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Automation goes further with machine learning

KEITH ARNOLD
Legal News Reporter

Published: January 28, 2020

High volume, repetitive tasks are just the sort of activity for which robotic process automation, or RPA, was developed.
The technology is an evolution of automation, involving the use of software with AI or machine learning, according to Sage, an online service provider specializing in accounting, human resources and business management.
Software design and development Director Steve O'Brien told Sage on its online blog that RPA already has transformed organizations around the world.
"In its current form, it can reduce operational risk, improve productivity, cut costs, you get the idea," he said. "It's transformational. It's the stuff that we're working on with our clients as we speak."
O'Brien said the technology itself is evolving.
"Technology-wise, I think we're likely to see RPA draw more on advances in AI and machine learning," he told Sage. "As a result, RPA will enter what others are calling RPA 2.0, or unassisted RPA, where, once set up, there's no human involvement necessary.
"This would usher in a whole new level of productivity increase.
He envisions a rise in commoditized, plug-and-play hardware and libraries of open-source automation software, opening up RPA to an even wider market.
It's already happening in China, O'Brien said, noting that Europe and the United States will follow to stay competitive.
Finance automation company Partner Account Manager Steve Orrill said he expects RPA to become part of the daily working lives for small and medium-sized enterprises as finance departments strive to eliminate manual processes, working smarter, rather than harder, with their data.
"Finance teams have plenty of manual and repetitive tasks that involve searching and entering data as well as combining data from multiple sources and these will be eliminated through automation," he said.
RPA is expected to save finance departments 25,000 hours of avoidable work annually, according to research and advisory company, Gartner.
"What's more, RPA and humans will work together," Orrill continued. "RPA will do all the groundwork to provide more accurate and timely data at people's fingertips.
"Humans will still need to have some oversight which means learning how to monitor RPA systems."
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