Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a technology that allows organizations to automate repetitive and labor-intensive tasks, such as data entry, customer service, and back-office operations. The software bots can interact with in-house applications, websites, and user portals, and they can be used to automate workflow, infrastructure, and back-office processes. RPA is a software program that runs on an end-user’s device and it is a sequence of commands executed by bots under a defined set of business rules. The main objective of RPA is to replace the repetitive and tedious tasks performed by humans with a virtual workforce, allowing employees to focus on higher-value tasks. The implementation of RPA does not require complex system integration, as it interacts with the existing IT architecture.
A simple example is when in any organisation, you need to fetch the bank statement, the steps involved are:
- Open the browser
- Type in the URL of the Bank
- Go to the login page
- Enter the login and password
- Select the option of downloading the statement
- Select the account number
- Select the period for which the statement is required
- Select the format in which you wish to download the statement (Maybe xlsx, pdf or csv)
- Download the file
- Rename the downloaded file to the convention defined
- Mail the file or maybe just save it in a specific folder
Imagine being able to automate all 11 steps in a process so that they can be completed without human intervention at scheduled times of the week or month. This is exactly what Robotic Process Automation (RPA) can do. It can automate routine and repetitive tasks, allowing employees to focus on more valuable work.
The example provided is a basic one, but RPA can handle complex tasks on a regular basis. All that is needed is a detailed list of the actions that take place on the screen. RPA can be implemented across various industries, including finance, manufacturing, e-commerce and telecommunications.