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Journey To Hyperautomation: The Pathway of Today’s Industries to Next Generation Industries

T. Kavitha1*, S. Saraswathi2 and G. Senbagavalli3

1Dept. of Computer Engineering, New Horizon College of Engg, Visvesvaraya Technological University, Karnataka, India

2Dept. of Computer Science &Engg, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engg, Anna University, Tamil Nadu, India

3Dept. of Electronics & Communication, AMC Engineering College, Visvesvaraya Technological University, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Hyperautomation devised by Gartner, an IT research and advisory group in 2019, is the automation of business or IT processes through robotic process automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning, optical character recognition, natural language processing, digital twin of the organization, process mining, and various tools. It allows for the enhancement of humans’ capabilities by allowing them to execute activities faster, more efficiently, and with an acceptable level of errors. This chapter aims to discuss hyperautomation, conventional methods of automation, and its limitations, components, and the technologies involved in the flow of the process. This chapter will also discuss the potential benefits, abilities, and scope for future industries to increase efficiency through the extended range of sophisticated automation and its challenges. It will also have specific use cases of hyperautomation.

Keywords: Hyperautomation, intelligent automation, digital process automation, industries, business intelligence, RPA, BOTs, technologies

1.1 Introduction: What is Hyperautomation (HA)?

It might be helpful to define automation first before defining hyperautomation (HA) and describing how it differs from “regular” automation. The term automation was coined in the late 1800s when a group of engineers created a mechanical device that could automatically weave silk threads into patterns on cloth at a faster rate than any human weaver could do by hand. This led to the invention of automatic looms, which were installed in textile mills across America in the early 1900s. The automatic looms were an immediate success. Since the third industrial revolution, automation has existed. When machines were used extensively for manufacturing during the industrial revolution, automation first emerged.

The Greek prefix “auto-” (self) and the Latin prefix “mation” (act) are the roots of the word “automation.” So it literally means doing something oneself. The International Society of Automation (ISA) is recognized for the industry consensus standards creation for automation technologies and applications. ISA [18] states that automation is the development of software and other technological tools to monitor and regulate the production and provision of goods and services.

All facets of the automation industry includes the main action consisting of install, integrate, maintain, procure, and manage. Even the marketing and sales processes in these sectors have been affected by automation. The technology used in automation spans a very wide range including the use of wireless applications, sensors [8], systems integration, robotics, communications, expert systems, cybersecurity [16], electro-optics, process test measurement and control, and a plethora of other technologies.

In addition, more widespread automation is required, as evidenced by increased emphasis on growth, digitalization, and operational excellence.

The goal of the business-driven strategy is to identify, validate, and automate as many business processes as is practical, which is facilitated by HA [15]. Although the concept of HA is indeed not new in and of itself, Gartner’s [19] Managerial Technological Solutions for 2020 introduced the term. Based on a Gartner study conducted in 2020, businesses typically have between 4 and 10 HA projects underway. It is interesting to note that “hyperautomation” is once again included in their list of the most important strategic technology trends for 2022.

The idea of HA [11] is to automate everything in a company that may be automated.

It calls for the coordinated use of numerous technologies, tools, and platforms. Organizations that use [19] HA aim to digitize as many systems and processes as possible through the use of robotic process automation (RPA), which is a form of business process automation that uses smart machines or bots to quickly and inexpensively complete routine business tasks, intelligent business process management suites (iBPMS), artificial intelligence (AI), integration platform as a service (iPaaS), event-driven software architecture, low-code/no-code tools, and automation tools, packaged software, and other technological advances, which eliminates the need for human intervention, as shown in Figure 1.1.

It leads to the transformation of automation in several processes within the organization, instead of concentrating on just one aspect [20].

To put it another way, HA is the advancement of automation; that is as well termed as intelligent process automation and digital process automation. It does this by adding an additional layer of cutting-edge technology to automation, allowing for greater technological potential i.e., discover, design, automate, monitor, measure, analyze, and reassess [5]. Hyperautomation is a key component of digitization because it lessens the amount of human effort required in low-at-the-moment processes and generates data that enables a level of business intelligence that was previously impractical. It can play a significant role in creating flexible organizations that can change quickly.

The major difference between automation and HA can be based on five major aspects [5]:

1. Technology required to perform: HA can be performed with the help of multiple machine learning (ML) techniques along with automation tools. Whereas automation is purely based on the automation tool.
2. Sophistication technology: HA is based on artificial intelligence-based automation, whereas automation is RPA and task-oriented based one.
3. Outcome: HA results in smart and efficient processes whereas automation provides efficient processes.
4. Coverage: HA can be applied to everything (any field) that can be automated. But automation is not like that.
5. Scope: HA is an environment of platforms, systems, and technologies, but automation can be done from one platform.
6. Low-code development: with the help of process mining, the development of code is simplified and generates the automation prototype in the case HA.

Figure 1.1 Components of hyperautomation.

1.1.1 What Makes Hyperautomation Quite Crucial?

For digital transformation to occur, automation is required. As an outcome, over the following ten years, the RPA market is anticipated to expand quickly [4]. Robotic process automation is used widely, but Gartner contends that the next step is to fully implement RPA with artificial intelligence and ML techniques in order to achieve HA and lessen the need for human intervention. It will lead to an increase in the total cost of ownership by 40-fold during 2024 [12] due to diffuse HA spending, making adaptive governance a unique selling point in organizational performance, as shown in Figure 1.2. By 2031 [3], the business for HA is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth of $46.4 billion, reaching a rate of 21.7% [15]. The RPA market is anticipated to grow by more than 12 billion US dollars by 2030 [9].

Intelligent automation is all about finding, modelling, producing business processes compliant and fully transparent, then automating them and assessing their success. It was created by humans, but it is carried out automatically under human control. This enables people to pursue new career opportunities, test out novel ideas, and gain from a new way of working in addition to further developing their current and new skills.

1.1.2 Benefits of Hyperautomation for Employees and Businesses

With HA, the software industry is currently going through a substantial shift. This leads to the reduction of technology efforts and an increase in productivity for the development and support teams. This has a number of important advantages [1]. Generally, the use of automation primarily focuses on the reduction of cost and increase in compliance. Along with these, there are some benefits that are primarily due to HA for businesses include [21, 22]:

Figure 1.2 Future of hyperautomation.

1. Disruptive technologies: the combination of potentially disruptive technologies like AI, ML, RPA, and natural language processing (NLP) into daily operations of the business to significantly improve process performance, drastically cut down on errors, and increase efficiency.
2. Sense of achievement: increased employee sense of achievement because of a smart environment and it significantly improves the workforce’s processing capacity to enhance productivity and competitiveness.
3. Improved collaboration: by coordinating their business processes and technology investments, organizations can undergo digital transformation.
4. Operating Cost: integration of HA and refined business processes will reduce the operating cost of the organization to 30% by 2024 as per...