The robots are ready

Article

Deloitte Global RPA Survey

The robots are ready. Are you?

Over the past year, there has been intensifying interest in robotics and in the application of cognitive and artificial intelligence technologies, both in the media and on the conference circuit. Robotic process automation (RPA) is already delivering value, and early movers in shared services and other administrative organizations are achieving significant benefits, which are highlighted in Deloitte's third annual RPA Survey.

Key findings of Deloitte Global RPA Survey:

  • 53% of respondents have already started their RPA journey. This is expected to increase to 72% in the next two years. If this continues at its current level, RPA will have achieved near-universal adoption within the next five years.
  • The benefits of RPA adoption are significant. Payback was reported at less than 12 months, with an average 20% of full-time equivalent (FTE) capacity provided by robots. RPA continues to meet and exceed expectations across multiple dimensions including: improved compliance (92%), improved quality / accuracy (90%), improved productivity (86%), cost reduction (59%).
  • 78% of those who have already implemented RPA expect to significantly increase investment in RPA over the next three years,  yet scaling RPA is clearly proving more difficult than anticipated: only 3% of organizations have scaled their digital workforce.