What is robotic process automation (RPA)?

Robotic process automation (RPA) is the use of software to handle repetitive, high volume tasks employees have traditionally performed. These tasks can include a wide variety of activities in an even wider variety of industries. Some examples would be placing orders with suppliers, gathering data from several sources, entering data into existing legacy systems, running database queries, record maintenance, generating reports, system monitoring, and nearly any other activity humans could only do. Until now.

How does RPA work?

RPA technology consists of software robots, often called "bots", that can work like human employees do. Bots can log into applications, enter data, calculate and complete tasks and then log out. They can operate the same programs and web pages that humans do, and often time error free and faster. They can monitor emails and respond in kind. Currently there are three categories of RPA bots: probots, knowbots and chatbots.

• Probots are bots that are programmed to follow simple rules to process data. They can place orders, perform data entry, and a host of other time consuming, error prone tasks.
• Knowbots are bots that gather and store useful information about companies, people, and processes based on search parameters. This may include credit score information, stock prices, currency exchange values, blog posts, periodic reporting, etc.
• Chatbots are programs (also called virtual agents) that can respond to customer questions in real time.

RPA software is designed to take over the mundane, tedious tasks that humans do in order to free them up for more value-added corporate activities. RPA helps employees become more productive.