California Intelligent Automation COE

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Purpose and Objective

The California Intelligent Automation Center of Excellence (COE) enters on a California statewide discussion forum that enables collaboration and idea-sharing to improve customer service and back-office processes using Intelligent Automation. 

Our Community

We focus on the statewide discussion to transform customer service and streamline back-office processes using Intelligent Automation technologies like Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Machine Learning, Computer Vision, and Generative AI.  

Topics We Cover

  • Business case fit
  • ROI analysis
  • End-to-end implementation journey
  • Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed (RACI) for business and technical teams
  • Operational reporting and lifecycle management
  • Lessons learned and success stories

What You’ll Gain

  • Connect with Experts – Learn from departments already implementing automation.
  • Access Proven Resources – Blueprints, templates, and playbooks for success.
  • Discover Best Practices – From business case fit to lifecycle management
  • Shape the Future – Contribute your ideas and help define statewide standards

Get Involved

Intelligent Automation COE

Intelligent Automation - Use Case Pattern

Resources

An Intelligent Automation playbook serves as a comprehensive strategic and technical guide to help organizations initiate, manage, and scale their automation programs. The following components are included in detail in this playbook:

  • Intelligent Automation Fundamentals
  • Intelligent Automation Capability Areas
    • Program Technology
      • Technology Infrastructure
      • Security considerations
      • Credentials and access management
      • Privacy considerations
    • Program Management
      • Team Structure
      • Operating Model
      • Program Design
      • Use case selection and assessment
      • Use case Executive Team approvals
      • Operations Management
      • Workforce Planning
      • Executive Reporting / Business Value
  • Appendix
    • Referenced Materials
    • Collaborators

Download the complete playbook (PDF).

Standardized Automation Design Patterns

This is a list of design patterns that covers some of the use cases that are in production use within the California Intelligent Automation community. These patterns are standardized, recurring frameworks for applying Intelligent Automation and RPA to specific business problems, with the goal to identify the fundamental logic behind an automation – such as “data entry” or “reconciliation” – thus allowing teams across the state to replicate success across different agencies and departments.

Paper To DigitalDesigned to transform the legacy form driven intake to online by utilizing online workflow accelerators and online payment processors.
Backoffice ProcessingAutomating workload assignments, data entry and reviews some of the tasks in a long and complex process.
Integration BotsGeared towards “Swivel Chair” scenarios, moving information between modern and legacy systems.
Data Migration BotsOne time usage bots to perform ad hoc actions, usually performed around bulk data.
Intelligent Document ProcessingProcessing incoming paper based workload using Artificial Intelligence, turning scanned documents into actionable digital data.
Long Running WorkflowsSpecific event driven triggers to execute actions, pause of human or another automation input, then continue to process the workflow.
Extraction & Validation BotsPulling details from structured or semi-structured documents and verifying them against a database.
Data & Record Reconciliation BotsComparing records across multiple systems to find mismatches, and making appropriate corrections.

If you have a design pattern that may be of interest to this community, complete the form.

