Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is being touted as a promising new technology that could potentially replace humans in common business processes to save money and improve efficiency. However, many people still remain unclear about what robotic process automation is, much less how it can automate business processes. This article will be our first post in a series on robotic process automation. In this post, we’ll explore the basics of RPA—what it is, how it's used, and it’s potential for boosting workflow efficiency.
What is RPA?
According to the Institute for Robotic Process Automation & Artificial Intelligence, RPA uses computer software or a “robot” to capture and interpret applications to process a transaction and communicate with other systems. This definition probably does not go far in clearing things up. Let’s break it down. Computer software and “robots” refer to the use of data-processing to find existing patterns and make decisions using real-time data for more intelligent automation. Robots, or “bots,” collect data from websites and applications like BPM software to make decisions and behave like human actors. RPA often works hand-in-hand with artificial intelligence to find areas where workflows can be automated. Then, companies can deploy bots to automate those areas. Most people have already had experience with RPA without knowing it. For example, automated private messages sometimes pop up on Facebook while a visitor is browsing a brand’s page. These messages are actually pre-programmed bots designed to answer questions in Messenger without involving human employees. This way, customers get the answers they need more quickly while human employees tackle more difficult problems.
