Automation in business research: systematic literature review

Abstract

Automation has profoundly transformed the operational landscape of companies across various industries. As organizations strive to adapt to this rapidly evolving technology, it becomes crucial for practitioners worldwide to identify the most suitable automation tools and solutions for their unique business needs. A systematic literature review serves as a valuable tool to gain a deeper understanding of the historical context of automation and to explore previous findings in this field. This study aims to provide an extensive literary overview of the history of automation spanning the years from 1966 to 2021. In this research, a combination of bibliometric, conceptual, and theoretical network analysis methodologies are employed, with the aid of VOSviewer software, to analyze and visualize the patterns within the existing body of automation literature. By utilizing bibliometric analysis, this study will map the key scholarly contributions and identify the main research themes and concepts. The findings of this systematic literature review will provide insights into the historical progression of automation research and its interdisciplinary nature, highlighting the significant milestones, emerging trends, and knowledge gaps in the field. Building upon these findings, the study will propose a research agenda to advance the scholarly debate on automation.