Robotic Process Automation
RPA
Software robots that automate repetitive, rule-based tasks by mimicking human interactions with digital systems. Works with existing applications without API integration.
In-Depth Explanation
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) uses software "bots" to automate repetitive tasks that humans perform on computers. RPA mimics user actions like clicking, typing, and copying data across applications.
RPA characteristics:
- UI-based: Interacts through user interfaces
- Non-invasive: Works with existing systems without modification
- Rule-based: Follows predefined steps exactly
- Quick deployment: Often weeks, not months
- Scalable: Add more bots for more capacity
Types of RPA:
- Attended: Works alongside humans, triggered manually
- Unattended: Runs independently on schedules/triggers
- Hybrid: Combines both modes
Common RPA tasks:
- Data entry and migration
- Form filling and processing
- Report generation
- System reconciliation
- Invoice processing
- Employee onboarding tasks
Business Context
RPA delivers quick ROI for high-volume, repetitive tasks. Average RPA implementations see 40-75% cost reduction for targeted processes.
How Clever Ops Uses This
We implement RPA solutions for Australian businesses to automate high-volume manual processes, often as a stepping stone to more intelligent automation.
Example Use Case
"An RPA bot that processes 500 invoices daily, extracting data from emails, entering into the ERP system, and filing documents - work that took 2 FTEs."