As organizations navigate the next wave of digital transformation, the convergence of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) with Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping what’s possible in enterprise operations. At Microsoft Build 2025, the introduction of agents — autonomous, goal-driven AI entities — marks a pivotal moment in this evolution. What began as a solution to eliminate repetitive, rule-based tasks is now evolving into something far more transformative.
This evolution isn’t just about doing things faster; it’s about enabling smarter, adaptive processes that scale across business units. With RPA well-established in many enterprises, the integration of AI technologies like machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), and computer vision is unlocking new frontiers in automation.
In this blog, we will capture some insights that were shared at a webinar hosted by Fortude recently. The webinar explored the importance of RPA and showcased real-world scenarios to highlight its success. It also outlined the benefits of automation technologies and shared practical tips on how businesses can kickstart their RPA journey with Fortude’s automation services.
RPA + AI: The synergy behind Intelligent Automation
What is RPA or process automation?
Robotic Process Automation is a technology that automates highly repetitive or rule-based work normally done by people. This covers invoice processing, customer inquiries, report generation as well as other tasks that can be manual and time-consuming. RPA relies on computer software robots, also known as ‘bots’, to perform human-like operations at an extremely high speed with very few errors. According to Gartner, the top advantages of using RPA tools are increased employee productivity, reduced costs, improved business continuity, and decreased IT resource requirements.
Why add AI?
AI augments RPA by introducing cognitive capabilities. Instead of following strict rules, bots can now “think”—interpreting context, learning from data, and adapting to new scenarios. Technology is utilized to ‘add smartness’ like decision-making, learning, and understanding capabilities to make processes more efficient. This combination transforms automation from a back-office utility to a core enabler of business intelligence and scale.
According to a survey conducted by Gartner, organizations are evolving their use of Artificial Intelligence as part of their automation strategies with 80% of executives thinking automation can be applied to any business decision. The combination of RPA with AI, such as Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing, has created a new buzzword – ‘Intelligent Automation’.
How RPA and AI work together
Here’s how key AI technologies enrich traditional RPA:
- Machine Learning (ML): Learning from data, it helps bots identify patterns, predict outcomes, and continuously improve processes over time — ideal for dynamic decision-making.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP): Enables bots to understand human language input from emails, chat conversations, or documents, and generate human language, enabling more natural and intuitive interactions.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): Allows bots to process unstructured data and make adaptive decisions through pre-trained models or ML algorithms.
- Optical Character Recognition (OCR): Digitizes printed or handwritten content, allowing automation to access and process data that would otherwise require human intervention.
Real-world applications of RPA + AI
Here are some key areas where the combined power of RPA and AI is making a real difference:
- AI-powered document processing
Manual document handling is time-consuming and error-prone. By integrating OCR and AI models, companies can automate the extraction and interpretation of data from unstructured documents such as invoices, purchase orders, contracts, and more. Because AI takes on the manual entry load, this process becomes possible.
Fortude supported an Australian supermarket chain that handled claims from 34 outlets, each submitting documents in different formats. With built-in AI capabilities, the solution intelligently processed even unfamiliar documents by mimicking human decision-making.
- Conversational AI and chatbots
Customer service and internal helpdesks can be revolutionized with NLP-driven bots that understand and respond to human queries. These bots can process requests, escalate issues, or trigger workflows autonomously. Conversational AI also helps enhance user satisfaction by offering 24/7 support and consistent responses.
At Fortude, we’ve developed our own AI-powered companion called Charlie — a smart chatbot designed to simplify your day-to-day operations. Whether it’s responding to Infor M3-related queries, assisting with customer support, enhancing sales efficiency, or enabling HR self-service, Charlie filters through multiple knowledge bases to deliver accurate, enterprise-specific answers.
- Computer vision for UI automation
Computer vision enables bots to interpret visual cues on screen (like buttons or icons), making UI automation more resilient — especially in dynamic environments where traditional selectors may fail. This is especially useful in legacy system interfaces that don’t offer APIs but are crucial to daily operations.
