Easy as RPA

Robotic Process Automation (RPA). It may sound like a premise to a movie where robots take over the world, but it's very real and it's helping organizations realize modernization goals. Despite the name, RPA has nothing to do with robots. It is about software that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to automate high-volume, repetitive tasks. This can include queries, calculations, and maintenance of records and transactions.

In government, RPA is already being implemented in a wide variety of applications.

• Inspections - As agencies look to modernize the way they perform inspections of the water we drink, the roads we travel, and the buildings we travel to, they are using RPA to move off paper-dependent processes.
• Claims review -- RPA is built into an intake tool used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid that ingests records, automating the process and identifying potential problems.
• Procurement - RPA is being used to automate and streamline the close-out process of government contracts, freeing up staff to work on actual programs, rather than spending time documenting that work.
• IT asset management - Managing IT assets is a combination of automated and manual tasks. The introduction of RPA greatly reduces the need for manual intervention when it comes to enforcing governance and process, freeing up staff to work on mission-focused projects rather than tracking the technology used on those projects.

Applications like these have been so successful that GSA is looking to add an RPA Center of Excellence (CoE) into the government-wide CoE program. If you are looking to learn more about RPA technologies and applications, we've pulled together a couple upcoming events to help you get informed.

• Gov's 2020 Focus: Trends to Keep Your Eyes On (November 13, 2019; webcast) -- From open-source to artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity, this free, full-day virtual summit will highlight key trends agencies should be aware of to effectively deliver on missions in 2020. Learn what is on the horizon in emerging tech, how agencies are getting rid of outdated legacy systems and how governments are staffing and training their personnel to use the new technology.
• Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Intelligent Automation (IA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Government Workshop III (November 14, 2019; Washington, DC) -- RPA, IA and AI has spread rapidly in the private sector and many federal and state agencies are currently using these tools in production or as pilots. At this event attendees will learn what RPA is and isn't through discussion and use case presentations.
• The Identity Governance Forum (December 4, 2019; Washington, DC) -- To ensure a secure enterprise, federal and defense leaders must maintain a deep understanding of who has--and who should have--access to data and how this access is reviewed. Automation of policy enforcement and processes plays a huge role in effective identity management.
• CXO Tech Forum: AI and RPA in Government (December 5, 2019; Washington, DC) -- This forum will host candid conversations on how the U.S. government is using the best artificial intelligence technologies to improve efficiencies, analyses, and decision-making. Automation, data management, high-performance computing, deepfakes, facial recognition, machine learning, robots and more will be discussed. Invited speakers for this forum include senior leaders from CMS, DHS, DOD, DOJ, GSA, HHS, IRS, OMB and VA.
• 2nd Annual Intelligence Community IT Day (February 19, 2020; Herndon, VA) - With the theme 'Protecting our Technological Advantage', this Northern Virginia Chapter of AFCEA event will address AI, Cyber, Cloud, RPA, and Blockchain.

Let us know what other events are talking RPA, and share your recommendations in the comments.