Robotic Process Automation in Small Enterprises: An Investigation into Application Potential
Substantial application potential in enterprises is commonly attributed to Robotic Process Automation (RPA). This potential encompasses automation of routine tasks, improvement of data quality, improvement of process stability, or reduction of monotonous tasks. However, our observation from projects...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Riga Technical University
2023-04-01
|
| Series: | Complex Systems Informatics and Modeling Quarterly |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://csimq-journals.rtu.lv/article/view/6803 |
| _version_ | 1826948756168245248 |
|---|---|
| author | Sven Erdmann Kurt Sandkuhl |
| author_facet | Sven Erdmann Kurt Sandkuhl |
| author_sort | Sven Erdmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Substantial application potential in enterprises is commonly attributed to Robotic Process Automation (RPA). This potential encompasses automation of routine tasks, improvement of data quality, improvement of process stability, or reduction of monotonous tasks. However, our observation from projects with enterprises is that this potential is visible in bigger companies, but not so obvious in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs often show a lower readiness to invest time and resources in new technologies and, thus, hesitate to explore new technology applications unless they see a clear business case. This article investigates the application potential of RPA in SMEs by trying to identify typical application scenarios with potentially high benefits that SMEs should focus on. The application potential is primarily addressed from a qualitative perspective, i.e., the aim is not to quantify the potential but to qualify the application fields. The contributions of this article are (1) a structured literature review of the state of RPA use in SMEs, (2) RPA application scenarios visible in the literature and functionality of RPA platforms to support these scenarios, and (3) experiences from implementing three SME-focused use cases with off-the-shelf RPA tools and a concluding evaluation by experts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:23:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d1f99a16c7c0471eb1e7e031ee9e5780 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2255-9922 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-17T21:55:08Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Riga Technical University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Complex Systems Informatics and Modeling Quarterly |
| spelling | doaj.art-d1f99a16c7c0471eb1e7e031ee9e57802024-12-05T09:56:30ZengRiga Technical UniversityComplex Systems Informatics and Modeling Quarterly2255-99222023-04-010348410510.7250/csimq.2023-34.043103Robotic Process Automation in Small Enterprises: An Investigation into Application PotentialSven Erdmann0Kurt Sandkuhl1University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 22, 18059 RostockUniversity of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 22, 18059 Rostock, Germany; Jönköping University, Box 1026, 55111 Jönköping, SwedenSubstantial application potential in enterprises is commonly attributed to Robotic Process Automation (RPA). This potential encompasses automation of routine tasks, improvement of data quality, improvement of process stability, or reduction of monotonous tasks. However, our observation from projects with enterprises is that this potential is visible in bigger companies, but not so obvious in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs often show a lower readiness to invest time and resources in new technologies and, thus, hesitate to explore new technology applications unless they see a clear business case. This article investigates the application potential of RPA in SMEs by trying to identify typical application scenarios with potentially high benefits that SMEs should focus on. The application potential is primarily addressed from a qualitative perspective, i.e., the aim is not to quantify the potential but to qualify the application fields. The contributions of this article are (1) a structured literature review of the state of RPA use in SMEs, (2) RPA application scenarios visible in the literature and functionality of RPA platforms to support these scenarios, and (3) experiences from implementing three SME-focused use cases with off-the-shelf RPA tools and a concluding evaluation by experts.https://csimq-journals.rtu.lv/article/view/6803robotic process automationrpasmall and medium-sized enterprisessmeapplication potential |
| spellingShingle | Sven Erdmann Kurt Sandkuhl Robotic Process Automation in Small Enterprises: An Investigation into Application Potential Complex Systems Informatics and Modeling Quarterly robotic process automation rpa small and medium-sized enterprises sme application potential |
| title | Robotic Process Automation in Small Enterprises: An Investigation into Application Potential |
| title_full | Robotic Process Automation in Small Enterprises: An Investigation into Application Potential |
| title_fullStr | Robotic Process Automation in Small Enterprises: An Investigation into Application Potential |
| title_full_unstemmed | Robotic Process Automation in Small Enterprises: An Investigation into Application Potential |
| title_short | Robotic Process Automation in Small Enterprises: An Investigation into Application Potential |
| title_sort | robotic process automation in small enterprises an investigation into application potential |
| topic | robotic process automation rpa small and medium-sized enterprises sme application potential |
| url | https://csimq-journals.rtu.lv/article/view/6803 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT svenerdmann roboticprocessautomationinsmallenterprisesaninvestigationintoapplicationpotential AT kurtsandkuhl roboticprocessautomationinsmallenterprisesaninvestigationintoapplicationpotential |