Author(s): Preeti Thukaram
The Stage Process Automation has quickly caught up. In recent years, every company has embarked on this adventurous journey to change the way they “see” work. Employees are no longer afraid of losing their jobs to robots. There is a common understanding that robots are here to improve the nature of work, efficiency, and perhaps offer a little respite from the drudgery
Three years ago, automating tasks was no fun. The technology was just being explored. There were huge limitations, and in fact, the actual “requirements” for automation software came to the forefront. The next hurdle was to use this software in the existing software universe. It was a marathon. Hours of practice and endurance testing before a modicum of success occurred. Admittedly, many were disillusioned and saw no future. This was to become one of those “ideas” that burn out after the initial fizzle.
AI to the rescue. When artificial intelligence was introduced to complement automation, a significant paradigm shift occurred. Processes and tasks that were previously in the human realm migrated into the robotic universe. The synergy between AI and RPA is unique. Both derive from each other while supporting each other. This symbiotic relationship has led to an acceleration of process automation. Humans are slowly but surely moving up the hierarchy and occupying a place like never before in history.
Robots can be customized to the needs of the business or industry. The typical RPA Solutions Architect studies a business process, and fixes the automation strategy. The automation could be ‘attended’, ‘unattended’ or distributed automation. In attended automation, the user interacts with the Bot during its execution. In Unattended mode, the bot proceeds with its task to completion. In the distributed model, we have robots communicating with other bots, humans and the cloud infrastructure in general.
Speech-to-Text has evolved into Speech-to-Action. Speeches have been transformed into reports. Now Speeches can trigger events. Robots can make an appointment for a blood test with the lab while the doctor suggests it to the patient. Assignments are sent to students when the teacher dictates the assignment. Robots can read handwritten material and turn it into reports. Speaking, writing, thinking and other cognitive skills remain with humans while robots take over from machines. Somewhere in between, there is a grey area where the two intelligences meet.