What is Robotic Process Automation or RPA
Robotic Process Automation or RPA is one of the newest emerging forms of automation using software and artificial intelligence to handle high-volume repetitive tasks. Previously performed by humans, RPA is meant to efficiently complete these repeatable tasks as well as maintain records of those tasks which any normal human would not be able to do.
From simple tasks such as copying and pasting to dragging items from place to place, these software robots are capable of interpreting inputs and communicating with other systems. RPA arguably does these tasks better than humans due to the fact that they do not get tired or bored from doing such a repetitive task. Compared to humans, where human error can be caused, a software robot can ensure that the task will be completed accurately and precisely every time. A software robot will also generate a record for each task it has completed.
Robotic Process Autonomation is also quite smart as it uses machine learning to learn from human actions on the visual interface. By having a human user complete the repetitive task, the software robot is able to create a template data set to work and learn from. RPA is even capable of finding and interpreting edge cases, which are problems or situations that occur at the limits of an operating parameter and adapt to them. This means unlike a simple script that would cease once an exception pops up, a software robot would be capable of continuing to complete the task by understanding the exception and adapting to that exception.
Uses of RPA
RPA is beneficial for those looking to find more efficient ways to complete simple repetitive tasks (i.e. copying and pasting, pointing and clicking) with few exceptions. As longs as the tasks are consistent and repeatable with minimal variation, RPA is a great way to efficiently and accurately complete the tasks.
Conclusion
RPA has shown to be a promising way to complete repetitive tasks quickly and allow humans to do more productive tasks that require ingenuity and creativity. This cost-effective automation has slowly been rising in popularity due to how capable it is compared to simple scripts attempting to complete similar tasks. The ability to understand, interpret and adapt to edge cases is a huge reason why this technology has seen huge interest as seen with Microsoft’s recent announcement of a new RPA-oriented cloud service. While RPA cannot replace humans in a plenitude of tasks, it definitely is capable of replacing the tedious tasks that require no skill whatsoever.
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