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Boost Efficiency: Essential Books on Business Process Automation

Discover top books on business and robotic process automation. Enhance your knowledge with the best resources on automation and RPA.
What is Business Process Automation? Why is it Important? 

Business Process Automation describes a situation where a business process is executed without human intervention.  

Simply put, it occurs when you take a task and implement software to have it executed behind the scenes, on a schedule,  or in other words, automatically. 

A young woman reading books on business process automation on a laptop at a desk with a bookshelf, plants, and office supplies in the background.



Streamline Your Workflow: Top Books on Business Process Automation

Discover the best books on business and robotic process automation to streamline operations and boost efficiency. Explore top automation books for valuable insights.

1. Robotic Process Automation Projects 

Robotic Process Automation Projects:




Robotic Process Automation Projects: Build real-world RPA solutions using UiPath and Automation Anywhere by Nandan Mullakara 

Best books on robotic process automation help businesses automate monotonous tasks that can be performed by machines.

This project-based guide will help you progress through easy to more advanced RPA projects. You'll learn the principles of RPA and how to architect solutions to meet the demands of business automation, along with exploring the most popular RPA tools - UiPath and Automation Anywhere. 

In the first part, you'll learn how to use UiPath by building a simple helpdesk ticket system. You'll then automate CRM systems by integrating Excel data with UiPath. After this, the robotic process automation books will guide you through building an AI-based social media moderator using Google Cloud Vision API. 

In the second part, you'll learn about Automation Anywhere's latest Cloud RPA platform (A2019) by creating projects such as an automated ERP administration system, an AI bot for order and invoice processing, and an automated emergency notification system for employees. 

Later, you'll get hands-on with advanced RPA tasks such as invoking APIs, before covering complex concepts such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning in automation to take your understanding of RPA to the next level.

By the end of the book, you'll have a solid foundation in RPA with experience in building real-world projects.

What you will learn
  • Explore RPA principles, techniques, and tools using an example-driven approach
  • Understand the basics of UiPath by building a helpdesk ticket generation system
  • Automate read and write operations from Excel in a CRM system using UiPath
  • Build an AI-based social media moderator platform using Google Cloud Vision API with UiPath
  • Explore how to use Automation Anywhere by building a simple sales order processing system
  • Build an automated employee emergency reporting system using Automation Anywhere
  • Test your knowledge of building an automated workflow through fun exercises
  • Who this book is for
This RPA book is for enterprise application developers, software developers, business analysts, or any professional who wants to implement RPA across various domains of the business. 

The robotic process automation books assume some understanding of enterprise systems. Computer programming experience will also be beneficial.
 

2. Fieldbus and Networking in Process Automation


Fieldbus and Networking in Process Automation by Sunit Kumar Sen



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Fieldbus and Networking in Process Automation by Sunit Kumar Sen

Over the last two decades, Fieldbus has totally revolutionized the way communication takes place in the fields of process control, automation, and manufacturing industries. The recent introduction of real-time field buses has opened up its application in multi-axis motor control and other time-critical applications. 

Fieldbus is designed to ensure easy interoperability, smarter network designs, increased data availability, and lessened stress on the design aspects of safety protocols.

This second edition of Fieldbus and Networking in Process Automation discusses the different facets of Fieldbus technology including design, wiring, installation, and commissioning as well as safety aspects in hostile application areas.

The book:
  • Explains basic communication principles and networking―a must for understanding field buses
  • Considers the advantages and shortcomings of individual field buses
  • Provides a broad spectrum of different field buses used in both process control and manufacturing industries in a precise and to-the-point manner
  • Introduces Common Industrial Protocol (CIP), EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, SERCOS III, Powerlink, and Profinet IRT, which are most sought after in control and automation fields
  • Discusses hard real-time communication in a succinct manner―so essential in today’s multi-axis motor control systems
  • Updates and streamlines the extra details from the original book to make it more concise and reader-friendly
Sunit Kumar Sen, a member of IET, holds advanced degrees from St Xavier’s College and the University of Calcutta, both in Kolkata, India. 

He was an ex-professor in the Instrumentation Engineering section of the Department of Applied Physics, University of Calcutta, and taught courses in digital electronics, communication, industrial instrumentation, microprocessors, electrical networks, and field buses. 

He was the head of the Department of Applied Physics and University Science Instrumentation Center from 2008 to 2010 at the University of Calcutta. Previously, he was assistant manager, of instrumentation (open.) at the Bokaro Steel Plant, Jharkhand, India, under the Steel Authority of India (SAIL). 

He has already written four books in the areas of instrumentation, microprocessors, and industrial automation technologies. He has been published in approximately 70 national and international journals and conferences.


