A framework for implementing robotic process automation projects

Abstract

Robotic process automation is a disruptive technology to automate already digital yet manual tasks and subprocesses as well as whole business processes rapidly. In contrast to other process automation technologies, robotic process automation is lightweight and only accesses the presentation layer of IT systems to mimic human behavior. Due to the novelty of robotic process automation and the varying approaches when implementing the technology, there are reports that up to 50% of robotic process automation projects fail. To tackle this issue, we use a design science research approach to develop a framework for the implementation of robotic process automation projects. We analyzed 35 reports on real-life projects to derive a preliminary sequential model. Then, we performed multiple expert interviews and workshops to validate and refine our model. The result is a framework with variable stages that offers guidelines with enough flexibility to be applicable in complex and heterogeneous corporate environments as well as for small and medium-sized companies. It is structured by the three phases of initialization, implementation, and scaling. They comprise eleven stages relevant during a project and as a continuous cycle spanning individual projects. Together they structure how to manage knowledge and support processes for the execution of robotic process automation implementation projects.

Robotic process automation deployments: a step-by-step method to investment appraisal

“…The consolidated framework of Herm et al. (2020) is extracted through a structured literature review and expert interviews.…”

“…(2020) is extracted through a structured literature review and expert interviews. According to Herm et al. (2020), the term “consolidated” refers to the way they established the framework by means of first coding the empirical data, then connecting the literature to the practical perspectives and finally evaluating and iterating the framework through feedback.…”

“…pre-feasibility planning, feasibility planning, development and hyper-care, operation and maintenance and substitution), as also shown in the figure. Unlike the consolidated framework of Herm et al. (2020), our deployment framework also recognizes several independent tasks, such as automation potential analysis, candidate process mapping and automation process engineering, which incur costs during the realization of each project stage.…”

Future of Supply Chain – Application of Robotics – The Flip Side of It

“…The nature of robotic process automation technology is disruptive -it automates tasks that though already digital are carried out manually and, in the process, automates entire business processes and subprocesses in a rapid manner [44]. The adoption of RPA in Supply Chain functions is of great consequence when it comes to procedures, capacities, efficiencies and the participating professionals.…”

The levels of artificial intelligence application in human resource systems

“…Pure RPA (without AI) is a rule-based, process-driven software application that processes structured data with deterministic outcomes with no elements of intelligence (e.g., automated form filling). Therefore, RPA is not considered a part of AI (Herm et al, 2022). However, RPA bots may combine RPA core functions with AI elements and are primarily designed to emulate human actions and judgment, more quickly and with fewer errors (Mohamed et al, 2022).…”