A Review of Integration of Robotic Process Automation and Artificial Intelligence: Advancements, Applications and Challenges

Abstract

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is an important automation tool used in various business processes and other occasions where repetitive work in a computer system is needed. RPA execute designated processes with high precision for a long period of time continuously. In addition, it is easy to deploy RPA bots on devices and to design automation processes, making RPA the most popular choice for business process automation. The application of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies including machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) expands the function of RPA and enhances its capability. The synergy not only enables automation for more complex tasks involving optimization, but also improves the efficiency of business processes. This paper focuses on current advancements of RPA integrating with AI. The paper also analyzes some typical cases of application and discusses potential challenges. The case analysis involves processes that RPA+AI is already widely applied, while advantages of AI integration is discussed. The paper provides an insight into how AI technology can be used in RPA in future researches.