RPA failures: what can heavy industry learn from automation slip ups?

The robot is no stranger to heavy industry, but its virtual co-worker, robotic process automation (RPA), is only just beginning to find a place within the industrial sector. The technology's clever software robots can fulfil repetitive and time-consuming tasks, and offer a multitude of benefits from improved accuracy to cost-savings. However, with RPA failures a common occurrence in its early adoption, it's clear that initial implementation of the technology has not proved to be smooth sailing for many businesses. For multinational consultancy EY, RPA failures are all too familiar, having witnessed 30 to 50 per cent of initial projects fail. Companies developing the technology claim it can transform operations, but if it's as favourable as they say, why are there so many RPA failures?