Skip to main content

Robotic Process Automation: Systematic Literature Review

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Business Process Management: Blockchain and Central and Eastern Europe Forum (BPM 2019)

Abstract

Robotic process automation (RPA) emerges as a new technology which is focused on automation of repetitive, routine, rule-based human tasks, aiming to bring benefits to the organizations that decide to implement such software solution. Since RPA is a relatively new technology available on the market, the scientific literature on the topic is still scarce. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate how academic community defines RPA and to which extent has it been investigated in the literature in terms of the state, trends, and application of RPA. Moreover, the difference between RPA and business process management is also addressed. In order to do so, the systematic literature review (SLR) based on Web of Science and Scopus databases has been conducted. The paper provides the results of the conducted SLR on RPA providing an overview of the RPA definitions and practical usage as well as benefits of its implementation in different industries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Aguirre, S., Rodriguez, A.: Automation of a business process using robotic process automation (RPA): a case study. In: Figueroa-García, J.C., López-Santana, E.R., Villa-Ramírez, J.L., Ferro-Escobar, R. (eds.) WEA 2017. CCIS, vol. 742, pp. 65–71. Springer, Cham (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66963-2_7

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  2. Anagnoste, S.: Robotic automation process-the next major revolution in terms of back office operations improvement. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 676–686, De Gruyter Open (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Anagnoste, S.: Robotic automation process – the operating system for the digital enterprise. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 54–69, De Gruyter, Poland (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Asatiani, A., Penttinen, E.: Turning robotic process automation into commercial success – case OpusCapita. J. Inf. Technol. Teach. Cases 6, 67–74 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Boell, S.K., Cecez-Kecmanovic, D.: On being ‘systematic’ in literature reviews in IS. J. Inf. Technol. 30(2), 161–173 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Bosilj Vukšić, V., Brkić, Lj., Tomičić-Pupek, K.: Understanding the success factors in adopting business process management software: case studies. Interdisc. Description Complex Syst. 16(2), 194–215 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bourgouin, A., Leshob, A., Renard, L.: Towards a process analysis approach to adopt robotic process automation. In: ICEBE 2018 - 15th International Conference on e-Business Engineering, pp. 46–53. IEEE (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Cewe, C., Koch, D., Mertens, R.: Minimal effort requirements engineering for robotic process automation with test driven development and screen recording. In: Teniente, E., Weidlich, M. (eds.) BPM 2017. LNBIP, vol. 308, pp. 642–648. Springer, Cham (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74030-0_51

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  9. Chappell, D.: Introducing blue prism: automating business processes with presentation integration (2010). http://www.davidchappell.com/writing/white_papers/Introducing_Blue_Prism_v1.0-Chappell.pdf. Accessed 5 Mar 2019

  10. Deloitte: The robots are ready. Are you? Untapped advantage in your digital workforce (2017). https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/tr/Documents/technology/deloitte-robots-are-ready.pdf. Accessed 5 Mar 2019

  11. Dunlap, R., Lacity, M.: Resolving tussles in service automation deployments: service automation at Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina (BCBSNC). J. Inf. Technol. Teach. Cases 7(1), 29–34 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Everest Group: Robotic process automation annual report 2018-creating business value in a digital-first word (2018). https://www2.everestgrp.com/reports/EGR-2018-38-R-2691. Accessed 5 Mar 2019

  13. Everest Group: Defining Enterprise RPA (2018). https://www.uipath.com/company/rpa-analyst-reports/defining-enterprise-rpa-everest-research-report. Accessed 5 Mar 2019

  14. Forrester: Building a center of expertise to support robotic automation: preparing for the life cycle of business change (2014). http://neoops.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Forrester-RA-COE.pdf. Accessed 5 Mar 2019

  15. Forrester: The Forrester Wave™: Robotic Process Automation, Q1 2017 - The 12 Providers That Matter Most and How They Stack Up, Forrester Research, Inc. (2017). https://www.forrester.com/report/The+Forrester+Wave+Robotic+Process+Automation+Q1+2017/-/E-RES131182. Accessed 5 Mar 2019

  16. Gejke, C.: A new season in the risk landscape: connecting the advancement in technology with changes in customer behaviour to enhance the way risk is measured and managed. J. Risk Manag. Finan. Inst. 11(2), 148–155 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Greyer-Klingeberg, J., Nakladal, J., Baldauf, F.: Process mining and robotic process automation: a perfect match. In: 16th International Conference on Business Process Management, Sydney, Australia (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Gupta, P., Fernandes, S.F., Jain, M.: Automation in recruitment: a new frontier. J. Inf. Technol. Teach. Cases 8(2), 118–125 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Hallikainen, P., Bekkhus, R., Pan, S.L.: How OpusCapita used internal RPA capabilities to offer services to clients. MIS Q. Exec. 17(1), 41–52 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Harmon, P.: The State of the BPM market – 2018 (2018). https://www.redhat.com/cms/managed-files/mi-bptrends-state-of-bpm-2018-survey-analyst-paper-201803-en.pdf. Accessed 5 Mar 2019

