RPA Tools are software which help in Automating the tasks which are Repetitive, have Defined Operating Logic and do not require Human Intelligence*. Most businesses have recurring, monotonous processes like Data Entry, Data Extraction, Report Generation, etc. The staff use the software to manually complete these activities. With the use of RPA Tools, such repetitive activities are easily automatable. The piece of code/configuration developed using these Software is often called as “BOTs”. (Read more about RPA.)
There are more than 50 vendors in the market providing RPA Tools, following are the most sought after of those, in due course we’ll also compare their capabilities, strength against each other.
Key Capabilities Of RPA Tools
- Data Extraction
- From Text Files– One of the most common applications is data extraction with RPA. Whether it’s a Text File, an Excel Spreadsheet, or a CSV file, practically all RPA technologies make it simple to extract data from various formats. As previously noted, RPA is already assisting organizations in increasing operational efficiency by speeding up processes and decreasing errors. It also aids in cost savings and provides for better allocation of vital resources.
- From PDFs– The success rate of this feature is mainly dependent upon the quality of PDF i.e. whether if it’s a genuine PDF format or an scanned Image saved as PDF. If this is the primary need of process then one must evaluate RPA Tool with proven OCR technology (Optical Character Recognition)
- From Databases– Data extract from traditional RDBMS SQL database using RPA tool is No Brainer however one must evaluate very carefully if Database in question is Big Data
- From Websites– Also known as Web Scraping is another core feature of RPA Tools, however one must consult the Compliance or take prior approval from the Site owners as many Websites discourage use of BOTs to scrap website.
- From Emails– Many RPA Tools not only allow to connect to Mail Boxes and read through mails but also able to Extract and Scan attachments.
- From Images– RPA Tools has capability to capture text from Images and this functionality is also useful while Web Scraping where if HTML tag is not detected then Image Capture can be used to mimic action like Ex, Identifying the presence of a Button based on it’s image and mimic Button Click action using it. Another Use could be Extracting Text from scanned images of document but as mentioned previously that depends upon Quality of Image and Capability of employed OCR Engine.
- From Audio recordings-New age Automation tools have adopted Speech To Text capabilities which could be a game changer if the business process requires Audio processing capabilities.
- Data Structuring & Reporting– RPA Tools come handy to Collate and Format Data extracted/acquired from various sources making it readable and actionable.
- Data Reconciliation– If business function is to Reconcile Data obtained from various sources then RPA tool can be configured to Compare Data, identify differences and summarize readable / actionable output.
- Form Filling– Many business functions are built around Data Entry in to Strategic Business Applications ranging from AS 400 based desktop apps to latest Web Apps . RPA Tools can mimic the Key Strokes in order to Fill Data in these apps more faster and accurately. The key here is if Application is efficient enough to take input that fast but again solution is to give appropriate Time Delay between the Key Strokes.
- Email Drafting– With capabilities like Data structuring , Formatting and Reporting; E-Mail drafting is a No Brainer. RPA Tool can be employed to send Automated E-Mails based on Pre-Defined business Logic
How complex is RPA Coding | Low Code or No Code RPA Platform
With so many features is it Complex to Code these RPA Tools? No absolutely Not most of these RPA Tools are built as Low Code or No Code Platforms, which essentially means that they offer Awesome Advanced Drag and Drop GUI (Graphical User Interface) using which takes away the complexity of learning a particular software language and writing code. In fact this is the main reason due to which even Business Users can develop understanding around the Tool and Configure their Own BOTS to perform function on their behalf. Thus not only providing an opportunity to upgrade skillset but also create bandwidth to do something more useful.
Low-code and no-code systems provide the same core benefits, but their titles emphasize the primary distinction between these two application development methodologies.
Low-code development needs users to do some coding, however significantly less than typical application development and also doesn’t involve any complexity.
On the other hand No Code platforms rules out any Coding at all making it case for Nontechnical users in various business roles who understand business needs and rules but have little or no coding expertise or programming language abilities are the target audience for no-code development.
As long as the tools used fit with these common functions and capabilities, business users can learn and configure RPA BOTS easily and swiftly.
