Cloud

Computing and
Robotics
Process
Automation

Digital Technology for Business

BUS 2401
Ajarn Haha
 Define Cloud Computing and
Robotics Process Automation

Explain the basic components and

elements of the two technologies
Learning
Outcomes Understand the basic features of the
technologies

Identify the major players of these

capabilities
Cloud Computing

• A pool of compute
infrastructure that is
abstracted, highly
scalable, managed,
capable of hosting end
customer applications
and billed by
consumption (adapted
from Staten, 2008).
Compute
Infrastructure

Access to storage space,

processing, operating
systems, mezzanine
structures, and final end-
user
Abstracted

• ‘Physically not with me’

• Some or all of the above
computing infrastructure elements
run off-site in a datacenter
• Accessed over a network and
usually viewed through a web
browser.
Scalable

Ability of providers to
give you as much or little
of the required
computer resources for
‘rent’
Managed
Dedicated professional
service providers
managing the
infrastructure
End
customer
applications
Billed by
consumption
Deployment models
of Cloud

Public

Private

Hybrid

Community
Public

• well-known public provision of

massified and massive
datacenter services
• subscribed to by anyone
through an automated website
sign-up
• whole computing infrastructure
is located at the cloud
computing company
Private

• organization to build and manage

its own datacenter.
• the organization to hire a cloud
company to build and install wholly
private, dedicated infrastructure.
Data centers are accessible to the
client and managed by
professionals for a fee.
• apportion of servers for the client
within the datacenter
 1 2
Hybrid Private options for
important and
Public options for
cost efficiency
sensitive data (e.g., Microsoft
(e.g., financial and Office)
customer records)
 a group of organizations
banding together to fund
and share datacenter
resources
Community
cost sharing, better
security and privacy than
public cloud.
 Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS)

Platform as a Service (PAAS)

Layers of
Service
Function as a Service (FAAS)

Software as a Service (SAAS)

Infrastructure as a
Service (IAAS)

• physical computing hardware from

the provider, such as storage or
processing capabilities
• software installations and licenses,
such as operating systems,
applications
Platform as a
Service (PAAS)
• cloud provider also provides intermediate
software layers, such as operating
systems, database, and storage
structures
• client would be responsible for sourcing
and installing end user applications.
Function as a
Service (FAAS)
• Offer developers the ability to run certain
on-demand application functions without
this service being connected to the
underlying hardware as an explicit part of
the service
Software as a
Service (SAAS)
• involves the provision of complete end user
software
• entails the provider managing all levels of the
technology stack
• records and files with which any application
works can be more safely backed up and
secured in the cloud
Other Digital 4IR
Technologies in the
cloud

• Access to AI algorithms
(text analysis, picture
analysis, speech
recognition and etc.)
• Blockchain management
• IOT management
• Big data analysis
Features of Good Cloud
Provision
• On-demand Self-service
• Broad Network Access
• Resource Pooling
• Metered Self-service
• Rapid & Auto Elasticity
• High performance computing
On-demand
Self-service
Easy-to-use self-
service web portals
Broad Network
Access

• Data, files, apps, and features are

no longer ‘trapped’ on one device
but accessible from any capable
device
• Frees from device-based
computing
Resource
Pooling

Well designed cloud computing

contributes heavily to cost
reduction(demonetization)
Metered Self-
service
• Well designed cloud computing contributes
heavily to cost reduction (demonetization)
• per unit of storage (e.g., GBs stored), per unit of
processing (e.g., GB per hour), per feature called
(e.g., per picture analyzed using an API call), per
unit of time (e.g., per minute that a service is
used), and per user (therefore, a standard
subscription model)
• Bulk rate
Rapid & Auto
Elasticity
• Elasticity refers to the ability of a
cloud provider to change the
provision granted to a customer.
• Auto-elasticity refers to built-in
algorithms that automatically monitor
customer needs and provision
accordingly.
High Performance
Computing
• computing models that deliver far greater power
and speed of calculation than usual computers
can achieve
• one model for achieving high-performance
computing is through many networked computers
that are programmed to act together on a
problem
• can also be configured to process through
computer memory
 Benefits of Cloud Computing

Reduced Cost
Limited Capital Investment
Increased Storage
Mobility
Scalability
Flexibility (Multi-cloud model i.e, companies can avail cloud services from different providers)
Collaboration
Reduced Time to Market
Simulation of Innovation
Security
Disaster Recovery and Prevention
Potential Issues in
Cloud Computing
• Security – shared infrastructure is also prone
to cloud hackers
• Network Dependency – network downtime
also occurs; providers allow offline
processes and to be synced later on
• Vendor Lock-in – migrations are difficult,
costly, and disruptive
• Limited Control
Largest Cloud
Computing
Players
Worldwide
Popular
Chinese
Cloud
computing
companies
Robotics Process
Automation

• is a software tool that mimics and replicates human actions

in software space to automatically fulfil a process or part of
a process, with the ability to work with and between multiple
programs and the ability to either include human intervention
or be completely automated.
Features of Robotics
Process Automation
• Mimic & Repeat Human Actions in Cyberspace
• Traverse between Applications
• Can contain Digital Identity and Credentials
• Can be digitally triggered
• Time-based (per day or set hours)
• Event-based (new file saved to a folder, new record added in database, online form filled in
and submitted, email received)
• Can run autonomously or seek Human Input
• Can take different paths depending on defined conditions
Potential Benefits of RPA

Better Reduction in
Enhanced
Productivity Accuracy customer repetitive
processes
experience work

Enhanced Record
Cost Non-invasive
Rapid ROI Ability to Insights and
Reduction technology
Manage Analytics

Improved Scalability User

compliance and flexibility friendliness
Use Cases of RPA

High Volume, High Repetition Processes

High Value Processes
High Stakes Processes
Vendor, customer & employee onboarding
Report aggregation
Payroll processing
Order processing
Competitive pricing and monitoring
CRM updates
User Setup and Configuration
Shipment scheduling and tracking
Limitations of RPA

Can’t handle complex and non-linear problems

Error creep and detection (process failing due to sensitive to interface changes)

Hidden costs of RPA (training of professionals)

Management challenges (resistance to automation due to potential job loss)

Extra governance issues for the bots

 • Trend towards
more attended
automation
• Greater BPM
integration
• Greater AI
integration (for
RPA Trends
learning and
analysis)
• RPA-based
Business Models
• RPA in the Cloud
(RPA-aas)
Major
players of
RPA
RPA Teams and Functions

RPA Sponsor: Initiates the idea of automation, underwrites resources and protects
progress into business adoption

RPA Project Manager: Forms the RPA Team to build the setup and deliver the program
across business units. Manages the RPA team and the business stakeholders to achieve
the expected automation results.

RPA Infrastructure Engineer: Handles server installations and troubleshooting

RPA Solution Architect: Defines the architecture of the RPA solutions and is a guardian of
the overall performance of the agreed solution.
RPA Teams and Functions

RPA Developer: Designs, develops and tests the automation artifacts

RPA Change Manager: Creates a change and communicates a plan, which is aligned to
the project deliverables, in order to ease RPA adoption within the company.

RPA Business Analyst: Creates the process definitions and process maps used for
automation.

RPA Supervisor: Administers, orchestrates and controls the virtual workforce in the
operational environment.

RPA Service Support: First-line support for the RPA solution installed.