  21. Institute for Robotic Process Automation: Introduction to Robotic Process Automation (2015). https://irpaai.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Robotic-Process-Automation-June2015.pdf. Accessed 5 Mar 2019

  22. Issac, R., Muni, R., Desai, K.: Delineated analysis of robotic process automation tools. In: ICAECC 2018 - Second International Conference on Advances in Electronics, Computers and Communications, pp. 1–5. IEEE (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kirchmer, M.: Robotic process automation - pragmatic solution or dangerous illusion?. Business Transformation & Operational Excellence World Summit (BTOES) (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Kitchenham, B., Charters, S.: Guidelines for performing systematic literature reviews in software engineering. EBSE Technical report EBSE-2007-01 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kobayashi, T., Nakashima, R., Uchida, R., Arai, K.: SNS door phone as robotic process automation. In: Proceedings of the 2018 ACM International Conference on Interactive Surfaces and Spaces, pp. 457–460. ACM (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kulbacki, M., et al.: Survey of drones for agriculture automation from planting to harvest. In: INES 2018 22nd International Conference on Intelligent Engineering Systems, pp. 353–358. IEEE (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Lacity, M., Willcocks, L.P.: Robotic process automation at telefónica O2. MIS Q. Exec. 15, 21–35 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Lacity, M., Willcocks, L.P.: Robotic process automation: the next transformation lever for shared services. In: The Outsourcing Unit Working Research Paper Series, Paper 16/01 (2016). http://www.umsl.edu/~lacitym/OUWP1601.pdf. Accessed 5 Mar 2019

  29. Leno, V., Dumas, M., Maggi, F.M., La Rosa, M.: Multi-perspective process model discovery for robotic process automation. In: CEUR Workshop Proceedings, vol. 2114, pp. 37–45 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Leopold, H., van der Aa, H., Reijers, H.A.: Identifying candidate tasks for robotic process automation in textual process descriptions. In: Gulden, J., Reinhartz-Berger, I., Schmidt, R., Guerreiro, S., Guédria, W., Bera, P. (eds.) BPMDS/EMMSAD -2018. LNBIP, vol. 318, pp. 67–81. Springer, Cham (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91704-7_5

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  31. Lin, S.C., Shih, L.H., Yang, D., Lin, J., Kung, J.F.: Apply RPA (Robotic Process Automation) in Semiconductor Smart Manufacturing. In: 2018 e-Manufacturing and Design Collaboration Symposium (eMDC), pp. 1–3. IEEE (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  32. McLean, R., Antony, J.: Why continuous improvement initiatives fail in manufacturing environments? a systematic review of the evidence. Int. J. Prod. Perform. Manag. 63(3), 370–376 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Mendling, J., Decker, G., Hull, R., Reijers, H.A., Weber, I.: How do machine learning, robotic process automation, and blockchains affect the human factor in business process management? Commun. Assoc. Inf. Syst. 43, 297–320 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Ojala, A., Helander, N.: Value creation and evolution of a value network: a longitudinal case study on a platform-as-a-service provider. In: 47th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS). IEEE (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Okoli, C.: A guide to conducting a standalone systematic literature review. Commun. Assoc. Inf. Syst. 37(43), 879–910 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Ovum: Robotic Process Automation: Adding to the Process Transformation Toolkit - The role that RPA can play within service providers and enterprises (2015). http://research.globalriskcommunity.com/content76913. Accessed 5 Mar 2019

  37. Penttinen, E., Kasslin, H., Asatiani, A.: How to choose between robotic process automation and back-end system automation?. In: 26th European Conference on Information Systems (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Rajesh, K.V.N., Ramesh, K.V.N.: Robotic process automation: a death knell to dead-end jobs? CSI Commun. Knowl. Dig. IT Commun. 42(3), 10–14 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Ratia, M., Myllärniemi, J., Helander, N.: Robotic process automation - creating value by digitalizing work in the private healthcare. In: ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, International Academic Mindtrek Conference (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Scheer, A.W.: Performancesteigerung durch Automatisierung von Geschäftsprozessen, AWS Institut fur digitale Produkte und Prozesse gGmbH (AWSi) (2017). https://www.aws-institut.de/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/031117_GPPerformance_44seiten_final_300dpi_2Aufl_einzel.pdf. Accessed 5 Mar 2019

  41. Schmider, J., Kumar, K., LaForest, C., Swankoski, B., Naim, K., Caubel, P.M.: Innovation in pharmacovigilance: use of artificial intelligence in adverse event case processing. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 105(4), 954–961 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Schmitz, M., Dietze, C., Czarnecki, C.: Enabling digital transformation through robotic process automation at Deutsche Telekom. In: Urbach, N., Röglinger, M. (eds.) Digitalization Cases. MP, pp. 15–33. Springer, Cham (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95273-4_2

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  43. Suri, V.K., Elia, M., van Hillegersberg, J.: Software bots - the next frontier for shared services and functional excellence. In: Oshri, I., Kotlarsky, J., Willcocks, Leslie P. (eds.) Global Sourcing 2017. LNBIP, vol. 306, pp. 81–94. Springer, Cham (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70305-3_5

