Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is an application of technology, controlled by business logic and structured input. It is intended to automate business processes. Using RPA tools, a company can configure a robot, to capture and process applications. Also processing transactions, manipulating data, triggering responses, and communicating with other digital systems can be explained.

If that kind of automation technology sounds, well, boring – especially in comparison to Hollywood robots – that is by design. RPA is ultimately about automating some of the most ordinary and repetitive computer-based tasks and processes in the workplace. For example, think of copy-paste tasks and moving files from one place to another.

RPA automates everyday processes that once required human action. Often a great deal of it is done in a cramped, time-consuming fashion. Similarly, RPA promises to increase efficiency for organizations.

Benefits of Robotic Process Automation:

RPA assigns organizations with the power to reduce staffing costs and human error. According to Kofax, the principle is simple i.e., let human employees work on what humans excel at while using robots to handle tasks that get in the way.

Bots are generally low-cost and easy to implement, requiring no custom software or deep system integration. Such characteristics are important as organizations pursue growth without adding significant expenditure or friction among workers.

According to Kofax, when configured properly, software robots can increase a team’s ability to work by 35% to 50%. The copying and pasting of information between business systems can be accelerated by 30% to 50% when completed using a robot. Automating such tasks can improve accuracy by eliminating opportunities for human error, such as shifting numbers during data entry.

Enterprises can supercharge their automation efforts by injecting RPA with cognitive techniques. Such as ML, speech recognition, and natural language processing, automating higher-order tasks that in the past required the perceptual and decision abilities of humans.

How does Robotic Process Automation work:

RPA refers to the way people are accustomed to interacting and thinking with software applications. A computer-based process copied by RPA has contributed to its popularity compared to automation tools such as application programming interfaces (API).

In practice, these basic recordings often serve as a template for building more robust bots that can adjust to changes in screen size, layout, or workflow. More dedicated RPA tools use machine vision to explicate the icons and layout on the screen and make adjustments accordingly.

Some RPA tools can also use these initial recordings to create hybrid RPA bots that start by simply recording existing workflows and then dynamically generate workflow automation on the back end. These types of hybrid bots take advantage of the simplicity of RPA development and the scalability of native workflow automation.

In other RPA implementations, process mining and task mining tools are used to automatically capture business process workflows that serve as the initial template for RPA automation. Process mining can analyze logs of ERP and CRM applications, for example, to automatically map common enterprise processes. Task mining tools use a locally running app with machine vision to capture user interactions across multiple apps. All major RPA vendors are starting to develop this kind of process mining integration.

RPA tools can also be linked to AI modules that have capabilities such as OCR, machine vision, natural language understanding, or decision engines resulting in a process called intelligent process automation. These qualities are sometimes packaged in cognitive automation modules made to support best practices for a particular industry or business process.

Uses of RPA:

Today, RPA is driving new efficiencies and freeing people from duplication across a wide spectrum of industries and processes. Enterprises industries ranging from financial services to healthcare to manufacturing to the public sector to retail and beyond have implemented RPA in diverse areas. Such as finance, compliance, legal, customer service, operations, and IT. And this is just the beginning.

RPA has become so widespread due to its wide implementation. Virtually any high-volume, business-rules-driven, repeatable process is a great candidate for automation. And increasingly cognitive processes that require higher-order AI skills.

MuleSoft RPA – A new RPA feature:

To build and manage an enterprise-wide RPA program, you need technology that can go far beyond just helping you automate a process. You need a platform that can help you build and manage a new enterprise-wide capability. And help you become a fully automated enterprise. Your RPA technology should absolutely assist you everywhere from discovering. The best automation opportunities for building high-performing robots to managing thousands of automated workflows.

Challenges in RPA:

Displace human workers:

One of the biggest criticisms of RPA and other automation technology is its ability to eliminate the need for data entry and clerical-style roles.

Lack of intelligent capabilities:

RPA as a standalone technology can only perform tasks it can copy from a script. It lacks the ability to learn and improve the script it is performing. To address this shortcoming of RPA, next-generation AI and Intelligent Automation tools are now being introduced.

Project Complexity: 

Transformational RPA projects are complex and require a time commitment to see a return on investment. As a result, some RPA projects fail before the value is realized