Mary Lacity

This book examines real-world implementations of service automation technologies using Robotic Process Automation and Cognitive Automation tools. This newest, detailed research finds that RPA adoptions are accelerating, maturing, and scaling in global enterprise. The research covers multiple industries, applications, and shared services, and uses case studies to establish action principles and how to mitigate automation risks. The book also examines the first enterprise-worthy cognitive automation tools that use machine-learning algorithms to process big data, often in natural language form, and analyses three major detailed cases and the conditions for effective implementation. The book includes interviews with major clients, providers and analysts, and a detailed analysis of the automation and future of work debate. The book provides a compelling and incisive, evidence-based perspective on the direction and management of service automation, taking trends through to 2025. Automation technologies like RPA, CA, and the newest Blockchain technologies are found to transform and elevate human work rather than eliminate it.

The hype and fear, globally, that surrounds service automation, robots and the future of work need to be punctured by in-depth research. This book, by Professors Leslie Willcocks and Mary Lacity, captures a year's worth of learning about service automation based on a survey, in-depth client case studies, and interviews with service automation clients, providers, and advisors. The authors cleverly embed today's empirical lessons into the broader history and context of automation, as a vital key in understanding the fast-rising phenomenon of service automation. The authors give a balanced, informed and compelling view on gaining the many benefits, as well as managing the downsides, of present and future technologies. The book has a number of key selling points: The authors are globally recognised for outstanding, world-class research; the book describes types of automation and gives evidence for multiple business benefits; in-depth case studies are included - from clients, providers and advisors of service automation; 25 key lessons are given, on how to deploy service automation in the workplace and there is a focus on the future of work, including robotic process automation, with valuable predictions and critique.