According to a Deloitte Digital survey, 53% of organizations have already launched their robotic process automation initiative. RPA is considered one of the fastest growing software categories, with a rate of over 200%. There is a considerable stir around this topic, so it is possible that, if you have reached this article, you are wondering what RPA is and how it works. What is RPA and how does it work? Robotic process automation (RPA) is a software technology services that combines robotics and automation to perform repetitive tasks. RPA is a method of robotic process automation that uses an application or "bot" that replicates the employee's desktop actions, interacting with an interface in the same way a human would. RPA tools record how users perform repetitive tasks and generate a script that the software robot then follows to perform those tasks. Often, the script that creates the bot is based on the clicks, inputs, movements and general actions that the user performs on the screen. The RPA bot follows the script to repeat those steps, capturing data and manipulating applications and systems, in the same way as a person. Common RPA Use Cases RPA is used in different sectors to automate the most repetitive business tasks. Most often, screen scraping and other automation techniques are used to transfer data from one system or application to another, as well as to perform an action. Because RPA is primarily used for tedious manual tasks, it is typically applied to roles, functions, and business units that spend considerable time on these types of processes. RPA has played an essential role in sectors such as insurance, banking and healthcare, helping to: Reduce costs and improve customer and employee experience. Optimize customer onboarding. Automate data extraction, data entry, and processing across different applications, documents, and images. Improve process accuracy and compliance. RPA is most useful in organizations where employees perform a high volume of repeatable tasks and where automation can free them up to spend their time on more valuable tasks. Other examples of RPA use cases are the following: Manual data entry and manipulation (e.g. CRM updates) Incorporation of employees or partners Reporting and data aggregation Document generation Payroll processing User settings Invoice and payment processing Order processing and shipping notifications Verification of resumes and candidates Expense management Loan, claims and appeals processes Inventory and supply management What advantages and challenges are associated with RPA? Automation has become a critical issue for businesses in this digital age as organizations strive to boost productivity, improve user experience, and develop and launch new products and services quickly. As the RPA technology market grows, custom software development company are increasingly interested in its ability to eliminate repetitive work, optimize operations and reduce costs. However, as with any new technology, implementation brings advantages but also challenges. Below we indicate the most relevant in each case: Advantages Efficiency: RPA has been shown to increase employee productivity as they spend less time on repetitive tasks. Gartner has noted that full-time employees can save up to 30% of their time through RPA. Accuracy: Data entry tasks are often more accurate if performed automated rather than manually. RPA tools also fully comply with organizational and sector policies. Cost savings: by increasing employee productivity, the company saves money. Employees can then perform higher-value work in the same time. Access to legacy technology: Organizations still using legacy technology often have difficulty integrating these tools with other cloud-based systems. Through its user interface, RPA provides a simple entry point for exchanging data with legacy systems. Challenges Replacing human workers: One of the main criticisms of RPA and other automation technologies is the potential elimination of data entry and other office roles. Lack of intelligent features: RPA technology, on its own, can only perform tasks that it copies from a script, so it is unable to learn and improve the script it performs. The new generation of AI and intelligent automation tools are being introduced to solve this RPA blind spot. Project complexity: Transformative RPA projects are often complex and require a significant time investment to recover the investment; Consequently, some of these projects fail before realizing benefits. What is the relationship between RPA and API-led connectivity? Many think that RPA and APIs compete with each other: while APIs allow systems and data sets to be integrated, RPA transfers data from one system to another. However, there are situations where an API-led approach could collaborate with RPA as a mechanism to expand the scope of the integration and allow access to more endpoints. In cases where business process automation is not possible for an API-led approach, RPA can help. These are some examples: A system lacks an API, such as a legacy or on-premise application or system that is highly customized for the organization. The investment in creating an API for an endpoint is non-existent or does not arrive in time, so RPA can be used as a patch to provide temporary access to the system. Different teams manage automation and integration.