Second wave of process automation will transform business as we know it

Henry Alty argues that while robotic process automation players like Blue Prism and UiPath started companies on the automation journey, businesses need to think more strategically to capture value from broader digital transformation. The rise of robotic process automation (RPA) saw companies automate individual tasks previously undertaken by humans, utilising software provided by companies including Blue Prism and UiPath. At one point valued at more than £1bn and $35bn respectively, these venture capital darlings flew high on the promise of turning an entire workforce into'citizen developers', who could effortlessly develop applications to solve individual problems. This software was sold to Chief Financial Officers as a tool to drive enormous productivity gains and cost savings by automating repetitive'swivel chair' work. But that promise has been largely disproven.