance,
or reduction in errors. On the other hand,
automation boosts the productivity of an already
trained staff to accomplish more with the same
amount of workers.
In this case, the company elects to install
RPA software. To automate this process, RPA
interacts with the customers through a form
that collects order details and other information
relating to the request. Based on the choices
made in the form, the RPA tool will send the order
information to the proper departments. At the
same time the order is received, the tool will also
send a confirmation email to customers updating
them that the order has been received and is
processing. Once the order ships and tracking
numbers are added to the customer profile, a
secondary email sends, alerting customers of
the updated information with pre-written text
and the custom tracking number. The number
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The Future of RPA (Cont’d)
RoboWorx Staff | July 2019
of employees remains the same while the time
spent updating records significantly reduces.
Using the RPA tool, the company can maintain
growth efficiently using the same workforce.
Now suppose the company wants to use the
data collected from its sales to the fullest
advantage by tracking which products are
seasonal, performing well, and underperforming.
In this case, the company uses automation’s
ML capability to detect patterns in the data. The
predictive model of ML can reorder more of a
product automatically from suppliers in seasons
where they are expected to perform well and
adapt to a lesser order when data suggests
stocked inventory does not need to be as high.
This ML supportive function of RPA builds an
intuitive approach to the data that mimics a
mildly intelligent form of AI.
Important to note is that machine learning
cannot operate without a database to work from,
and RPA alone cannot predict behavior. In other
words, automation can include an RPA system to
function without machine learning, but it cannot
work the other way around. Machine learning
adds the extra element that puts the proverbial
engine into the car, taking data where it needs
to go.
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Artificial Intelligence: Paving the Way
Toward Smart Automation
In a combined effort, RPA and ML make an
exceptional team for businesses of all sizes.
Although AI may sound too advanced for small-
to mid-size organizations, the future of RPA
technology will make these advancements more
accessible. With Siri, Alexa, and other voice-
activated automated systems now household
names, harnessing AI technology through
automated processing and machine learning
tools for business has never been easier.
Consider the use of smartphone technology.
Less than two decades ago, the world operated
through a straightforward instrument that only
sent and received calls. As time went on and
technology evolved, the introduction of smart
touch screen technology changed the way
consumers interact with their phones. In today’s
world, smartphone technology has become
almost an extension of our bodies.
Likewise, RPA technology will undergo the
same transformation. With it also comes
competitive challenges as it changes the
scope of modern business. The increasing
use of RPA in businesses has already widened
the gap of competitiveness, giving those with
higher performance who are also using the
same resources as the next company the edge
over the competition. As we continue moving
full-force into the future, companies who
neglect to use automation will deny their ability
for survival. Just as smartphone technology
has permeated our basic human existence, so
will RPA permeate the very core of business
operations.
Ring, ring. The future of RPA is calling, can you
hear it?
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