Robotic process automation deployments: a step-by-step method to investment appraisal

Purpose Robotic process automation (RPA) has recently emerged as a technology focusing on the of repetitive, frequent, voluminous and rule-based tasks. Despite few practical examples that document successful RPA deployments in organizations, evidence its economic benefits been mostly anecdotal. The purpose this paper is to present step-by-step method investment appraisal business case demonstrating how steps can be applied practice. Design/methodology/approach methodology relies design science research (DSR). artefact builds mapping processes modelling associated costs. Due longitudinal nature capital investments, uses discounted cashflow value methods. Empirical grounding characteristic DSR achieved by field testing artefact. Findings comprised preparatory step, three concluding step. consists compounding interest rate, discounting costs establishing measures for comparison. These were seven automated company, Estate Blend. decision deploy was found trivial, not only based initial data, but also multiple sensitivity analyses showed resistant investments are changing circumstances. Practical implications By following provided method, executives managers quantify RPA. developed enables any organization directly compare alternatives against each other probable status quo where many tasks organizations still carried out manually with little no automation. Originality/value addresses growing new domain management capitalizing modelling-based approaches appraisal.