MeetingDateDetails
Intelligent Automation Community Discussion 10 – July 2024 (PDF)7/12/2024– Guest Speaker
    — Keith Briggs, Innovation Director & Chief Architect, Department of Information Technology North Carolina
– DMV Intelligent Automation CoE Updates
– Upcoming Deisgn Patterns
     — Identity Management & Contact Center Automation
– Tool Demonstrations
    — UiPath Automation Hub: Centrally capture, manage, collaborate and visualize automation ideas and process improvements, prioritized by impact and ROI
    — UiPath Insights: Automation monitoring, ROI tracking, reporting and bot scheduling optimization
Intelligent Automation Community Discussion 9 – October 2023 (PDF)10/20/2023– DMV Intelligent Automation CoE Updates
– New Intelligent Automation use cases at the DMV
    — Personalized License Plates
    — Automated Invoice Processing
    — Digital Imaging & Archiving
    — SB1388 Ignition Interlock Device Automation
Intelligent Automation Community Discussion 8 – April 2023 (PDF)4/21/2023– Guest Speaker
    — Christine Gex, NASA Shared Services Center IA Service Leader
– New Intelligent Automation use cases at the DMV
    — Disabled Person Placards
    — Lien Sales Under $4k
    — Personalized Licnese Plates
    — E-Recruitment
Intelligent Automation Community Discussion 7 – September 2022 (PDF)9/15/2022– Expanding the scope of the DMV COE to Intelligent Automation
– Center of Excellence Artifacts
– New Intelligent Automation use caes at the DMV
    — SCO Employee Action Request
    — Special Pay Processing
– Beyond process automation
      — Infrastructure automation using RPA (SAIC Use Cases)
Intelligent Automation Community Discussion 6 – November 2021 (PDF)11/19/2021– Guest Speakers
    — Ricardo Vilanova, EY Executive Director, Intelligent Automation, Americas
    —  Don Page, EY
    — Don Horan, Former Executive Deputy Director CIO for the State of New York
    — Molly Fitzgelard, UIPath
– New RPA use case pattern at the DMV
    — Long Running Workflows
Intelligent Automation Community Discussion 5 – April 2021 (PDF)4/9/2021– DMV RPA CoE Maturity
– Highlighted RPA use cases at the DMV
    — Motor Carrier Permit
    — Vehicle Salesperson Occupational License Renewal
    — Temporary Driver License 
    — Driver License Internet Renewal Expansion
    — Virtual Field Office bots
    — Contact Center bots
    — SR1 Accident Reporting
– RPA Processes at FI$Cal
– Next steps for RPA at the DMV
    — Managing bot productivity and ROI
    — Bot as a Waste Reduction Lever
    — Immersion Lab
Intelligent Automation Community Discussion 4 – December 2020 (PDF)12/16/2020– Business Case Planning Template
– Updates from community participants
    — OSHPD, FI$CAL, CDT, Energy
– New RPA use cases at the DMV
    — Digital Mailroom
    — Second Residency Verification
– Optimizing bot ecosystem at the DMV
Intelligent Automation Community Discussion 3 – August 2020 (PDF)8/28/2020– Updates from community participants
    — OSHPD, FI$CAL, CDT, Energy
– New RPA use cases at the DMV
    — Autonomous Vehicle Test Permits
   — Digital Mailroom blueprints
Intelligent Automation Community Discussion 2 – April 2020 (PDF)4/24/2020– Introductions and Recap
– New RPA use cases at the DMV
    — Payment bots
    —  Driver License Internet Renewal Expansion
    — Temporary Drivers License
Intelligent Automation Community Discussion 1 – December 2019 (PDF)12/20/2019– DMV’s Digital Transformation Initiatives
– DMV’s RPA CoE Setup, Procurement, Milestones
– Defining Use Cases consideration criteria
– Transforming a manual process with Automation
– RPA ROI Modeling Examples
– RPA Operating Model
    — Operations
    — Primary Actors
    — Responsibilites Matrix
– Piloting Intelligent Automation
– Paper to Web Transformation
Innovative Use of Data AnalyticsLA Fire Vehicle Data Sharing

The DMV Investigations Division partnered with the department’s Information Services Division to create a Fire Disaster Response web application that streamlined data sharing with fellow state response teams during the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton wildfires.

This state-of-the-art solution merged DMV vehicle registration records with CalFire’s damage data, which allowed for real-time inspections and seamless data sharing across responding agencies.

View all 2025 Awards and Recognitions

Pioneering Government TransformationThe DMV Human Resources Branch team was recognized for its work for bringing digital innovation to state operations.

The award reflects the collaboration and creativity of the DMV team to use bold technology modernization to reshape the future of work.
Best of California – Innovative Use of Data AnalyticsPersonalized Environment License Plates

The DMV incorporated a new digital review process that ensures personalized license plate configurations that are submitted comply with DMV rules, policies, standards, and checks for profanity. This state of the art solution approves or denies orders, recommends possible configurations to avoid potential denials, and uses a bot to assign license plates to the vehicle through automation.
 
