Robotic Process Automation (RPA):
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a technology that is used to automate repetitive and mundane tasks. It allows configuring the computer software and integrates human actions to execute a business process. Just like humans, RPA robots capture the data and manipulate applications. RPA is used to automate the infrastructure, workflow, and back-office process. The RPA software bots can interact with the website, in-house application, user portal, and so on. The main target of RPA is to replace repetitive tasks with a virtual workforce.
Differences between Test Automation and Robotic Process Automation (RPA):
| Parameter | Test Automation | RPA |
|---|---|---|
| Task | It is used to automate repetitive test cases. | It is used to automate repetitive Business Processes. |
| Tech Approach | It supports a limited software environment. | It supports a wide array environment. |
| Goal | It reduces Text execution time using automation | It reduces headcount using automation |
| Coding | It requires coding knowledge for the creation of Test scripts. | It requires both coding and wizard-driven knowledge |
| Example | Test cases are automated | Forms, accounting, loan processing, data entry, and so on. |
| Implementation | It can automate the products | It can automate services as well as RPA products |
| Application | QA production and UAT environments | Production environments |
| Role | It acts as a virtual assistant | It acts as a virtual workforce |
| Users | Test automation is limited to technical users | All stakeholders use RPA |
| Artificial Intelligence | It can execute according to the coding | RPA tools come with Artificial Intelligence engine |
Implementation Methodology in RPA:
Planning:
In the planning phase, the user needs to identify the process to automate. The below checklist will help you to understand better:
- Is this a rule-based process?
- Is this a repetitive process?
- Is there any possibility to use the existing system with no charge?
- Is the input in a readable format?
- Then finalize the implementation approach from the project team.
- Make an agreement on the solution design to perform the RPA processes.
- Identify the logging mechanism to find running bots issues.
- Clear the roadmap to scale up the RPA implementation.
Development:
In the development phase, the user has to start the automation workflow development as per the agreed plan. The implementation must be very quick as being a wizard-driven.
Testing:
In the testing phase, the user has to run the testing cycles to identify the defects.
Types of RPA Tools:
There are four different types of tools in RPA for the extension of the previous generation bots.
| Types of RPA Tools/Vendors | Description |
|---|---|
| Programmable Solution bots | Interact with the clients for their requirements |
| Cognitive automation bots | Self-learning bots in handling unstructured data and decision making. |
| Excel automation and Macros | Simple automation solutions for the basic processes |
| Self-Learning Tools | Analyzing human actions |
RPA Tools List:
The below table shows the RPA tools’ comparison of various parameters.
| Tool | Availability of Free trial | Usability | Selected Partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automation Edge | Free trial for 30 days | Cognitive and drag & drop features | Keyvrox, Wipro |
| Blue Prism | Free trial for 30 days | Drag & drop feature | Capgemini, Accenture |
| Jacada | No free trial | Desktop automation | DirecTV, Priceline |
| Antworks | No free trial | Bot cloning | Vincix, CyberArk |
| Kofax | Free trial for 30 days | Unified Design Environment | Dominos, BMW |
| Automation Anywhere | Provides community free edition | AI Augmentation and drag & drop features | Keyvrox, Wipro |
| Kryon Systems | Free trial for 30 days | Deployment efficiency and Strong analytics | EY, PwC |
| Another Monday | Free trial for 30 days | Drag & drop, Smart process tracking, and cognitive automation features | PwC, KPMG |
| Contextor | No free trial | Visual designing and cloud deployment features | IBM, Worldline |
| Pega | Free trial for 30 days | Visual studio design | Capgemini, Accenture |
| UiPath | Provides community free edition | Visual designing and drag & drop features | Deloitte, Cognizant |
| NICE Systems | Free trial for 30 days | Drag & drop feature | Capgemini, Accenture |
| WorkFusion | Free trial for 30 days | Machine Learning capabilities and drag & drop features | PNC, Bank of America |
| Redwood Software | Free trial for 30 days | Machine Learning capabilities and drag & drop features | Airbus, Heineken |
| Visual Cron | Free trial for 45 days | Task scheduling and Integration | Apple, Amazon |
Best RPA Tools:
Out of many Robotic Process Automation tools, there are some best tools in Automation implementation.
