Why Robotics Process Automation

Robotics Process Automation is a lever which gives faster outcome to an expected automation opportunity. Usually, in a conventional automation, it is required to understand the application architecture, understand API calls, make connectivity to databases/tables and few more aspects.

Though this approach is very robust, it needs highly technical expertise to understand architecture and schema before starting any automation project. In contrary, RPA works on UI (user interface) layer and replicates human steps. This makes it easier to complete and does not have high expertise dependency.

Technology

As RPA works on UI layer, it needs a platform (or tool) which facilitates this type of automation.

There are many fine players in this market who provide their platforms to do RPA. Notably, few of them are Blue Prism, UiPath, AutomationAnywhere, Microsoft, WorkFusion, Verint, Kofax, Pegasystems, Antworks and many more.

Usually these platforms provide a user interface through which any RPA developer can capture elements of base application and create a RPA ROBOT (usually referred as Bot). These platform interfaces also provide options to link any API, read data from excel, csv or even any database, extract information from documents (like PDF, TIF, etc) and many other features as well.

Elements included

There are 3 elements included in any RPA platform

1. Controlling Server: This is the server which monitors the runner licenses and also gives basic reports/logs of the runners

2. Runner (used to run the final Bot and similar to exe or dll): This is the license which is responsible for running the Bot .

3. Developer (version where editing of Bot is carried): This is the license with which anyone can develop or create the solution

Infrastructure Required to run the Bot

1. Controlling Server: Sefver on which this controlling server is installed .

2. Runner license: Virtual machine on which runner license is installed. This virtual machine should be a replica of a machine/system (in terms of accesses) which human associate uses so that when a Bot runs, it is able to perform all the actions which a human does. There is a possibility that this virtual machine or desktop/laptop may require additional accesses which the architect or developer have to take care of.

3. Virtual Machine (or even physical machine): This machine or desktop/laptop is the base hardware which is required on which runner license is installed and is used to run the Bot.

Advantages of RPA

1. Bots can work 24 X 7 which is not possible with humans.

2. RPA Bots and solutions do not need to connect with underlying applications which means that it doesn’t need any changes to IT infrastructure .

3. Bots can work with any platform like Windows, webpages, Microsoft, Java, mainframe applications, Citrix, etc
One Robot can be programmed to process multiple different steps or processes.

4. RPA improves efficiency and accuracy

Challenges

There are many challenges which have to be kept in mind before we select a RPA automation candidate or project - below are critical areas (though there can be few more).

1. Business workflow understanding: Automation team should understand the business lifecycle correctly so that anyone should not end up automating something which has less benefit or which will bring no benefit. Hence, it is required to re-design the business workflow first and then apply RPA automation on it.

2. Change in base application: If the base application front end changes, RPA Bot will start throwing errors because it uses front end user interface properties.

3. The speed of Bot depends on the response time of base application on which it is performing the transactions .

4. Tasks that require creativity or judgement cannot be programmed .

5. Even minor changes to the base applications will require changes to Bot program though the changes usually happen in few hours.