RPA Tools Lack AI Aura but Find Role in IoT Inventory Apps

Shiny new AI and machine learning technologies get greater attention, but less glossy Robotic Process Automation methods are finding a home in IoT workflows as well. Without much fanfare, RPA tools are beginning to appear in key IoT areas such as asset tracking and fleet management, and increasing customer demands for real-time monitoring of inventory and just-in-time deliveries point to further growth. RPA’s goal is to take on human tasks associated with modern digital transformations. As such, RPA tools are far less ambitious than AI systems meant to predict business trends and make complex business decisions in real time. Its narrow objectives have made RPA something of a sleeper among the host of innovative technologies contributing to IoT application inroads. But, ultimately, RPA’s role may well be overshadowed by larger AI efforts, according to one analyst.