- AI-driven decision making
By integrating ML models, RPA can power decision making — for example, assessing loan eligibility, prioritizing support tickets, or recommending actions in real-time. The bots can execute and adapt decision logic as models evolve, reducing manual intervention and accelerating decision-making.
- Intelligent email processing
Using NLP and ML, bots can scan, categorize, and extract key data — handling everything from HR requests to customer support with minimal human involvement. This significantly reduces turnaround time and enables quicker resolution of business-critical tasks.
Deep dive into success stories
During the webinar, two compelling real-world examples were shared to illustrate the tangible benefits of Intelligent Automation:
- Warehouse automation
Business challenge: A client needed to copy/replicate around 30,000 styles from an existing warehouse to a new warehouse in Infor M3.
Solution: Fortude implemented the Power Automate-based RPA solution to streamline the process of replicating item styles in Infor M3, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing manual errors.
Outcomes:
• 272 man-hours saved per month
• 100% accuracy
• Streamlined daily operations and improved process scalability by allowing bulk processing of item styles across multiple warehouses.
- Seamless data sync
Business challenge: A leading Australian food & beverage manufacturer required the estimated vessel departure dates (ETD) to be updated and the changes identified in Infor M3 while validating the customer order number and identifying any exceptions.
Solution: Using an UiPath-based RPA solution, Fortude was able to increase the efficiency and accuracy of the process of updating the ETD in Infor M3.
Outcomes:
• 60 man-hours saved per month
• 100% accuracy
• Eliminated daily processing hassle
These examples underscore Fortude’s ability to deliver end-to-end automation tailored to unique industry challenges.
Key benefits of integrating RPA and AI
By bringing intelligence into automation, organizations unlock benefits that go beyond cost savings:
- End-to-end automation: Process both structured and unstructured data for complete workflow automation. This reduces labor costs.
- Reduced manual effort and human errors: Frees up employees from repetitive tasks to focus on strategic work. It also minimizes rework caused by human errors.
- Better scalability and resilience: Intelligent bots adapt to changes in systems or data structures more efficiently.
- Improved decision making: Use real-time insights and predictive analytics to guide actions.
- Enhanced user experience: Natural and responsive interfaces powered by conversational AI.
How to begin your RPA + AI journey
Transitioning from RPA to Intelligent Automation doesn’t happen overnight. Fortude recommends the following steps:
- Automation eligibility process: If the data is in digital format, error-prone, rule-based, high volume/frequency and mature/stable it will fulfill the criteria to become an RPA candidate.
- Candidate area identification: Before getting started, it’s important to identify the right process areas for automation. Whether it’s inventory reconciliation or procurement, Fortude helps pinpoint the specific functions where RPA and AI can be effectively applied.
- ROI calculation: It is important to know if you are getting a return on investment. Fortude is able to do the ROI calculation and provide clients with the breakdown of predictions.
- RPA roadmap: Mapping the order of the implementation process and future growth capabilities or strategies, and the digital transformation journey is important. Prioritizing activities and developing a delivery plan.
- Selection of tech stack: The tech stack that is used is very important. Fortude can give recommendations based on the need, whether it is UiPath or Power Automate.
- Leverage AI tools like Charlie: Fortude’s AI-powered companion, Charlie, simplifies decision-making, drives intelligent process execution, and suggests process improvements— all in real time.
Ready for your next move?
The future of automation lies not in doing more of the same tasks faster — but in doing smarter tasks altogether. By merging the precision of RPA with the adaptability of AI, businesses can transition from task automation to cognitive process transformation.
Whether it’s intelligent document processing or predictive decision-making, the time to invest in this next-gen automation is now. Companies that embrace RPA + AI today will be those defining tomorrow’s digital enterprise.
Ready to scale your automation efforts?
Explore Fortude’s Automation Services or speak to our Intelligent Automation specialists to get started.
