The RPA articles on this blog were written in 2023 during my time as an IT manager when Robotic Process Automation (RPA) was experiencing significant market growth and widespread enterprise adoption. The collection represents my professional observations and insights from that period, focusing on practical implementation challenges, governance frameworks, and strategic considerations for organizations exploring RPA solutions.
When I wrote them, I was torn between sounding overly critical of the industry and sharing my experience. It's only a year and a half later that I came back to publish them as I decided I would proceed with creating a tech blog and it wouldn't make sense to chuck them in the bin.
While I have since moved on from RPA consulting, many of these articles remain relevant for organizations evaluating or implementing automation initiatives. The core principles of proper governance, strategic planning, and careful vendor/consultant selection continue to be valuable, regardless of the specific automation technology being considered.
It's worth noting that the automation landscape has evolved significantly since these pieces were written. RPA has found its place as one tool in a broader automation toolkit, rather than the comprehensive solution it was sometimes marketed as.
While RPA can still provide value in specific use cases—particularly for legacy system integration and repetitive task automation—it should be evaluated alongside other automation approaches, including API integration, low-code platforms, and in-house software development.
These articles remain available as a resource for organizations navigating their automation journey, with the understanding that they reflect a specific moment in my own career and in the evolution of enterprise automation technology.