What is Robotic Process Automation?

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a type of software that automates repetitive, rule-based tasks that are typically done by humans.

With its ability to reduce costs, and increase efficiency and accuracy in processes, RPA has become increasingly popular across industries. From finance to healthcare, logistics to retail, organisations are implementing RPA to streamline their operations and stay competitive in an ever-changing business landscape.

This article is going to explain what Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is, how it works and why companies will benefit from implementing it.

What is RPA?  – Definition

“Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a technology that enables you to create bots and set rules for them so they can perform the actions done by an employee when performing a process.”

The most important thing about the definition of RPA in order to understand its meaning is that it enables you to create bots, and set rules for them.  This means that an RPA system is capable of processing several tasks at the same time without waiting for any further instruction to be completed.   

RPA uses robotics to perform these tasks, which are responsible for the activities done by a human based on what we call business processes.  What differentiates Robotics Process Automation from other types of systems is that it does not require any coding in order to run and provide results quickly.  Also, robots do not need breaks or vacations and they never get tired so they might work 24/7 without stopping.   

How does RPA Work?

In order to explain how robotic process automation works, we will use a blog article published on the Forbes website :

“RPA is not a piece of software. It’s not even one bit of software.  It’s an umbrella term for several different technologies that work together to provide digital labour, bots that can act like people by opening applications and manipulating data within them.”

This article clarifies how robotics process automation works in order to carry out business processes that are typically performed by humans. There are two main types of robotic process automation: screen Screen Scraping and Image Recognition. The first one allows the robot to monitor movements on your PC screen or mobile device to monitor activities such as clicks, keyboard movements, writing texts, etc., while the second one is capable of identifying and understanding images.   

Why Companies will benefit from RPA?

RPA has many different advantages, but the most common among companies is that it can be done without writing any code or developing robotics applications because it relies on third-party robotics. The second important thing for companies to consider when thinking about robotics process automation is that robots will carry out your business processes 24/7 and they never complain or ask questions, so there’s no need to hire additional employees in order to increase workforce capacity.

RPA also increases accuracy and decreases errors. People, for all their efforts, are likely to make errors, particularly with dull, repetitive work. RPA robots, by contrast, follow pre-established rules with absolute accuracy, without human error, and with constant, high-quality output. Greater accuracy not only minimizes the requirement for expensive rework and fixes but also lessens compliance risks and increases overall product and service quality.

RPA can have a major positive impact on employee satisfaction. By delegating monotonous, routine tasks to robots, organizations can free their employees to do more interesting and satisfying work that leverages their strengths and abilities. This can translate into higher job satisfaction, better morale, and lower employee turnover. Moreover, RPA can also offer significant data insights, enhance process visibility, and enable enhanced decision-making, all of which can help improve the agility and competitiveness of the business. Ultimately, RPA is not merely automating processes; it’s about process optimization, employee empowerment, and business growth.

Also Read: Differences Between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0

Disadvantages of Implementing Robotics Process Automation Systems

While Robotic Process Automation (RPA) offers many advantages, here are the top 3 disadvantages to consider:

Job Displacement: The biggest issue with RPA is that it can replace human employees. With automation of tedious and rule-based functions, RPA can minimize the use of human intervention in certain positions, which can result in job loss, mainly where there are high levels of mundane tasks.

High Initial Investment: Deploying RPA may entail considerable initial investments. This involves payments for software licensing, hardware refresh, system integration, and staff training to administer and maintain the RPA applications. These costs may be inhibitive, particularly for small- and medium-sized businesses.

Technical Limitations: RPA is optimal for rule-based, structured processes. It performs poorly in tasks involving human-like judgment, creativity, problem-solving, or dealing with unexpected situations. RPA can also have difficulties with complex processes or changing processes, which constrains its use in some situations.

It’s important to weigh these disadvantages against the potential benefits when considering RPA implementation.