Would you really need a RPA Developer if your User can train themselves on RPA Tools ?
– Think about it…
Can I leave RPA Bot to function independently | Attended & Unattended RPA BOTs
The only difference between an Attended & Unattended RPA BOT is that Attended BOTs are triggered by a Human whenever the process need to be executed. Unattended BOTs on other hand are triggered based on some Event or Schedule , but that doesn’t mean Unattended BOT can be invoked by Human almost all RPA Platform provide option to Trigger an Unattended BOT on ad-hoc basis outside of its normal run.
Where would I run my RPA BOT? | Cloud & On-Premises RPA Infrastructure
One of the most critical decisions in software robot development is whether to host your digital workforce on-premises or in the cloud. And there is No Straight forward answer to this. This decision must be made based on evaluation of following 3 factors-
- Specific functional need
- Compliance & Security
- Cost Involved
It is important to understand that hosting RPA BOTS on-premises incurs significant costs. In addition to the higher initial capital expenditure required for hardware, the indirect costs of hardware maintenance, more IT support, longer installation, risk of data loss, and adherence to ever-changing compliance and regulatory standards must be considered.
Cloud based RPA deployment on the other hand can significantly increase ROI and in some cases it might be faster to develop as Cloud based solution may have pre configured BOTS for generic tasks.
So in summary evaluate the business need on above mentioned 3 factors and take a call accordingly.
Should I be worried using RPA Tools | Potential Concerns while using RPA Tools
- Data Security– With so much ongoing efforts on tightening the Privacy & Data sharing laws across the world make no compromise with Data going to be used by Automation Tool specifically if it involves sending data out of the organization (In case of Cloud Hosting of BOTS)
- Compliance– Thumb rule says follow the guidelines set by Compliance as per Industry standards and if something is not clear always consult your compliance officer and take required approvals. For example you may have purchased the Data from a vendor which you download from Vendors website daily / frequently, if you ae planning to Automate this piece of work you must evaluate the aspect if Data License gives you right to do Web Scraping and if Not it may ask for specific approval from Vendor to avoid any Compliance issue later.
- Regulatory– Automation decision must evaluate Regulatory asks around a given process as while process is being automated one may still need to store relevant Input, Output, audit Logs and other suitable evidences around the activity.
- Data Accuracy– While one of the core benefit projected by RPA is to avoid “Human Errors” but that’s only true how efficiently Business Logic is implemented therefore it requires Complete Testing of automated process like any other software application, before deploying BOTs for production use. Besides in case of implementing OCR , Artificial Intelligence this testing must be rigorous enough and must have appropriate Error Detection mechanism in place.
List Of RPA Tools
| Tool Name | Company | Free / Community Edition | Licensing Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Automate | Microsoft | Free Limited Edition with Windows 10 | Microsoft offers various plan which includes User based license (As low as 15$) or Pay As You Go plan . Click Here to learn more about licensing |
| UiPath Studio | UiPath | Free Community edition available | 273$/month for an Individual user and goes up to 1255$/month for small team. However one needs to connect with their Sales team for Enterprise Licensing plan. Click Here to learn about UiPath pricing in details |
| Automation 360 | Automation Anywhere | Free Community edition available | It’s best to contact their sales team to understand more specifics as it may depend on Use Case basis. |
| PEGA RPA | PEGA | 30 Day Free Trial | Contact Sales |
| Blue Prism | Blue Prism | 30 Day Free Trial | Introduced consumption based pricing model, learn more |
| IBM RPA Studio | IBM | 30 Day Free Trial | Starts at 908$ per month, learn more |
| Watson AI | IBM | Free Trial | Book a meeting with IBM Team |
| OpenRPA | OPEN IAP | Free | Open source and FREE to use Enterprise version costs ~760$ |
| Kofax RPA | KOFAX | 90 Day Free Trial | Learn about Kofax licensing |
| CXOne | NICE | 60 Days Free Trial | Request a Quote |
| TAG UI | AI Singapore | FREE | Open source and FREE, Setup Documentation |
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