{"id":6149,"date":"2025-03-17T19:08:52","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T19:08:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.peeriosity.com\/shared-services\/articles\/?p=6149"},"modified":"2025-03-17T19:08:52","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T19:08:52","slug":"rpa-and-artificial-intelligence-results-to-date-and-plans-for-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peeriosity.com\/shared-services\/articles\/2025\/03\/rpa-and-artificial-intelligence-results-to-date-and-plans-for-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"RPA and Artificial Intelligence \u2013 Results To-date and Plans for 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

RPA and Artificial Intelligence \u2013 Results To-date and Plans for 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2017 when Peeriosity-100 added a new research area for Intelligent Automation, the market was flooded with news about what was perceived to be a game-changing technology, with many new companies competing in a market space where growth seemed limitless.\u00a0 The opportunities seemed huge, with public conferences quickly becoming paid informercials for the new RPA players with deep pockets from venture capital money.\u00a0 The message to businesses was either you embrace this new technology, or you will quickly become obsolete and die.\u00a0 Change management was also expected to be a big issue as thousands of people were expected to have their current job eliminated as these new technologies found their foothold in business, and particularly in Shared Services\/GBS. \u00a0\u00a0RPA was viewed as a silver bullet with dire consequences for many who were on the front lines processing transactions.<\/p>\n

Now, fast forward 8 years, and the hype and big advertising money is now focused on more advanced versions traditional AI and Generative AI.\u00a0 And yes, there are many real-world examples of where GEN IA has been having a big impact, notable in the HR space and processes like talent recruiting.\u00a0 But what are companies, and specifically Shared Services\/GBS organizations, actually doing now to leverage these new technologies?<\/p>\n

Fortunately for Peeriosity-100 members there are many real-life examples to consider, where you can see a first-hand report from leading peers with the ability to connect with them directly for more detailed discussions.\u00a0 For example, in 2024 we hosted Peercasts where member companies were featured on topics including \u201cOur Story: Intelligent Automation at (Company Name)\u201d, discussing huge success supporting the entire company (not only Shared Services\/GBS) from a COE with hundreds of dedicated resources and a long list of successful projects; a Peercast titled \u201cReal Member Experiences with Gen AI\u201d, a panel discussion with leading companies, including Intel Corporation, The Hershey Company, and Conagra Brands; a Peercast titled \u201cAutomating with Smart Automation and Artificial Intelligence at P&G\u201d; and another Peercast called \u201cNavigating a Successful RPA Program through an ERP Transformation\u201d, featuring a leading global company.<\/p>\n

Peeriosity-100 members know that the path forward is much easier when you know the details for how leading peers are approaching similar challenges, with the ability to reach out and have meaningful conversations about their efforts.<\/p>\n

Polling Results Review<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Peeriosity-100 poll was created to better understand the impact of RPA and Gen AI in 2024, and member companies\u2019 expectations for 2025.\u00a0 Regarding the current impact of RPA, 56% of member companies indicated that the technology is fully operational, with dedicated resources and strategies in place.\u00a0 An additional 33% of companies indicated that technology is being tested\/implemented now, with resources and strategy under development.\u00a0 While no one selected one of the three options indicating less interest, 11% indicated a decision was made to largely bypass RPA in favor of other tools like ETL ( Extract, Transform, Load) and more advanced AI tools.<\/p>\n

Here are the details:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The second poll question for RPA asked about expectations for 2025.\u00a0 \u00a0These results indicate that 56% expect to continue on an aggressive implementation path, 11% expect to take their projects to a fully operational level, and 22% expect to begin developing their strategy and testing various solutions, with 11% indicating that they have no plans to move forward with RPA in 2025.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Regarding Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI, many Peeriosity-100 members are early in their journey, with no members reporting that the technology is fully operational with dedicated resources and a strategy in place, and only 22% who indicated that the technology is being tested\/implemented\u00a0 with resources and strategy under development, with an additional 22% who indicated that they are actively investigating the use of this technology, but with no major use of resources yet.\u00a0 The remaining 56% indicated that they are interested in this technology, but no progress has been made to either investigate or implemented.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Regarding expectations for 2025 and the use of Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI, the landscape is expected to change, but not as quickly as you might have guessed.\u00a0 11% expect to take projects to fully operational level, and 33% expect to begin developing a strategy and testing various solutions.\u00a0 Of the remaining 56% or member companies, 45% expect to proceed with due diligence, but with no tangible testing, and 11% have no plans to move ahead in this area in 2025.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Here are a few of the comments from responding companies:<\/p>\n