3. The Robotic Process Automation Handbook 


The Robotic Process Automation Handbook: A Guide to Implementing RPA Systems by Tom Taulli



The Robotic Process Automation Handbook: A Guide to Implementing RPA Systems by Tom Taulli 

While Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has been around for about 20 years, it has hit an inflection point because of the convergence of cloud computing, big data, and AI. 

This book shows you how to leverage RPA effectively in your company to automate repetitive and rule-based processes, such as scheduling, inputting/transferring data, cutting and pasting, filling out forms, and searching. 

Using practical aspects of implementing the technology (based on case studies and industry best practices), you’ll see how companies have been able to realize substantial ROI (Return On Investment) with their implementations, such as by lessening the need for hiring or outsourcing. 

By understanding the core concepts of RPA, you’ll also see that the technology significantly increases compliance – leading to fewer issues with regulations – and minimizes costly errors. 

RPA software revenues have recently soared by over 60 percent, which is the fastest ramp in the tech industry, and they are expected to exceed $1 billion by the end of 2019. It is generally seamless with legacy IT environments, making it easier for companies to pursue a strategy of digital transformation, and can even be a gateway to AI. 

The Robotic Process Automation Handbook puts everything you need to know into one place to be a part of this wave.

What You'll Learn
  • Develop the right strategy and plan
  • Deal with resistance and fears from employees
  • Take an in-depth look at the leading RPA systems, including where they are most effective, the risks, and the costs
  • Evaluate an RPA system
Who This Book Is For 
  • IT specialists and managers at mid-to-large companies


4. The Practitioner's Guide to RPA


The Practitioner's Guide to RPA: A Practical Guide for Deploying Robotics Process Automation by Jonathan Sireci



The Practitioner's Guide to RPA: A Practical Guide for Deploying Robotics Process Automation by Jonathan Sireci 

Robotics Process Automation (RPA) is one of the most sought-after and yet misunderstood process automation tools on the market today. Often sold by vendors as an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool, the truth about what RPA actually is, how it works, and how to deploy it is perceived to be insider knowledge requiring the assistance of costly consulting engagements. 

This concise book presents the reality of RPA from the perspective of a seasoned business practitioner. You will learn about what RPA is, why it is not AI, RPA's architecture, how to identify valuable RPA use cases, the vendor landscape, common billing models, how to select a vendor, and how to build an RPA team, and ethical considerations for your workforce.


5. Collaborative Process Automation Systems


Collaborative Process Automation Systems by Martin Hollender



Collaborative Process Automation Systems by Martin Hollender 

Providing a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art Collaborative Process Automation Systems (CPAS), this book discusses topics such as engineering, security, enterprise connectivity, advanced process control, plant asset management, and operator efficiency. 

Collaborating with other industry experts, the author covers the system architecture and infrastructure required for CPAs, as well as important standards like OPC and the ISA-95 series of standards. This in-depth reference focuses on the differences between CPAs and traditional automation systems. 

Implications of modern automation systems are outlined in theory and practice. This book is ideal for industrial engineers, as well as graduate students in control and automation.


6. The Future of Intelligent Automation


The Future of Intelligent Automation



The Future of Intelligent Automation: The Future of Applying Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Cognitive Automation, and Other Emerging Technologies to Robotic Process Automation by Elijah Falode

Since the 1800s, automation has been assisting humans in taking up roles in different industries like finance, travel, healthcare, education, and different sectors of life. This invention has developed into what we now see as intelligent automation because of its major capacity to learn and adapt to novel situations through a process called deep learning. 

Today, intelligent automation is performing amazing roles and making life much easier for us. Intelligent automation is deployed for tasks such as customer care, fraud identification, teaching, and facial recognition. Because it's making so much impact in today's world, we're tempted to seek the future of automation. 

The future of automation is roped with the certainty of robotic software, not just being automated but intelligent. The future will have humans engaged in major roles such as programming, creativity, and supervision because automation has become highly intelligent enough to finish up simple and complex tasks. Welcome to the Intelligent Automation Adventure!


7. Overview of Industrial Process Automation


Overview of Industrial Process Automation by K.L.S. Sharma



Overview of Industrial Process Automation by K.L.S. Sharma

Man-made or industrial processes, localized or geographically distributed, need to be automated to ensure they produce quality, consistent, and cost-effective goods or services. Automation systems for these processes broadly consist of instrumentation, control, human interface, and communication subsystems. 

This book introduces the basics of philosophy, technology, terminology, and practices of modern automation systems with simple illustrations and examples. This title provides an introduction to automation. It explains the concepts through simple illustrations and examples. It describes how to understand technical documents.


