What is RPA?
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a manner of automating digital processes through the creation and deployment of software robots. Once created, software robots execute a defined set of tasks, in a manner that mimics exactly how a human operator would execute the same tasks.
RPA is characterized by:
-Operating through the user-interface, in exactly the same way as a human operator
-Interfaces between disparate software applications
-Executes rule-based sets of activities
-Works with structured data
-Operates in a repetitive and continuous manner
What RPA is not
Automating business processes has been underway for a long time now. It is not new. But RPA is new, compared to a number of established automation technologies that are in use. Because we often try to associate a new paradigm with one we are already know, it is important to explain what RPA is not.
RPA is not:
ERP
Enterprise Resource Planning software systems are certainly deployed to manage core business processes. And although the execution of a core business function certainly brings a level of automation, there is the hand-off to a human through a user interface.
RPA does not partake in the core process. Rather RPA can be configured to take the data hand-off from the ERP and process the data automatically in place of a human.
BPM
Business Process Management is focused on both engineering and automating business processes and integrates directly to the business logic layer. The development of BPM systems is done by software developers.
RPA is solely focused on automating existing processes. Although IT staff need to provide the infrastructure where the software robots will operate, there is no traditional software development.
Screen Scraping
Screen scraping is geared to capturing data which is displayed on one system, but is not readily available in a data structure that can readily be used to enter a different process.
RPA incorporates a screen scraping element, but is implemented on a platform by which the operation is simply configured – rather than requiring any dedicated software development.
Scripting
Scripting languages do enable programs to be written that are executed automatically, and take the place of a human operator performing the tasks individually. But scripts are still software programs that require IT skills to create.
RPA execution does resemble the running of scripts. But the development of RPA software robots depends on mapping a process, as executed by a human being, rather than software development.
Business Intelligence
Business Intelligence incorporates analytics which are applied to process data – in order to interpret and discover meaningful insights about the underlying operations.
RPA is a rules-based software robot that executes its tasks and works with structured data. In carrying out those tasks, it is well-equipped to create a digital trace of what it is doing. So it can enhance any analytics’ activities by providing a source for more data.
AI
Artificial Intelligence is associated with machines that can do things that are characteristic of human intelligence. The underlying software is either built on a litany of IF-THEN-ELSE statements, or driven by machine learning algorithms which initially enable the software algorithms to train themselves by running through large data sets that cover a representative set of situations.
RPA does bear some resemblance to the type of AI which is built on an underlying set of IF-THEN-ELSE statements, and there is “training” involved. But this amounts to a one-step training, whereby the software robot is enabled to mimic a human operator in one step. Effectively, it is based on a system of, “Show how to do it once – and do it that way every time.”
Traditional IT
Traditionally, all software projects to improve business operations are IT-driven. The IT team brings both a comprehensive understanding of both the computer infrastructure and the software infrastructure. And in adding to the ensemble, they bring software development skills to allow them to translate the business logic into a seamless integration.
RPA is different because its deployment does not disturb any of the business logic that is governed by existing applications. It is a matter of configuring a software robot to execute a process that is already in place and is being executed by a human being. There is no dependency on IT to develop or interface any software. Rather, their primary role in RPA is to ensure that the underlying infrastructure has the capacity to run RPA.