Automation People

Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Robotic process automation (RPA) is a simple and accessible program that automates activities by simulating human behaviour. RPA relieves workers of repetitive activities and helps businesses save time and money.

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What is an RPA Bot?

Automation, often known as robotic process automation (RPA), started with robots carrying out routine operations. Thanks to the development of artificial intelligence (AI), automation can now link systems, orchestrate work, and handle end-to-end operations. We refer to this relationship between RPA, AI, and business process management (BPM) as intelligent automation (IA).

What are the Different Kinds of Robotic Process Automation?

The Three Types of RPA

Robotic process automation falls into three key categories:

Attended Automation

This variety of RPA lives on a user’s device and is usually not activated unless the user gives a command.

Unattended Automation

This kind of RPA runs independently, completing tasks by following a rule-based process.

Hybrid RPA

RPA combines attended and unattended software bots, providing end-to-end automation.

6 Key Benefits of RPA Technology

Speed and Efficiency

Software bots complete tasks incredibly fast, particularly compared to humans. They significantly reduce processing time; work that used to take hours for humans may now be finished in a matter of minutes. Additionally, unlike someone who rushes to work, this pace keeps the output’s quality high.

Naturally, these behaviours are not isolated. Automated jobs also change many activities across your company, speeding up and enhancing more complicated, bigger procedures.

Benefits of RPA Technology - accuracy eliminates human error

Accuracy Eliminates Human Error

Since everyone makes mistakes, it should be known that errors occur when people spend much time on repetitive, boring jobs. However, RPA bots will always function flawlessly. You will always obtain consistent, predictable outcomes if they are given the proper instructions for their duties.

Cutting Expenses

Bots are significantly more productive and less expensive than the number of human workers needed to achieve the same goals. Any work carried out by an RPA bot will always be finished more quickly and precisely than if a human did it. This saves much money for your company and frees up your employees to work on other projects.

Increasing Client Satisfaction

Any customer experience (CX) journey will benefit from the “human touch” at specific stages. However, RPA has a lot to offer your clients in other areas. For example, clients might anticipate faster response times when robots collaborate with staff.

Then, there’s the indirect advantage of worker autonomy. Your human customer service representatives can handle more complicated client concerns using RPA to handle repetitive chores. To increase client happiness, they might concentrate on giving outstanding human replies.

increase output with RPA technology

Increasing Output

The “human touch” is beneficial at specific stages of any customer experience (CX) journey. However, robotic process automation provides your clients with several benefits in other areas. For example, customers might anticipate faster response times when robots collaborate with staff members.

Then, there’s the indirect advantage of worker autonomy. Your human customer service representatives can handle more complicated client concerns using RPA to handle repetitive chores. To increase client happiness, they might concentrate on giving outstanding human replies.

staff freedom

Staff Freedom

Robotic process automation makes routine tasks like data input and invoice processing easier. It automates laborious procedures, freeing up your workforce to engage in more innovative and strategic endeavours.

Automating back-end system processes may free up your personnel previously responsible for these tasks. These employees may now devote more time to more demanding, imaginative, and exciting work.

Your people and human ingenuity remain your greatest assets, even with the capabilities of robotic process automation and intelligent automation technologies. One of the most significant advantages of RPA solutions is that they will free up your staff to monitor, evaluate, and improve your processes strategically.

What Can Robotic Process Automation Do?

Robotic process automation can change how businesses operate and how work is completed thoroughly. Even the simplest of RPA bots may do lower-value, repetitive labour such as:

Data entry

Folder administration

Routine analysis

Moving files

Filling out forms

Creating standardised reports

What To Look for in an RPA Solution?

The following RPA or IA characteristics and capabilities can help your automation project succeed:

Easy to Use

Automation development with little to no code is your buddy. This simple user interface (UI) solution helps you proliferate by making automated deployment more accessible with drag-and-drop functionality.

Simple integration

Look for robotic process automation solutions that work well with the systems and infrastructure you already have.

Security

To preserve consistent governance over your operations, any automation should operate securely to safeguard your data and demonstrate transparency and audit trails.

