In computer systems, we do some tasks like filling sheets, calculating values, or copying and pasting data. It works fine for us in small-scale work. But, if we do this work repeatedly or on a larger scale, then it wastes our time and also frustrates us.
So, it is required that there exists some automated process for doing computer tasks automatically. This saves time, and energy and increases productivity. This method is called robotic process automation. In this post, we will see the concept of robotic process automation.
What is RPA?
RPA stands for robotic process automation. RPA is an automated method by which computer tasks like data extraction, maintaining consumer data in Excel sheets, maintaining price data in Excel sheets, filling sheets, calculating values, or copying and pasting data are done automatically, through software robots. They are also called bots in computer language. Software robots do not mean that they look like physical robots.
They are basically software objects built into a computer application for doing the same human actions that are done on a PC or a digital system. So, it imitates all the activities of a human and does it very rapidly and efficiently.
As discussed earlier, RPA uses software bots and these are built by writing scripts to understand human behavior on a PC. What does this mean? When a designer designs a bot, he teaches him how to study human action on a PC, what to do next for repeatedly doing it, and how to minimize errors in it. These all are written in a script and fed to him. Once done, the object will behave accordingly through API ( application programming interface) to interact between itself and an application.
Many think that RPA is equal to AI, but it is not. RPA can only do processes taught to it and cannot manipulate a new action on its own. Whereas AI is taught with lessons, but it also studies the pattern of usage. Over time, it can learn that new pattern on its own and implement the same without teaching it. But yes, like AI, it too incorporates machine learning, processing, and computer vision in its learning to help automate the process.
The RPA cycle works in four steps –
- determining the usage pattern
- designing the bot application
- testing the bot application
- maintaining/supporting the bot application
Any defect in these steps can hamper the process life cycle of RPA in a system and can make it defunct for use.
Advantages of Robotic Process Automation
- Bots help save time by automating computer work and increases efficiency and reducing bugs.
- As productivity is increased, the cost of operating machines too reduced, and manpower costs are saved as their working time is reduced.
- RPA can follow regulations and compliances properly because work is automated and errors are reduced in it. This removes any fear in the business owner’s mind of any strict action taken against him.
- When bots are programmed at an advanced level from a basic level, they can even do complex tasks like understanding unstructured data, doing chats and conversations, and interpreting of text. This makes computer system operation more efficient.
Applications of Robotic Process Automation
If we first all look into areas of application, then the sectors majorly covered are IT, customer service, operations, insurance, retail, banking, and finance. These are the general sectors which majorly make use of computer applications for their daily tasks. They daily handle a large volume of data and many sectors in these areas have virtually benefited from the use of RPA in their systems. If you are still confused with the RPA concept, let us take a simple application of this technology for understanding.
Suppose you are a YouTuber and you want to publish videos daily every evening at 7 pm. You can do this manually on your own, but suppose you are a large-scale Youtuber and have to handle many videos daily, then there are chances that you may find it frustrating sometimes or even forget to upload.
In this case, you can design an RPA application where the software bots will automatically upload the videos daily on the desired schedule. This will not require you to interfere and you can instead do some other productive tasks. This is an application of RPA.
In this way, we saw the concept of robotic process automation.