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  44. Tranfield, D., Denyer, D., Smart, P.: Towards a methodology for developing evidence informed management knowledge by means of systematic review. Br. J. Manag. 14(3), 207–222 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Tsaih, R., Hsu, C. C.: Artificial intelligence in smart tourism: a conceptual framework. In: Proceedings of The 18th International Conference on Electronic Business, ICEB, Guilin, China, 2–6 December, pp. 124–133 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  46. Valdes-Faura, M.: RPA and BPM, it’s all about the process! (2018). https://www.bonitasoft.com/news/rpa_bpm_all_about_process. Accessed 5 Mar 2019

  47. Van Belkum, S., Brun, N., Cleve, S., McGovern, P., Lumpkin, M., Schaeffer, P.E., Pauli, T., Trethowan, J., Netzer, T.: Artificial intelligence in clinical development and regulatory affairs – preparing for the future. Regul. Rapp. 15(10), 17–21 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  48. Webster, J., Watson, R.T.: Analyzing the past to prepare for the future: writing a literature review. MIS Q. 26(2), 13–23 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  49. Wilcock, L., Lacity, M., Craig, A.: The IT function and robotic process automation. In: LSE Research Online Documents on Economics from London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library (2015). http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/64519/ Accessed 5 Mar 2019

  50. Wilcocks, L., Lacity, M., Craig, A.: Robotic process automation: strategic transformation lever for global business services? J. Inf. Technol. Teach. Cases 7(1), 17–28 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Zhang, N., Liu, B.: The key factors affecting RPA-business alignment. In: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Crowd Science and Engineering, p. 10. ACM (2018)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lucija Ivančić .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Appendix

Appendix

Articles resulting from the SLR

Ref

Year

Title of the paper

Col.

SS

W

S

[7]

2018

Towards a Process Analysis Approach to Adopt Robotic Process Automation

 

+

EA

[26]

2018

Survey of Drones for Agriculture Automation from Planting to Harvest

 

+

LR

[18]

2018

Automation in recruitment: a new frontier

 

+

EA

[31]

2018

Apply RPA (Robotic Process Automation) in Semiconductor Smart Manufacturing

 

+

EA

[39]

2018

Robotic process automation - Creating value by digitalizing work in the private healthcare?

 

+

EA

[47]

2018

Artificial intelligence in clinical development and regulatory affairs – Preparing for the future

 

+

LR

[33]

2018

How do machine learning, robotic process automation, and blockchains affect the human factor in business process management?

 

+

LR

[16]

2018

A new season in the risk landscape: Connecting the advancement in technology with changes in customer behaviour to enhance the way risk is measured and managed

 

+

TA

[17]

2018

Process mining and Robotic process automation: A perfect match

 

+

EA

[37]

2018

How to choose between robotic process automation and back-end system automation?

 

+

EA

[29]

2018

Multi-Perspective process model discovery for robotic process automation

 

+

LR

[30]

2018

Identifying candidate tasks for robotic process automation in textual process descriptions

 

+

TA

[41]

2018

Innovation in Pharmacovigilance: Use of Artificial Intelligence in Adverse Event Case Processing

 

+

EA

[45]

2018

Artificial intelligence in smart tourism: A conceptual framework

 

+

TA

[25]

2018

SNS Door Phone as Robotic Process Automation

+

+

EA

[22]

2018

Delineated Analysis of Robotic Process Automation Tools

+

+

EA

[51]

2018

The key factors affecting RPA-business alignment

+

+

LR

[8]

2018

Minimal effort requirements engineering for robotic process automation with test driven development and screen recording

+

+

TA

[19]

2018

How OpusCapita used internal RPA capabilities to offer services to clients

+

+

EA

[3]

2018

Robotic Automation Process - The operating system for the digital enterprise

+

 

EA

[50]

2017

Robotic process automation: Strategic transformation lever for global business services?

 

+

EA

[11]

2017

Resolving tussles in service automation deployments: Service automation at Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina (BCBSNC)

 

+

EA

[1]

2017

Automation of a business process using robotic process automation (RPA): A case study

+

+

EA

[43]

2017

Software bots -The next frontier for shared services and functional excellence

 

+

EA

[2]

2017

Robotic Automation Process - The next major revolution in terms of back office operations improvement

+

 

EA

[4]

2016

Turning robotic process automation into commercial success - Case OpusCapita

 

+

EA

[27]

2016

Robotic process automation at telefónica O2

+

+

EA

  1. Note: Col.Collection; WWoS; SScopus; SSStudy strategy; EAEmpirical approach; TATheoretical approach; LRLiterature review

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Ivančić, L., Suša Vugec, D., Bosilj Vukšić, V. (2019). Robotic Process Automation: Systematic Literature Review. In: Di Ciccio, C., et al. Business Process Management: Blockchain and Central and Eastern Europe Forum. BPM 2019. Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing, vol 361. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30429-4_19

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30429-4_19

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-30428-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-30429-4

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics