All you need to know about RPA

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a software technology that uses robots to perform human-like interactions with digital assets like software tools, applications, files and computer systems.

RPA helps automate tedious and repetitive tasks like analyzing files, interacting with customers, responding to on-screen activities and perform a diverse range of rule-based actions. Here we will tell you all you need to know abut RPA.

Unlike humans, they can operate 24×7 and doesn’t complain for doing mind-numbing tasks. RPA can really help speed up tasks and let your human colleagues focus on more interesting and value adding activities. This article will give you a short introduction on how you can get started with RPA in your organization.

AI vs RPA

Artificial Intelligence (AI) uses machines to think and act like humans. Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) are technologies that help Artificial Intelligence to interpret processes and perform actions, just like humans do. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) on the other hand is just a process automation technology that automates actions that humans do, based on the rules established by a business. Standalone RPA systems only provide automation solutions and don’t have the inherent ability to perform cognitive human-like actions.

Bringing these two technologies together is what unlocks their true potential. The combination of AI and RPA enhances the capabilities of both technologies. AI gives software bots the skills to comprehend, understand and visualize actions. In industries like healthcare, finance services sector and manufacturing, AI and RPA are used together to perform intensive actions based on intelligence.

What are the advantages of RPA?

There are several advantages of implementing RPA. They automate manual processes that streamline organizational workflow, thereby improving the profitability of your business. They are easy to set up and can be implemented on legacy systems that lack modern technologies like APIs, VDIs or database mining capabilities.

RPA also increases employee performance by alleviating them from doing monotonous everyday tasks. This frees them to think and plan about newer customer acquisition strategies. Employees get to do what they like and this, in turn, increases employee satisfaction levels at the organization.

Which businesses should use RPA?

Robotic Process Automation software has applications for businesses having operations in a wide scale of industries. Organizations in the legal, IT, healthcare, finance, compliance, manufacturing and many other industries have benefitted immensely from using RPA to automate low-level manual tasks.

Any enterprise having a high-volume workflow that requires repetitive action and is driven by preset rules can use RPA. Businesses of all sizes and types can use RPA. They can also be used by retail businesses to improve customer experience by reducing response times.

How to recognize RPA opportunities?

Identifying tasks and understanding related decision-making processes are critical to know where RPA can work and where it cannot. Many companies jump to RPA without accurately understanding the process.

Here are four characteristics that can help you recognize RPA opportunities at your organization:

Repetitive – The same task is performed a number of times every day.

High-volume – The volume of tasks should be high to enable RPA to reduce overall processing time at your enterprise.

Preset Rules – Robotic Process Automation works on defined rules to perform simple tasks. You cannot use it for processes that require unique actions every time.

Vulnerable to Human Error – Tasks that are prone to human error and bring down efficiency at your organization should be automated.

Successful RPA implementation

The successful implementation of Robotic Process Automation greatly depends on hiring an expert RPA developer who is experienced in coding and has intense knowledge of technology and business processes. Every organization has unique requirements and the RPA developer you select should have the technical know-how to integrate RPA into your enterprise workflow, without causing significant disruption.