Workplace Automation Bots Gain Clout Amid Covid-19 Pandemic

Companies tapped more advanced bots to double check complex legal documents and contracts for irregularities at much higher speeds than remote workers. These types of efficiency gains are expected to drive growth in the software bot market for years, said Mihir Shukla, co-founder and chief executive of robotic process automation maker Automation Anywhere Inc., based in San Jose, Calif. "Most people recognize the need for automation," Mr. Shukla said at The Wall Street Journal's CIO Network Summit, held online Tuesday. Now there is an even greater appreciation at the board level, he said. The robotic process automation market is expected to grow by double digits through 2024, according to information-technology research and consulting firm Gartner Inc.