Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
R
Robotic
Robotic
Robotic refers to software robots or AI mimicking human actions to execute tasks.
P
Process
Process
Process denotes the sequence of steps performed to accomplish a specific goal or a task.
A
Automation
Automation
Automation implies the automatic execution of tasks, reducing human intervention and increasing efficiency.
What is RPA?
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) – A software technology that makes it easy to build, deploy, and manage software robots that emulates humans’ actions interacting with digital systems and software. RPA uses software robots to automate repetitive, rule-based tasks. Like people, software robots too can understand what’s on a screen, complete the right keystrokes, navigate systems, identify and extract data, and perform a wide range of defined actions. RPA can automate repetitive, tedious, and time-consuming tasks, freeing up human workers to focus on more complex and creative work.
Types of RPA
Attended Bots
Attended bots are designed to work alongside human users, assisting them in completing tasks. They are typically triggered by a user action, such as clicking a button or entering a command. They are often used to automate simple, repetitive tasks that are part of a more extensive process. Attended bots are typically easy to use and require minimal training.
Unattended Bots
Un-Attended Automation: These tools are clever and have the capacity for decision-making. On the other hand, unattended bots are designed to run independently without human intervention. A specific event, such as the arrival of new data or the completion of a task, triggers them. They are used to automate more complex, data-intensive processes.
Hybrid RPA
Hybrid RPA is an approach that merges assisted and unassisted models, enabling bots and humans to collaborate, passing tasks between them. This approach automates both bot-exclusive tasks and those involving unstructured data or employee decision-making. In hybrid RPA, bots and employees work concurrently on different tasks for optimal efficiency and accuracy.
Accelerated ROI and Improved Compliance
RPA solutions offer faster ROI and improved compliance as they are low-cost, require no custom code, and can be quickly implemented. Typically, the ROI from RPA is achieved within weeks. To quantify ROI for a corporate compliance program, calculate time savings using historical data from organizations, focusing on documents, training, and tasks.
Lifecycle of RPA
In the planning stage, the organization defines its goals and identifies the processes that can be automated.
In this stage, the RPA solution is designed and then developed.
Here, the RPA solution is tested to ensure that it meets the requirements and specifications.
Finally, in this stage, the RPA solution is monitored and maintained to ensure that it continues to function correctly.
Here, the RPA solution is deployed in the production environment.