8. Business Process Reengineering 


Business Process Reengineering: Automation Decision Points in Process Reengineering by Sanjay Mohapatra



Business Process Reengineering: Automation Decision Points in Process Reengineering by Sanjay Mohapatra

Business process reengineering (BPR) focuses on redesigning the strategic and value-added processes that transcend organizational boundaries. It is a cross-functional approach that requires support from almost all the departments of the organization. 

Business Process Reengineering: Automation Decision Points in Process Reengineering offers a new framework-based process reengineering and links it to the organization's life cycle, process life cycle, and process management. 

This volume describes the fundamental concepts behind business process reengineering and examines them through case studies, and should appeal to researchers and academics interested in business process reengineering, operations strategy, and organizational restructuring and design.


9. Robotic Process Automation


Robotic Process Automation: Guide To Building Software Robots, Automate Repetitive Tasks & Become An RPA Consultant by Richard Murdoch




Robotic Process Automation: Guide To Building Software Robots, Automate Repetitive Tasks & Become An RPA Consultant by Richard Murdoch 

Robotics and cognitive technology are changing the world around you

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is an exciting field that is revolutionizing the way tasks are done. Algorithms are taking over the jobs done by individuals in various markets. RPA is perfect for eliminating redundant, repetitive tasks that are holding you back from working on things that really require your attention. 

We are on the cusp of a revolution that is going to eliminate a lot of jobs. Rather than wait for your own job to get automated or redundant, we recommend joining the automation revolution and obtaining the skills that will enable further automation. 

Rise of the Robots This is the perfect book for you if you are looking to become an automation consultant – a field that is poised to grow dramatically in the next few years with mass unemployment becoming an increasingly probable reality. Getting into automation by specializing in RPA is an option for people who are programmers as well as non-programmers due to their intuitive design & no-code developer environments. 

This fascinating book features quick-start advice on how to get going with this powerful technology. We will be looking at deployment strategies, platform selection guidance, RPA project management, programming techniques, and automation scenarios across a variety of different applications like Windows, Microsoft Excel, Databases, SAP, etc. 

Richard provides an overview of multiple, highly rated RPA platforms including Blue Prism, UiPath, Automation Anywhere, Softomotive Winautomation, etc. He also looks at the future of automation and how cognitive technologies, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence are expected to dramatically enhance the speed and efficiency of business in the machine age. RPA is being successfully applied to e-commerce, back-office processes, banks, financial service companies, Business Process Outsourcing, etc. 

Contents include:
  • The evolution of automation technology
  • How RPA is transforming enterprises
  • Overview of RPA Platforms
  • Robot Security
  • RPA Use Cases
This a must-read for entrepreneurs looking to cut costs at their startup, programmers who want to stay relevant in a fast-changing world of automation, students, or anyone looking to transform their careers, lives, and the world around them.


10. Becoming Strategic with Robotic Process Automation


Becoming Strategic with Robotic Process Automation by Leslie P. Willcocks, John Hindle, Mary C. Lacity



Becoming Strategic with Robotic Process Automation by Leslie P. Willcocks, John Hindle, Mary C. Lacity

Robotic Process Automation will continue its exponential growth over the next five years. With more than 54 vendors, different kinds of tools, generic applicability, and a cognitive and AI platform, RPA has quickly become an opportunity that is too good to miss. 

So, how do you leverage the massive potential business value? Based on four years of research into over 420 business deployments, this book identifies the distinctive leading practices of front-runners, and a Total Value of Ownership (TVO) framework to drive out value across the RPA life cycle. 

This book brings a new focus on RPA's strategic potential: 

the innovations made possible and how to deliver through effective sourcing stakeholder-buy-in, governance, change management, and capability development practices. RPA as a platform, linking with cognitive and AI technologies as part of digital transformation is highlighted. 

The central messages - think and behave strategically, start right, institutionalize fast, and innovate continuously - are demonstrated, with multiple client experiences, trials, and lessons. 

From dealing with old-world processes and IT challenges, RPA is now being applied towards building the new digital world and becoming strategic in its application. 
  • Based on extensive new research by world-renowned authors 
  • Comprehensive market overview 
  • A systematic set of action principles across the RPA life-cycle 
  • Challenges, and where value is being left on the table 
  • A focus on metrics and Total Value of Ownership 
  • Multiple client case studies 
  • RPA as a foundation for cognitive and AI.


