From Symbolic RPA to Intelligent RPA: Challenges for Developing and Operating Intelligent Software Robots

Lukas-Valentin Herm; Christian Janiesch; Hajo A. Reijers; Franz Seubert

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-85469-0_19

From Symbolic RPA to Intelligent RPA: Challenges for Developing and Operating Intelligent Software Robots

Lukas-Valentin Herm, Christian Janiesch, Hajo A. Reijers, Franz Seubert

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Robotic process automation (RPA) is a novel technology that automates tasks by interacting with other software through their respective user interfaces. The technology has received substantial business attention because of its potential for rapid automation of process-driven tasks that would otherwise require tedious manual labor. This article explores the dichotomy between the practical reality of symbolic RPA, which requires handcrafting robots using process models and rulesets, and the promise of intelligent RPA, which relies on artificial intelligence technology to implement intelligent robots. Our research is based on a scholarly literature review as well as an interview study to derive and discuss challenges for this transition. We found that issues such as the lack of training data, human bias in data, compliance issues with transfer learning, poor explainability of robot decisions, and job-security-induced fear of AI robots all need to be addressed to enable the transition from symbolic to intelligent RPA.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Business Process Management
Subtitle of host publication	19th International Conference, BPM 2021, Rome, Italy, September 06–10, 2021, Proceedings
Editors	Artem Polyvyanyy, Moe Thandar Wynn, Amy Van Looy, Manfred Reichert
Publisher	Springer
Pages	289-305
Number of pages	17
Edition	1
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-030-85469-0
ISBN (Print)	978-3-030-85468-3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85469-0_19
Publication status	Published - 2021

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Publisher	Springer
Volume	12875
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Keywords

Artificial intelligence
Challenges
Intelligent RPA
Robotic process automation
Symbolic RPA

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10.1007/978-3-030-85469-0_19

Herm2021_Chapter_FromSymbolicRPAToIntelligentRPFinal published version, 720 KBLicence: Taverne

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Herm, L.-V., Janiesch, C., Reijers, H. A., & Seubert, F. (2021). From Symbolic RPA to Intelligent RPA: Challenges for Developing and Operating Intelligent Software Robots. In A. Polyvyanyy, M. T. Wynn, A. Van Looy, & M. Reichert (Eds.), Business Process Management: 19th International Conference, BPM 2021, Rome, Italy, September 06–10, 2021, Proceedings (1 ed., pp. 289-305). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 12875). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85469-0_19

Herm, Lukas-Valentin ; Janiesch, Christian ; Reijers, Hajo A. et al. / From Symbolic RPA to Intelligent RPA: Challenges for Developing and Operating Intelligent Software Robots. Business Process Management: 19th International Conference, BPM 2021, Rome, Italy, September 06–10, 2021, Proceedings. editor / Artem Polyvyanyy ; Moe Thandar Wynn ; Amy Van Looy ; Manfred Reichert. 1. ed. Springer, 2021. pp. 289-305 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science).

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abstract = "Robotic process automation (RPA) is a novel technology that automates tasks by interacting with other software through their respective user interfaces. The technology has received substantial business attention because of its potential for rapid automation of process-driven tasks that would otherwise require tedious manual labor. This article explores the dichotomy between the practical reality of symbolic RPA, which requires handcrafting robots using process models and rulesets, and the promise of intelligent RPA, which relies on artificial intelligence technology to implement intelligent robots. Our research is based on a scholarly literature review as well as an interview study to derive and discuss challenges for this transition. We found that issues such as the lack of training data, human bias in data, compliance issues with transfer learning, poor explainability of robot decisions, and job-security-induced fear of AI robots all need to be addressed to enable the transition from symbolic to intelligent RPA.",

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Herm, L-V, Janiesch, C, Reijers, HA & Seubert, F 2021, From Symbolic RPA to Intelligent RPA: Challenges for Developing and Operating Intelligent Software Robots. in A Polyvyanyy, MT Wynn, A Van Looy & M Reichert (eds), Business Process Management: 19th International Conference, BPM 2021, Rome, Italy, September 06–10, 2021, Proceedings. 1 edn, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 12875, Springer, pp. 289-305. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85469-0_19

From Symbolic RPA to Intelligent RPA: Challenges for Developing and Operating Intelligent Software Robots. / Herm, Lukas-Valentin; Janiesch, Christian; Reijers, Hajo A. et al.
Business Process Management: 19th International Conference, BPM 2021, Rome, Italy, September 06–10, 2021, Proceedings. ed. / Artem Polyvyanyy; Moe Thandar Wynn; Amy Van Looy; Manfred Reichert. 1. ed. Springer, 2021. p. 289-305 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 12875).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

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PY - 2021

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N2 - Robotic process automation (RPA) is a novel technology that automates tasks by interacting with other software through their respective user interfaces. The technology has received substantial business attention because of its potential for rapid automation of process-driven tasks that would otherwise require tedious manual labor. This article explores the dichotomy between the practical reality of symbolic RPA, which requires handcrafting robots using process models and rulesets, and the promise of intelligent RPA, which relies on artificial intelligence technology to implement intelligent robots. Our research is based on a scholarly literature review as well as an interview study to derive and discuss challenges for this transition. We found that issues such as the lack of training data, human bias in data, compliance issues with transfer learning, poor explainability of robot decisions, and job-security-induced fear of AI robots all need to be addressed to enable the transition from symbolic to intelligent RPA.

AB - Robotic process automation (RPA) is a novel technology that automates tasks by interacting with other software through their respective user interfaces. The technology has received substantial business attention because of its potential for rapid automation of process-driven tasks that would otherwise require tedious manual labor. This article explores the dichotomy between the practical reality of symbolic RPA, which requires handcrafting robots using process models and rulesets, and the promise of intelligent RPA, which relies on artificial intelligence technology to implement intelligent robots. Our research is based on a scholarly literature review as well as an interview study to derive and discuss challenges for this transition. We found that issues such as the lack of training data, human bias in data, compliance issues with transfer learning, poor explainability of robot decisions, and job-security-induced fear of AI robots all need to be addressed to enable the transition from symbolic to intelligent RPA.

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Herm LV, Janiesch C, Reijers HA, Seubert F. From Symbolic RPA to Intelligent RPA: Challenges for Developing and Operating Intelligent Software Robots. In Polyvyanyy A, Wynn MT, Van Looy A, Reichert M, editors, Business Process Management: 19th International Conference, BPM 2021, Rome, Italy, September 06–10, 2021, Proceedings. 1 ed. Springer. 2021. p. 289-305. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science). doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-85469-0_19

From Symbolic RPA to Intelligent RPA: Challenges for Developing and Operating Intelligent Software Robots

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