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The Adoption of Robotic Process Automation Technology to Ensure Business Processes during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  • Julia Siderska

    (Faculty of Engineering Management, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45a Street, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland)

Abstract

The study provides knowledge on the adoption of the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) technology during the COVID-19 pandemic in 110 Polish service companies. As this research was the first of its kind in Poland, the objectives of the CAWI survey were to identify the technology features of the RPA technology and the related determinants and barriers influencing the adoption of the RPA as well as to determine correlations between them. Moreover, the statistical analyses involved considering whether there were differences in the evaluation of individual RPA technology features, mainly in terms of perceived usefulness, ease of use, security and functionality. The results of the study show that almost 60% of the respondents indicated that robotization tools allowed maintaining continuity of business processes during the pandemic. The highest rated were features related to usefulness of the RPA technology. Furthermore, the analysis pointed to the most frequently indicated barriers to technology implementation that were related to nonoptimized, nonstandardized and non-digitized processes with a large number of exceptions. The study contributes to scientific knowledge and has practical implications for process automation decision-makers concerned with the adoption of the Robotic Process Automation technology. The obtained results can help them to understand the potential drivers of and barriers to the adoption of software robots by enterprises and may be an important determinant for companies’ managers in the field of implementing such solutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Julia Siderska, 2021. "The Adoption of Robotic Process Automation Technology to Ensure Business Processes during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-20, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:14:p:8020-:d:596646
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Daehyoun Choi & Hind R’bigui & Chiwoon Cho, 2021. "Candidate Digital Tasks Selection Methodology for Automation with Robotic Process Automation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-18, August.
    3. Costa Diogo António da Silva & Mamede Henrique São & Mira da Silva Miguel, 2022. "Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Adoption: A Systematic Literature Review," Engineering Management in Production and Services, Sciendo, vol. 14(2), pages 1-12, June.
    4. Radosław Drozd & Radosław Wolniak & Jan Piwnik, 2023. "Systemic analysis of a manufacturing process based on a small scale bakery," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 1421-1437, April.
    5. Paulina Golinska-Dawson & Karolina Werner-Lewandowska & Karolina Kolinska & Adam Kolinski, 2023. "Impact of Market Drivers on the Digital Maturity of Logistics Processes in a Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-19, February.
    6. Anna Kosieradzka & Justyna Smagowicz & Cezary Szwed, 2022. "Application of Protective Measures against COVID-19 in Polish Production Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-23, October.
    7. Maciej Cieślukowski & Przemysław Garsztka & Beata Zyznarska-Dworczak, 2022. "The Impact of Robotification on the Financial Situation of Microenterprises: Evidence from the Financial Services Sector in Poland," Risks, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-20, February.

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