Robotic Process Automation: Contemporary themes and challenges

Rehan Syed, Suriadi Suriadi, Michael Adams, Wasana Bandara, Sander J.J. Leemans, Chun Ouyang, Arthur H.M. ter Hofstede, Inge van de Weerd, Moe Thandar Wynn, Hajo A. Reijers*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    Through the application of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) organisations aim to increase their operational efficiency. In RPA, robots, or ‘bots’ for short, represent software agents capable of interacting with software systems by mimicking user actions, thus alleviating the workload of the human workforce. RPA has already seen significant uptake in practice; solution technologies are offered by multiple vendors. Contrasting with this early practical adoption is the hitherto relative lack of attention to RPA in the academic literature. As a consequence, RPA lacks the sound theoretical foundations that allow for objective reasoning around its application and development. This, in turn, hinders initiatives for achieving meaningful advances in the field. This paper presents a structured literature review that identifies a number of contemporary, RPA-related themes and challenges for future research.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number103162
    Number of pages15
    JournalComputers in Industry
    Volume115
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2020

    Keywords

    • Process automation
    • Research agenda
    • Robotic Process Automation
    • Service automation
    • Software bots
    • Systematic literature review

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