They are:
- UiPath
- Blue Prism
- Automation Anywhere
If you want to learn more about the best RPA tools, here we go for the detailed description of these RPA vendors.
1. UiPath:
UiPath is an RPA tool used for desktop automation. It was founded by Daniel Dines, a Roman Entrepreneur in the year 2005. It is used for the Automation of repetitive tasks and to eliminate human intervention. The UiPath Studio allows in the Automation of repetitive office tasks.
Products of UiPath:
There are three products in UiPath.
They are:
- UiPath Robot
- UiPath Studio
- UiPath Orchestrator
UiPath Robot picks up the designing steps and runs the system without the directions of humans. It also works under human triggering.
UiPath Studio allows the user to plan automation processes with diagrams where every diagram represents a specific task.
UiPath Orchestrator is a web-based application tool to deploy, monitor, schedule, and manage robots. It acts as a centralized RPA platform for all robots.
Features of UiPath:
- Application Capability: It offers high application ranges for the tasks which include both desktop and web applications.
- Security: It offers automated login features in running the bots.
- Modeling business processes: UiPath is a reliable tool for excellent Automation with the model business processes.
- Hosting Options: UiPath can host virtual terminals in cloud environments.
- Centralized Repository: This helps in handling the various robots at a time.
- Screen Scraping Solution: UiPath works with scraping solutions with applications like Java, .Net, Flash, SAP, Legacy with absolute accuracy.
- Level of Robustness and Scalability: UiPath has the quality of handling Artificial Intelligence effectively with excellent scalability.
2. Blue Prism:
Blue Prism is an RPA tool that is capable of handling a virtual workforce to automate the business in an agile with less cost. Blue Prism was designed based on the Java language. It offers drag-and-drop features and visual designing functionalities.
Components of Blue Prism:
Blue Prism itself has a set of tools, libraries, and runtime RPA environments.
There are two components in Blue Prism.
They are:
- Object Studio
- Process Studio
Object Studio is used to create Visual Business Objects and to interact with other applications.
Process Studio is like a traditional flowchart where it allows control loops, business logic, sequenced objects, and variables in a business flow.
Features of Blue Prism:
- Robust: Blue Prism provides robust features such as end-to-end auditing, data encryption, and load balancing.
- Workforce: Blue Prism helps in designing work intelligently without monitoring external forces.
- Data Abstraction and Data Security: Blue Prism works autonomously in data processing. It provides process security and data abstraction.
- Execution Intelligence: Blue Prism connects to the systems in multiple environments.
- Secure and Accurate: In Blue Prism, there is no need for process execution. It delivers secure and accurate results in the Automation of a process.
- Scalable and Resilient: Blue Prism allows Automation as per the requirement with good scalable central management.
- Analytics: It provides the configuration features for the session information to monitor the systems.
3. Automation Anywhere:
Automation Anywhere is a popular RPA tool in providing powerful Automation for complex tasks. This tool is used to combine Robotic Process Automation with intellectual elements such as reading unstructured data and understanding natural language. It allows organizations in the Automation of manual and repetitive tasks.
Components of Automation Anywhere:
There are three components in Automation Anywhere architecture.
They are:
- Bot Creator
- Control Room
- Bot Runner
Bot Creator: Desktop-based applications are used to create bots. The bot’s code is always stored in the control room.
Control Room: It’s a web-based platform used to control the bots of Automation Anywhere.
Bot Runner: It’s a machine at which the user runs the automation bot. A license must be there while running the bots.
Features of Automation Anywhere:
- It rapidly automates complex tasks.
- It’s been acting as intelligent Automation for Information & technology and other business tasks for many years.
- It can distribute tasks among multiple computers.
- It is a Scriptless Automation.
- Even if the computer is locked, Automation anywhere can run the tasks.
Conclusion:
In this article, we have given the details about RPA tools. Also, we’ve gone through the best RPA tools: UiPath, Blue Prism, and Automation Anywhere along with their components and features. Hope these details will help you to choose the right RPA tool according to your requirements.