Using AI to augment RPA: A conceptual framework.

Abstract

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has seen significant uptake in practice over the last years due to its ability to cut costs and rapidly connect legacy applications. However, organizations struggle to apply RPA to tasks with higher complexity. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities to augment RPA promises to overcome this limitation. Nevertheless, little detail is available on how these technologies can complement each other. Drawing on the theoretical links of the Task-Technology Fit model, we propose a set of AI capabilities that fit specific RPA tasks. Based on these fits, we propose a typology of use cases that AI enable in RPA. These results are derived from a literature study, nine case studies, and 15 expert interviews and validated through a case simulation and expert evaluation.