Is It Worth Implementing Robotic Process Automation (RPA)?

Robotic Process Automation is a technology allowing computers to repeat manual operations. Like humans, robots can open emails, log in to apps, gather data, follow decisions, and make calculations. RPA solutions help companies get more with less. They can minimize risks through increased visibility. It’s known that robots operate three times faster than humans.

Robots are best suited for rule-based and repetitive tasks. RPA tools can be used to automate a great number of labor-intensive processes and free employees’ time for other activities like problem-solving, exception handling, and troubleshooting. In finance, for example, RPA can be successfully used for invoice management, payment processing, reporting, and reconciliation.

Robots can be also used to structure and analyze large amounts of data to provide accurate forecasts. Simply put, robots have great potential to transform lengthy and inefficient operations in different industries. Among the major benefits of RPA solutions there are the following:

• Reducing risks
• Improving workflow quality
• Cutting administrative costs
• Enhance customer experience

There’s the view that RPA is a synonym for machine learning and artificial intelligence. However, that’s a wrong opinion. Robots can’t deviate from the set rules. They should strictly adhere to those rules. In terms of ML and AI, machines are taught to make decisions on their own.

1. Why Is RPA Trending?

Although we’ve already mentioned the main benefits of implementing RPA, let’s find out the reasons why this technology is trending. Robots can be applied to the automation of transactional rule-based activities where organized data and clear parameters are used.

The solutions are easily developed and implemented. RPA tools development requires low investment and expenditure. Besides, there are many sectors where this technology can be applied. Examples are customer care, business operations, IT, and human resources.

Robotic process automation tools allow businesses to configure software that processes transactions, manipulates data, initiate responses, and communicates with third-party apps. One of the key benefits of RPA is the ability to reduce staffing costs and eliminate human error. By automating low-value tasks, employees are free to work with customers and focus on their career growth. It also can eliminate human error in processes that are repeatable multiple times a day across the company.

To sum it up, check out the advantages your business can get.

• Robots are eager to perform tasks around the clock. They don’t get sick. They have no day-offs. They are always in a good mood.
• Robots don’t make mistakes.
• When there are any changes in the process, it’s quite enough to make some changes in the script. Humans need to be trained.
• One robot can replace 3-8 humans.
• Robots don’t need any separate places in the office.

RPA has the potential to replace or eliminate jobs for humans. It is popular with large banks and retail organizations. It is used to help answer customer questions, issue refunds, automate expense management, etc. To implement an effective strategy, you’ll have to consider business expectations and involve IT. In the next section, you’ll see what technologies are used to develop RPA tools.

2. What Technologies Do RPA Developers Use?

First off, RPA developers should be good at problem-solving and analytical thinking. Below is a set of basic skills to start working on RPA projects:

• Microsoft Technology (SQL Server, Windows, VB .NET, Web Services, etc.).
• Understanding of rules and essentials of analytics, design, and development.
• Skills with RPA platforms like UiPAth, Softomotive, Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism, Work Fusion, etc.
• .Net, Python, Java, or C#.

Consider looking for RPA specialists, if you want to automate the following tasks:

• Log into apps
• Open emails
• Move documents
• Connect with API
• Read databases
• Scrape data
• Calculate
• Extract data
• Merge data
• Copy and paste the data

If your company uses legacy software and has a lot of repetitive work to do, consider RPA. insurance software development and banking are the industries that started to implement robots more than the rest.

The insurance sector, for example, uses special tools to automate sales processes, claims management, underwriting, servicing, and finance. In retail, robots can confirm and correct customers’ orders. In HR, robots can process applications and other documents. They are also able to search for and select the best-suited candidates.

3. How to Easily Implement RPA

Before conducting an in-depth business analysis, calculate how much you can save with robots. Choose the right technical solution and calculate ROI. Then you need to understand which processes can be effectively automated. Don’t hesitate to involve other companies for analysis and consultation. Software companies have extensive experience in the implementation of such systems, and most have a set of ready-made solutions.

Having decided on the tools, don’t rush to automate everything. Start with one or two pilot projects, then conclude the results and adjust plans. Try to automate not the entire process, but each of its operations. This will make it easier to support the solution and implement it in other company processes.

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