Robotic process automation (RPA) and machine learning (ML) are among the most popular and exciting technologies available today. These two technologies are often included as components of artificial intelligence (AI), but they have usually been viewed as separate. In the Deloitte 2018 State of AI in the Enterprise survey, 63 percent of respondents said they were already using ML, and another 32 percent said they were planning to use the technology. In the case of RPA, 48 percent were already using it and an additional 40 percent had plans to employ it. In other words, these are among the most pervasive of AI technologies within the enterprise.
Each of these technologies brings business value on its own, but their combination is particularly useful. Some organizations are beginning to combine them for automated, intelligent decision-making. The combined capabilities are sometimes called “intelligent automation” or “robotic and cognitive automation.” Many firms are beginning to realize that ML can make RPA smarter and that RPA can help embed machine learning-based decisions into business processes. In this paper, I’ll describe each individually, and then discuss why combining them can provide substantial additional value.
