Mihir Shukla, the CEO and co-founder of Automation Anywhere, a leading enterprise process automation provider, highlights the importance of understanding generative AI in the context of process automation. While generative AI is often seen as a new approach to getting work done, it should be viewed as a step towards a more autonomous enterprise, building upon previous stages of automation.
The evolution of software-based automation can be traced from the first generation of robotic process automation (RPA) to the second generation of intelligent automation and finally to the current third-generation AI-powered automation. RPA, the initial stage, involves programming software to automate repetitive tasks using bots. This has helped organizations reduce costs, increase productivity, and improve operations by automating up to 30% of organizational tasks.
Intelligent automation, the second generation, combines machine learning with process automation to expand the capabilities of RPA, enabling up to 40% of organizational process tasks to be automated. This stage allows for more complex automations, such as document processing, task mining, and processing unstructured content. This results in more complete automation workflows that provide greater organizational benefits.
The current stage, AI-powered automation, incorporates large language models and generative AI to significantly expand the number of autonomous workflows within organizations. AI-powered automation can potentially automate anywhere from 40% to 80% of organizational process tasks, freeing up employees’ time for more strategic work. This technology enhances the skills of process automation teams, connecting complex workflows and enterprise applications to streamline business operations.
An example of AI-powered automation in action is the credentialing process for healthcare providers at a hospital. By automating the application reviews and verifying physician qualifications using AI-powered automation, hospitals can reduce the process time by 50% or more. This allows qualified providers to start practicing sooner, improving the efficiency of healthcare processes.
Companies are encouraged to move through each generation of automation to become a more autonomous enterprise. While AI-powered automation offers significant benefits, RPA and intelligent automation are still valuable in the automation journey. Organizations should evaluate where they currently stand within these stages and where they aim to be in the future to optimize their automation processes and empower employees to focus on meaningful work.
