2 Managing RPA implementation projects

While much of our daily working life has been digitized, it is by no means fully automated. Several issues such as programming cost, lack of skill, or project complexity hinder the implementation of fully automated integrated solutions using enterprise software or business process management systems. Hence, many tasks, subprocesses, or even whole processes are still performed manually despite obvious automation potential. Robotic process automation (RPA) is a fairly new technology to automate these digital yet manual tasks by only accessing the presentation layer of IT systems and imitating human behavior. Due to the novelty of this approach and the associated lack of knowledge about the execution of RPA projects, up to 50 % of RPA projects fail. In response, we present and illustrate a framework for the initiation of RPA projects based on published RPA case studies and expert interviews. The consolidated framework comprises variable stages that offer guidelines applicable under complex and heterogeneous business environments. We illustrate the framework using a settlement process of SYSTHEMIS AG, a software development and IT consulting company.