There were several cheaper than programmers options to automate things, Robot Processing Automation being probably the most known, but it never get the expected traction.

Why (imo)? Senior leaders still like to say: I run a 500 headcount finance EMEA organization for Siemens, I am the Chief People Officer of Meta anf I lead an org of 1000 smart HR pros. Most of their status is still tight to the org headcount.