Our Enterprise RPA Solution

Work with Automation People to integrate intelligent automation (IA) or RPA into your company. Create and implement a cohesive, strong digital workforce quickly and simply to reduce manual labour and provide outstanding customer service.

RPA Industry Use Cases

Discover RPA use cases in your industry:

RPA in finance and banking

RPA in Financial Services and Banking

  • Automating reporting tasks for reconciliations, monthly closing, management reports and mortgage processing
  • Streamlining accounts payable and accounts receivable processes
  • Fraud detection
RPA in manufacturing

RPA in Manufacturing

  • Invoice processing
  • Supply chain management and optimisation
  • Stock management
  • Accounts payable processing

RPA in Telecoms

  • Network management customer onboarding or offboarding
  • Data transformation
  • Debt collection
  • Expense control
  • First call resolution (FCR)

RPA in Insurance

  • Registering and processing claims
  • Underwriting
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Business and process analytics
  • Policy cancellation
  • Sales and distribution
  • Legacy application integration
  • Policy servicing/admin

RPA in Retail

  • Demand-supply planning
  • Product categorisation
  • Inventory management
  • Call center processes
  • Marketing automation
  • Sales Analysis
  • Supply chain management and logistics
  • Customer support

RPA in Healthcare

  • Appointment scheduling
  • Patient records and data management
  • Asset tracking and management
  • Diagnostics and data analysis
  • Patient outreach and post-treatment care
  • Healthcare insurance claims automation
  • Revenue cycle automation
  • Prior authorisation automation

RPA in Supply Chain, Shipping and Logistics

  • Shipment scheduling and tracking
  • Procurement and inventory management
  • Invoicing
  • Partner onboarding
  • Order and payment processing
  • Supply and demand planning
  • Customer service

RPA in the Public Sector

  • Extract data, capture and analyse (surveys and census management)
  • Statutory process automation
  • Content migration
  • Registration office processing and administration
  • Grant application processing, permitting, reporting and compliance

RPA in Energy and Utilities

  • Contact centre processes
  • Virtual agents
  • Metering
  • Statements and billing
  • Customer account management
  • Technician dispatch and reporting

RPA in the Airline Industry

  • Air traffic control processes
  • Traveller information
  • Aircraft maintenance
  • Crew scheduling
  • Ticket sales
  • Check-in
  • Invoicing

The Evolution of Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), generative AI, predictive AI, and other cognitive technologies, what started as straightforward task automation has grown.

We started by:

  • Automating routine activities
  • Processing of documents
  • Data input, extraction, and scraping

We moved to:

down-arrow-blue
  • Software for low-code automation that makes automation builds simpler
  • Democratising automation
  • Encouraging all employees to spearhead digital change

Furthermore, we're currently using intelligent automation (IA) to:

  • Robotic process automation, AI, and business process management (BPM) combined for more intelligent company operations
  • Using process orchestration to improve communication and unity between technology, people, and processes
  • From customer service to developing new automation, conversational AI and natural language processing (NLP) are being used.
  • Using gen AI and AI agents to deploy digital assistants to aid people
  • Managing ever-increasing volumes of data effectively.

Where To Start Your RPA Journey?

Building a strategic plan and being open to changing course when new possibilities or difficulties present themselves is the best approach to rapidly achieving your automation goals and getting started with RPA.

5 Steps for Getting Started on Your Automation Journey

one

Set expectations and have everyone ready for automation. To gain enterprise-wide support, you must create a compelling RPA use case. Gaining the support of your employees requires integrating your digital workforce with your people. You can get there by emphasising the advantages and possible return on investment (ROI).

two

Make sure your operations are automated by locating and removing silos and bottlenecks. Eliminate any barriers in your present processes to implement scalable automation throughout your company. Process intelligence, a combination of task and process mining, maps and tracks your existing business processes to identify areas for improvement and those most suited for automation.

three

Create reliable governance to ensure that your industry requirements are continuously fulfilled. Implementing a CoE is one of the best ways to include staff in your automation plan and guarantee compliance. It will help with audibility and quicker scalability.

four

Look for an operating model that is expandable and suitable for your needs. If you adhere to an operational model, you will have a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to strategically build up and develop your IA program, adapting it as you grow. The ROM also allows you to track your automation maturity to always know where your company is in its automation path.

five

Instead of concentrating on minor, task-based adjustments, consider the big picture. It’s easy to focus on using RPA to automate simple activities. However, considering the broader picture of using intelligent automation to automate workflows, you’ll see genuine digital transformation. Actual income and efficiency increases occur there.