11. INTELLIGENT AUTOMATION 


INTELLIGENT AUTOMATION: Learn how to harness Artificial Intelligence to boost business & make our world more human by Pascal Bornet, Ian Barkin, Jochen Wirtz



INTELLIGENT AUTOMATION: Learn how to harness Artificial Intelligence to boost business & make our world more human by Pascal Bornet, Ian Barkin, and Jochen Wirtz.

This is the first reference book on Intelligent Automation (IA). Also called Hyperautomation, it is one of the most recent trends in the field of artificial intelligence. IA is a cutting-edge combination of methods and technologies, involving people, organizations, machine learning, low-code platforms, robotic process automation (RPA), and more.

This book is for everyone – whether you are an experienced practitioner, new to the topic, or simply interested in what the future holds for enterprises, work, life, and society as a whole.

Key content of the book:
  • What is Intelligent Automation (IA)? Why has the use of IA been expanding so rapidly? What are the benefits it unleashes for employees, companies, customers, and society?
  • How have leading organizations been able to harness the full potential of IA, at scale, and generate massive efficiency gains in the range of 20 to 60%?
  • How can IA save 10+ million lives per year, triple our global budget for education, eliminate hunger, help protect our planet, or increase the resilience of society to pandemics and crises?
What you will get from this book:
  • Get the lessons learned from 100+ IA transformation successes (and failures)
  • Benefit from the largest publicly available library of 500+ IA use cases by industry and by business function
  • Gain access to insights garnered from 200+ IA industry experts
Read more about this book: www.intelligentautomationbook.com.


12. SAP: Workflow Business Process Automation 


SAP: Workflow Business Process Automation by Sudipta Malakar



SAP: Workflow Business Process Automation by Sudipta Malakar

The book has been written in such a way that the concepts are explained in detail, giving adequate emphasis on examples. To clarify the programming examples, logic is explained properly as well as discussed using comments in the program itself. 

The book covers the topics right from the start of the software using snapshots of starting the software and writing programs into it. The real-time examples are discussed in detail from simple to complex taking into consideration the requirements of IT consultants. 

Various sample projects are included in the Book and are written in simple language so as to give IT consultants the basic idea of developing projects in SAP. The examples given in the book are user-focused and have been highly updated including topics, figures, and examples.

The book features a more practical approach with more examples covering topics from simple to complex addressing many of the core concepts and advanced topics also.

What Will You Learn
  • SAP NetWeaver Gateway
  • Realtime Case Studies and demos on workflow for all the major SAP applications
  • Step-by-step instructions for adapting data flows, agent determination, event definitions, and more
  • SAP Workflow upgrade from 4.6 to 6.0
Who This Book Is For

SAP Consultants, SAP technical, Business analysts, Architects, Team Leads, Project Leads, Project Managers, Account Managers, Account Executives, CEO, CTO, COO, CIO, Sr. VP, and Directors.


13. Reinventing Jobs 


Reinventing Jobs: A 4-Step Approach for Applying Automation to Work by Ravin Jesuthasan, John W. Boudreau



Reinventing Jobs: A 4-Step Approach for Applying Automation to Work by Ravin Jesuthasan, John W. Boudreau

Your organization has made the decision to adopt automation and artificial intelligence technologies. Now, you face difficult and stubborn questions about how to implement that decision: How, when, and where should we apply automation in our organization? Is it a stark choice between humans versus machines? How do we stay on top of these technological trends as work and automation continue to evolve?

Work and human capital experts Ravin Jesuthasan and John Boudreau present leaders with a new set of tools to answer these daunting questions. Transcending the endless debate about humans being replaced by machines, Jesuthasan and Boudreau show how smart leaders instead are optimizing human-automation combinations that are not only more efficient but also generate higher returns on improved performance.

Based on groundbreaking primary research, Reinventing Jobs provides an original, structured approach of four distinct steps--deconstruct, optimize, automate, and reconfigure--to help leaders reinvent how work gets bundled into jobs and create optimal human-machine combinations. Jesuthasan and Boudreau show leaders how to continuously reexamine what a job really is, and they provide the tools for identifying the pivotal performance value of tasks within jobs and how these tasks should be reconstructed into new, more optimal combinations.

With numerous examples and practical advice for applying the four-step process, Reinventing Jobs gives leaders a more precise, planful, and actionable way to decide how, when, and where to apply and optimize work automation.


14. Fundamentals of Business Process Management 


Fundamentals of Business Process Management by Marlon Dumas, Marcello La Rosa, Jan Mendling, Hajo A. Reijers



Fundamentals of Business Process Management by Marlon Dumas, Marcello La Rosa, Jan Mendling, Hajo A. Reijers

This textbook covers the entire Business Process Management (BPM) lifecycle, from process identification to process monitoring, covering along the way process modeling, analysis, redesign, and automation. Concepts, methods, and tools from business management, computer science, and industrial engineering are blended into one comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach. 

