Glossary
Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
Robotic process automation (RPA) uses software bots to mimic the clicks and keystrokes a person makes in an application — automating rule-based, repetitive tasks without changing the underlying system.
What it means
RPA is the bridge for systems that have no API and cannot be replaced. A bot logs in and does the work exactly the way a person would: copy this field, paste it there, move that file, send the report. It is fast to deploy and works with legacy software, but it is best reserved for high-volume, rule-based tasks.
Why it matters
- Works with systems that cannot be integrated another way
- Fast to deploy for rule-based, repetitive work
- Removes manual data entry at the source
How it works
- 01Identify a high-volume, rule-based, repetitive task
- 02Record or define the exact steps the bot should take
- 03Deploy the bot and run it against real data
- 04Monitor for failures and exceptions
Real examples
- Copying invoice data from email into an accounting system
- Moving records between two legacy tools with no API
- Generating a daily report from several sources