RPA and Intelligent Automation

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a software technology that enables computer programmes or "robots" to mimic and automate manual, rule-based processes in a consistent, repeatable, and reliable way. Traditionally, RPA has been used to handle straightforward, repetitive tasks such as data entry and form processing, helping to reduce the burden of labour-intensive work and freeing up staff to focus on higher-value activities like problem-solving, exception handling, and customer-facing services.

Intelligent Automation (IA) takes this a step further by integrating elements of Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as document understanding, and Machine Learning (ML) into RPA. This powerful combination enables the automation of more complex processes that require decision-making, pattern recognition, and adaptability. It transforms automation from a tool for operational efficiency into a strategic enabler, moving beyond routine task replication to dynamic, intelligent process execution.

The AI and Automation Centre of Excellence (CoE) provides the following services: -

• Methodology and Standards ensuring consistent process for opportunity assessment and customer engagement to streamline and subsequently automate processes. Oversight of all projects to identify opportunities for broader applicability and replication. Centralised governance to ensure best practice coding and security standards.
• Organisational Adoption and Skills Development driving organisational awareness and engagement to identify strategically aligned automation opportunities. Co-ordinating the upskilling of HSE staff to create appropriately skilled automation teams using this new and innovative technology.
• Robot Delivery and Operations providing developers and business analysts to build, deploy and supervise robots, with full activity and performance reporting, incident, and change management. Central management of the RPA technology platform and entire robot workforce. Centralised scheduling of robots to tasks to ensure optimisation of robot licences and rapid robot mobilisation as necessary to meet surges in demand across the organisation.

To date, the team has delivered and manages automated processes in frontline and administrative service across the HSE. In all cases, the robots we have deployed have taken on time consuming tasks, releasing staff in the respective areas to focus on more productive and meaningful work.

The CoE is seeking to build a pipeline of potential RPA opportunities across the public health sector. If you are aware of a process that could benefit from automation, please review against the checklist below.

Once you have reviewed the checklist, please contact the team on AIandAutomationCoE@hse.ie for next steps on how to submit this idea to the CoE. 

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Contact us:

For information on any of the above, please get in touch with the AI and Automation CoE AIandAutomationCoE@hse.ie.