This business solution doubled productivity, reduced overall team member review time by 60 percent and cut costs in half.
ELP Intelligent AutomationInnovative Use of Technology – Regional and Int’l Award

The DMV has implemented AI and ML technologies that determine if the requested configuration for a personalized plate is acceptable. This ensures consistency in the decision-making of personalized plates, reducing tedious manual research in a process that has caused inconsistencies and resulted in lawsuits.

The solution ensures configurations are not representing inappropriate language (in global languages), illegal activity, violence, or resemble an existing plate configuration used by the state for regular issued plates.
Disabled Person Parking Placard (DPPP) ModernizationCustomer Convenience Award – Regional Award

After a legislative mandate required Disabled Person Parking Placard (DPPP) holders to verify the information after six years, the DMV developed an online option that streamlined the process for more than two million customers. This modernization effort offered a wholly redesigned DPPP system for its customers and staff. The implementation involved significant user experience testing with development based on customer-centered design principles.
Best of California – Best Workforce InitiativeBest of California – Best Workforce Initiative
Automation Creates Efficiencies for the DMV Team

The DMV Human Resources Branch collaborated with multiple internal business partners to automate and modernize its processes, systems, and technology. As these internal automation and modernization efforts come online, Californians benefit through a more motivated workforce, more efficient operations, and better overall customer service.

These cutting-edge approaches play a critical role in workforce and management development and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.


View all 2024 Awards and Recognitions

Lien Sales AutomationAAMVA Fraud Prevention and Detection Regional Award

The DMV initiated a Lien Sales Automation (LSA) project in February 2022 to digitize information provide by lien claimants and automate the validation and verification of information provided.

The primary goals of the LSA effort are to improve processing, response times and provide data forensics to advance the department’s ability to detect and deter fraud linked to lien sale notices for vehicles valued at less than $4,000.

View all 2023 Awards and Recognitions

CAL ID Interagency Portal ProjectExcellence in Government Partnership

AAMV

The DMV converted a paper-driven process to an electronic method that significantly reduces the amount of time applicants have to wait for their ID cards, from 20 weeks to about 6 weeks. This is especially beneficial in providing IDs to inmates about to be released from prison, and to those folks experiencing homelessness.
SR-1 AutomationImprovement through Efficiences

AAMVA

The DMV developed an online portal for customers to submit their completed SR-1 forms. This provided convenience and efficiency for customers, and a reduced DMV staff time and digital archiving of reports
CAL ID Interagency PortalNorth America Finalist

Gartner Eye on Innovation

The DMV converted a paper-driven process to an electronic method that significantly reduces the amount of time applicants have to wait for their ID cards, from 20 weeks to about 6 weeks.


View all 2022 Awards and Recognitions

Digital Mailroom: Innovative Use of TechnologyAAMVA

Artificial Intelligence technology allows customers to submit documentation online.
Paper Reduction via Augmented Digital Experience – Best Workforce/Workplace Initiative: Best of CaliforniaCenter for Digital Government


Chrome tablets allow customers to review finished driver’s license and identification card applications while in field offices.

View all 2021 Awards and Recognitions

DMV Modernization During the COVID-19 Pandemic- Government Experience AwardsCenter for Digital Government

Automated workflow delivers enhanced digital user experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.


View all 2020 Awards and Recognitions

Leading the Conversation

This is your forum to collaborate, share ideas, and learn from peers across state. We share blueprints, templates, and approaches needed to plan and operate automation implementation. We discuss the end-to-end journey, starting with the initial tool selection to concept development, ROI analysis, implementation planning, RACI for business and technical staff; and continuing with operational reporting and lifecycle management of the automation technologies. We also discuss the business case fit for specific automation strategies and lessons learned.

Automation in Action

California DMV Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Ajay Gupta outlines the agency’s successful adoption of UiPath RPA, resulting in roughly 50 bots across 36 use cases and $8.8 million in cost avoidance. The transformation focuses on Virtual Field Office, improving customer satisfaction, and implementing AI-driven initiatives.

Building an RPA COE

A discussion on Center of Excellence objectives, the journey to RPA, current status, and blueprints of design patterns.

Bots as Agents

On the CAIO Connect Podcast, Ajay Gupta tells host Sanjay Puri how bots are providing customers with precise answers within strictly defined safety guardrails.