Robotic Process Automation

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a technology that leverages software robots, or "bots," to automate repetitive, rule-based tasks that are typically performed by humans. By mimicking human interactions with digital systems, RPA bots can handle tasks such as data entry, transaction processing, and responding to simple queries. This technology is non-invasive, meaning it integrates seamlessly with existing systems without requiring major changes to the IT infrastructure. RPA enhances operational efficiency, reduces errors, and frees up human employees to focus on more complex and strategic activities. It is highly scalable, allowing organisations to deploy more bots as needed to handle increased workloads.

Hisory And Evolution

1990s: Early Automation

• Macros and Scripting: Automation started with macros and scripting languages like VBA.
• Screen Scraping: Early automation used screen scraping to extract data from legacy applications.
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Early 2000s: Evolution to RPA

• Business Process Management (BPM): BPM tools aimed to optimize business processes.
• Emergence of RPA: Combining screen scraping with workflow automation, creating more flexible and advanced tools.
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2010s: Growth and Maturity

• Key Players: Companies like Blue Prism, UiPath, and Automation Anywhere led the market.
• AI and ML Integration: Enhanced RPA capabilities with AI and machine learning.
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2020s: Recent Developments

• Hyper Automation: Combining RPA with AI, ML, and process mining for complex automation.
• Cloud-Based RPA: Gained popularity for scalability and flexibility.
• Increased Adoption: Accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Why is RPA Essential for Modern Business ?

• Increased Efficiency: Performs tasks faster and operates 24/7 without breaks.
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• Cost Savings: Reduces labour costs and minimises errors.
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• Improved Accuracy: Ensures consistent, error-free execution of tasks.
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• Scalability: Easily scales up or down to handle workload variations.
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• Enhanced Compliance: Provides detailed audit trails and adheres to regulations.
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• Employee Satisfaction: Frees employees for higher-value tasks and reduces burnout.
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• Better Customer Experience: Offers faster, consistent service.
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• Improved Data Management: Ensures accurate data entry and seamless integration.
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• Business Continuity: Maintains reliable operations during disruptions.
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• Analytics and Insights: Collects data for informed decision-making and monitors performance.

Are Chatbots and RPA the same ?

No, RPA and chatbots are not the same thing. They both aim to make life easier, but they serve different masters and specialise in different tasks. RPA, or Robotic Process Automation, is a tool that leverages automation to execute repetitive tasks. Chatbots, on the other hand, enhance customer service by offering immediate resolutions, reducing wait times, and being available around the clock.

Chatbots are like your company’s digital front-of-house staff. They use Natural Language Processing (NLP) to interact with humans in a way that feels, well, human. RPA, on the other hand, is your back-office powerhouse that loves structured, rule-based tasks. It’s like having an extra set of hands that never gets tired. While RPA can integrate with AI and machine learning tools for more nuanced decision-making, its bread and butter is following a strict set of rules to get tasks done—efficiently and without complaint.

Examples for RPA tools

UI Path

Automation anywhere

Blue Prism

Automation Edge

WorkFusion

Kofax

UIPATH

UiPath is a key tool in Robotic Process Automation (RPA), vital for automating repetitive tasks. It boosts efficiency by completing tasks quickly and accurately, allowing employees to focus on more important work. UiPath is scalable, fitting the needs of businesses both large and small, and its user-friendly interface makes it accessible to non-technical users. Overall, UiPath helps organisations save time and resources, enhancing productivity and promoting innovation.

What Makes UiPath the Best Choice for Automation?

UiPath can be used to automate your monotonous processes (saving, moving, and renaming files; exporting data from a website; inputting data into legacy software such as SAP), extract data from documents retrieve data from PDFs, scrape information from websites, digitize scanned documents and receipts), and integrate with other systems to create powerful workflows. While other tools make the same claims, UiPath is one of the only RPA tools that enable business users and analysts instead of only the IT teams.

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The UiPath Assistant is available on macOS and allows users to access, manage, or run cross-platform automations, and connect the Robot to Orchestrator. UiPath Orchestrator can be installed on a Windows server to manage and monitor robots running on other machines. Also be installed on virtual machines running on Windows or other operating systems, such as Linux or MacOS, as long as the virtual machine meets the minimum system requirements.

• The enhanced UiPath Integration Services, which enables users to design and share custom API integrations, in addition to the pre-built connectors. UiPath’s pre-packaged, industry-specific RPA solutions that reduce time-to-value for customers, as well as its heavy focus on customer training, success, and support.

UiPath has a user-friendly interface and strong community support, while Automation Anywhere is known for its advanced AI capabilities and robust security features.

UiPath is one of the giants in the world of RPA. Owing to UiPath‘s three key products Studio, Robot, and Orchestrator, it enables the following

• Designing the visual workflow of an automation process.
• Executing necessary operations without any human intervention.
• Deployment, scheduling, and monitoring of robots through a web application.

Its vast scope of operations comes with a set of limitations, which can be true for any technology.

From a business perspective, understanding a tool’s limitations beforehand can provide you with better selection-making ability.

Limitations

Visual Automation via WebDriver

• Usage of iframes in building up automation projects is not recommended.
• Since a browser automation setup with a WebDriver protocol creates a new session, every saved data is lost.
• It’d be ideal to set up an automation project on a single tab and multiple tabs can interrupt the execution.
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Headless Automation via WebDriver

• Headless automation needs to be configured to use the SimulateClick, SimulateType, and more such visual functions. That’s because it doesn’t support the visual functions as such.
• Interaction with images cannot be done here.
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Interactive Selection

After a new RDP session is started, it picks up the scaling mode and resolution from the default file. This happens even if you’ve applied differently.RDP settings.
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RDP Session

The Remote Desktop Protocol will fail to continue any process in case the connection between the client and the Remote Desktop Machine is lost.
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Other Limitations to Using UiPath

• The number of robots operating in the Orchestrator community edition is limited.
• Any non-electronic data with unstructured input can’t be ingested.

Future Outlopok

The future of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and UiPath looks bright, with significant advancements expected in AI and machine learning integration, enhancing automation capabilities. RPA will increasingly be part of hyper automation strategies, combining multiple technologies for comprehensive process automation. UiPath, a leading RPA platform, will likely expand its cloud-based and industry-specific solutions, offering more scalable, flexible, and tailored automation options to meet diverse business needs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the future of RPA and UiPath is set to be transformative, driven by advancements in AI, hyper automation, and cloud technologies. As UiPath continues to innovate and adapt, it will provide more sophisticated, scalable, and industry-specific solutions, solidifying its position as a leader in the automation space and significantly impacting how businesses operate.

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