What are the Challenges of RPA?

If you enter the RPA implementation paradigm without doing enough study and planning, you might encounter problems.

Unrealistic Expectations

RPA has an impact but is not a panacea for every problem; instead, set reasonable targets and ensure they complement corporate objectives.

Difficulty Selecting Processes

Selecting processes can be challenging since not all processes lend themselves to automation; the ideal candidates are routine, rule-based jobs that don't call for innovation.

Perception as "just an IT thing"

For RPA to scale successfully, leadership support and engagement from the whole organisation—not just IT—are required. Consider creating an RPA Centre of Excellence (CoE) to uphold standards.

Challenges in Scaling

Scaling RPA requires a well-defined plan, process optimisation, and sufficient personnel to support enterprise-wide automation initiatives.

Employee Backlash

Clear communication, involvement, and emphasis on implementing personal advantages can help reduce resistance caused by fear of losing one's job.

Increased Output

By hiring digital workers, RPA increases productivity and frees staff members to focus on higher-value jobs. Even while they may require some training, digital workers will contribute considerably more hours to the company than they take in.

Not Involving IT in Decisions

Early and consistent IT engagement is essential for successful RPA adoption and maintenance.

How To Implement RPA Successfully?

If you enter the RPA implementation paradigm without doing enough study and planning, you might encounter problems.

building with RPA technology

Build

The first steps are installing the bot and creating the process instructions it will follow. Although RPA bot development is meant to be accessible, technical expertise may occasionally be needed. Nonetheless, many RPA systems offer pre-built objects that allow for “drag-and-drop” automation and low-code/no-code creation.

Bots are created by designing them from definition papers or documenting the process. Thanks to no-code automation development solutions, your RPA developers might be non-technical individuals from any department in your company.

Operate

Its operation changes whether you’re using attended, unattended, or hybrid automation.

Typically, a user must initiate or terminate bots in attendance. Sometimes, these bots need additional information, such as login credentials, to complete specific jobs flawlessly.

RPA that is left unattended can function without human assistance. To inform bots when to begin and end tasks, it employs “trigger events.” These bots operate on a server or virtual machine in the background.

Operating RPA
orchestrate and manage RPA bots

Orchestrate

Orchestration allows you to administer and manage your RPA bots. Examples include grouping different bots, defining routines for each group, and turning them on and off.

Orchestration is crucial for a large-scale RPA implementation. You’ll most likely have to run bots on hundreds or thousands of devices, automating a wide range of tasks at once.

Want More Details on Your RPA Strategy?

Robotic process automation can change how businesses operate and how work is completed thoroughly. Even the simplest of RPA bots may do lower-value, repetitive labour such as:

Explore a variety of RPA use cases to see how intelligent automation has benefited various sectors.

Decide on a realistic and long-term goal for your deployment for robotic process automation.

Find out what obstacles RPA presents and how to get around them.

To successfully implement your RPA approach at scale, refer to our handbook.

Learn how to determine your RPA's return on investment to get the most out of your automation program.

What can Intelligent Automation do. 18 Tasks You Can Automate

What's the Future of RPA?

The main goal of robotic process automation is to simplify work to make it better, quicker, and more intelligent. Among the numerous advantages of RPA are lower expenses and increased productivity. Although there are specific difficulties, many of them may be resolved with the proper planning.

The most significant advantage of robotic process automation is its ability to free up your staff’s time to concentrate on more creative and problem-solving duties.

Now that AI and generativity are sweeping the automation landscape, additional use cases will grow and include increasingly intricate procedures.

Discover the 6 ways AI is changing business.

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