The presentation is illustrated using the BPMN industry standard defined by the Object Management Group and widely endorsed by practitioners and vendors worldwide.

In addition to explaining the relevant conceptual background, the book provides dozens of examples, more than 230 exercises – many with solutions – and numerous suggestions for further reading. This second edition includes extended and completely revised chapters on process identification, process discovery, qualitative process analysis, process redesign, process automation, and process monitoring. 

A new chapter on BPM as an enterprise capability has been added, which expands the scope of the book to encompass topics such as the strategic alignment and governance of BPM initiatives.

The textbook is the result of many years of combined teaching experience of the authors, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels as well as in the context of professional training. 

Students and professionals from both business management and computer science will benefit from the step-by-step style of the textbook and its focus on fundamental concepts and proven methods. Lecturers will appreciate the class-tested format and the additional teaching material available on the accompanying website.


15. Workflow Automation with Microsoft Power Automate 


Workflow Automation with Microsoft Power Automate: Achieve digital transformation through business automation with minimal coding by Aaron Guilmette



Workflow Automation with Microsoft Power Automate: Achieve digital transformation through business automation with minimal coding by Aaron Guilmette

Microsoft Power Automate (formerly Flow) is a workflow automation tool built into Microsoft 365 to help businesses and users automate repetitive tasks or trigger business processes without user intervention.

If you are new to Microsoft Power Automate, this book will give you a comprehensive introduction to help you get up to speed with automating business processes in no time. Complete with hands-on tutorials, projects, and self-assessment questions, this easy-to-follow guide will show you how to configure automation workflows for business processes between hundreds of Microsoft and third-party applications. 

Once you understand how to use connectors, triggers, and actions to automate business processes, you'll get to grips with managing user inputs, documents, approvals, and database storage using efficient flow controls. This Power Automate book explains key concepts and takes you through creating your own flows step by step.

By the end of the book, you'll have learned how to use Microsoft Power Automate to replace repetitive tasks with business workflow automation technology.

What you will learn
  • Get to grips with the building blocks of Power Automate, its services, and core capabilities
  • Explore connectors in Power Automate to automate email workflows
  • Discover how to create a flow for copying files between two cloud services
  • Understand the business process, connectors, and actions for creating approval flows
  • Use flows to save responses submitted to a database through Microsoft Forms
  • Find out how to integrate Power Automate with Microsoft Teams
Who this book is for

The book is for technologists, system administrators, and Power users with little or no Microsoft Power Automate experience. Familiarity with basic Microsoft 365 services is expected.

Conclusion

When we talk about the benefits that business automation has to offer we usually mention higher productivity, less human error, and reduced operating costs. If implemented properly, these factors add up to a good return on investment, better customer service, and happier employees. 


The real question here is how to get the most out of automation for your everyday processes. 

Here are a few quick tips

Don't try automating broken processes. After all, automation is just a tool in your hands so don't expect it to do the job for you. Use workflow mapping to organize work between teams and understand all the steps needed before applying an automation solution.  

Automating too much is a pothole. The human touch is still essential to the success of your business automation strategy. You can automate particular processes but it's still humans who are in charge of decision-making. Pick an automation solution that corresponds to your business model. Depending on your automation goals,   your software should embrace the specific features you need most.  

Businesses often find themselves stuck in a type of hostage situation where each part of their workflow is owned by a separate service vendor. That's why ensuring that your automation tool is capable of easy integration with other systems is essential.  

Choose a solution with all possible security measures applied to repel a potential cyber attack. Digital transformation makes business processes simpler and faster but also makes them more vulnerable to outside intervention. 

There are also a few common myths around business process automation that we wanted to cover today. 
  • Myth#1: automation decreases flexibility.  If you think about it, it's just a matter of finding the right approach. The core requirement here is that your automation solution should be able to scale with your business. Standard features should include things like a team workspace, document generation tools, contract negotiation tools, automated payment collection tools, and of course, analytics. 
  • Myth#2: automation is expensive. Again it all depends. First and foremost, avoid platforms that make you spend a fortune just to try. Key automation features should be available from the moment you create a new workspace, regardless of the subscription plan you've chosen. 
  • Myth#3: automation tools require a lot of technical knowledge to implement.  Well, this might have been true in the past. Luckily, today we have no-code business automation platforms that allow even the least tech-savvy users to get on board and start automating their repetitive tasks in a matter of minutes. 
Every business has room for improvement and yours is no exception. If you're still wondering how automation can make your business more efficient, we have all the answers you need. 
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