What Is Intelligent Automation And What Can It Do?

Since robotic process automation and other forms of automation caught people’s imagination, there have been efforts to go beyond the limited rule-based automation. Intelligent Automation (IA) is one of the terms used to describe new and enhanced automation by adding AI technologies.

In this post, we will dive deeper into Intelligent Automation and review real-world examples to help you understand what intelligent automation can do for you.

Let’s start with a quick introduction to Intelligent Automation.

What is Intelligent Automation

Usually, anything with Artificial Intelligence (AI) is considered intelligent or smart.

For example, Intelligent ERP is AI combined with ERP. Let’s take the example of SAP. They call SAP S4 / HANA with embedded AI as an Intelligent ERP.

So you guessed it—AI plus Automation is generally called Intelligent Automation.

Now, automation itself can use many technologies. The usual contenders include Robotic process automation (RPA) and Digital process automation (DPA). It can also be other Low-code or No-code automation technologies. You can even use code-based automation like Python!

Even the AI technologies used for automation come in different flavors. For example, it can be Machine learning (ML),  Natural language processing (NLP), Computer vision (CV), and more.

So, there you have it—various Automation and AI technologies combine to form Intelligent Automation. But do we have a clear-cut definition?

Intelligent  Automation definition

There are a few definitions of Intelligent Automation terms from various sources, including IEEE 2755. Here is a definition from the Intelligent Automation book:

IA, also called Hyperautomation, is a concept leveraging a new generation of software-based automation. It combines methods and technologies to execute business processes automatically for knowledge workers. This automation is achieved by mimicking knowledge workers’ capabilities in performing their work activities (e.g., language, vision, execution, and thinking & learning). The goal of using IA is to achieve a business outcome, through a redesigned automated process, with no or minimal human intervention. As a result, IA increases process speed, reduces costs, enhances compliance and quality, increases process resilience, and optimizes decision outcomes. Ultimately, it improves customer and employee satisfaction and boosts revenues.

As you can see, RPA is one of the technologies that enable Intelligent Automation. How do they differ?

Intelligent Automation and RPA

What is the difference between RPA and intelligent automation? Is RPA intelligent automation?

No, RPA is NOT Intelligent Automation (IA), but RPA certainly has played a part in the evolution into IA or Hyperautomation. However, software-based automation is much more than RPA, AI, or any technology.

Since Intelligent Automation, or RPA 4.0 as Everest calls it above, is mostly about adding AI to automation, what AI technologies are used for automation?

AI Technologies in Intelligent Automation

Here are the key AI technologies currently used within automation:

1. Natural Language Processing: It helps to understand the meaning and intention of sentences through machine learning and statistical methods.
2. Computer Vision: This form of AI is used to extract, analyze and understand information from images, including scanned documents.
3. Machine Learning: These algorithms automatically improve “learn” to detect patterns and predict outcomes with the help of data.

NOW READ: Intelligent Automation Use Cases You Should Know About