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Why Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is Becoming Essential for Business Resilience

· 3 min read
Digital robots joining office workers in automating business processes

The past year has tested the agility and endurance of businesses worldwide. As organizations scrambled to adapt to remote work, disrupted supply chains, and fluctuating customer demands, one technology moved from "nice to have" to outright necessity: Robotic Process Automation (RPA).

RPA’s Surge in the 2020s: A Response to Global Disruption (2020--2023)​

Before 2020, leading companies were already leveraging RPA to automate repetitive, rules-based tasks across finance, HR, operations, and customer service. However, the COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst, dramatically accelerating RPA adoption across industries.

The key drivers?

  • Business continuity: With remote work reducing on-site staff, digital "robots" filled the gap for routine workflows.
  • Cost efficiency: RPA bots work 24/7 and scale without hiring additional staff.
  • Rapid deployment: Unlike traditional IT projects, RPA solutions can be implemented in weeks, not months.
  • Reliability under pressure: RPA ensures critical back-office processes remain consistent even during workforce disruptions.

Where RPA Creates Immediate Business Value​

Organizations discovering RPA during this period quickly found it useful for:

  • Invoice processing: Automating data entry between email, PDF invoices, and ERP systems
  • Employee onboarding: Handling repetitive HR and IT tasks to support remote hires
  • Customer support: Automating triage and response to frequent inquiries
  • Compliance reporting: Routine documentation and validation in highly regulated sectors

A global survey by Deloitte (2020) revealed that 78% of organizations already piloting RPA expected to "significantly increase" automation budgets within the year—an unprecedented rate of investment spurred by the need for resilience.

Real-World Impact: RPA in Action​

Consider a leading European bank. With branches shuttered during lockdowns, the bank turned to RPA to process thousands of loan deferral requests—automating credit checks, documentation, and approvals. Tasks that took days manually were now handled in minutes.

Or a North American healthcare provider: Facing an exponential surge in COVID-related claims, the provider used RPA bots to verify patient insurance, submit claims, and flag exceptions—enabling faster payment cycles and freeing staff for urgent clinical work.

These examples highlight how RPA is not just about cost reduction, but real-time adaptability when it matters most.

Getting Started: Best Practices for 2023 and Beyond​

If your organization is considering an RPA initiative, now is the time. Key tips for success include:

  • Start small: Target high-volume, rules-based processes for quick wins
  • Involve business users: RPA works best with cross-functional input from IT and process owners
  • Measure, optimize, scale: Track ROI, improve workflows, and expand automation incrementally
  • Plan for governance: RPA brings benefits, but managing bots and exception handling is essential

The Bottom Line: RPA is Here to Stay​

As we look ahead into 2023, it’s clear that RPA is more than a stopgap—it's foundational to future-ready, resilient operations. Organizations embedding automation across their business processes aren't just weathering the storm—they’re building competitive advantage for the post-pandemic world.

Is your business ready to harness the power of RPA for resilience and growth? Explore how digital workers could transform your operations today.

2023