Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a technology that can be integrated with any form of computer to create Software Robots called Bots. These Bots mimic human behavior to automate lots of role-based processes that do not require a human thought process to be accomplished. RPA is a horizontal that works across different verticals of organizations, industry types, and functions that require automation from a software perspective.
RPA systems develop an action list by capturing keyboard and mouse controls deployed by the User to perform a task in the application's graphical user interface (GUI) and automates the same by replicating the action directly in the GUI. The Bots do not need a physical screen to operate. Bots interpret the screen display electronically and all the actions involved in the automation happen in a virtual environment. Thus, in addition to controlling the investment of human resources in tasks that do not require the application of human thought processes, RPA also saves on the expenditure on the purchase, set up, and maintenance of the IT infrastructure. [1]
Further, the 100% error-free compliance of RPA and its ability to work 24/7 without a break or any counter-argument has made it a much sought after solution for corporate companies. Thus, Bots or digital assistants have become an integral part of any job in the software industry. Even the performance level of employees is appraised by the extent to which they deploy the Bots that work alongside their everyday routine. If the percentage of the usage of Bots is high, it is deemed that the concerned employees have efficiently applied their time on productive work that requires human thinking and innovation, while assigning almost all the trivial and repetitive functions to the bots.
“According to Harvard Business Review, most operations groups adopting RPA have promised their employees that automation would not result in layoffs. Instead, workers have been redeployed to do more interesting work. One academic study highlighted that knowledge workers did not feel threatened by automation: they embraced it and viewed the robots as team-mates. The same study highlighted that, rather than resulting in a lower "headcount", the technology was deployed in such a way as to achieve more work and greater productivity with the same number of people” [1].
With the advent of Industry 4.0, RPA has become a major player in devising new job descriptions and a deciding factor in determining the employability of human resources. RPA has also widened the business options, in that, many establishments and freelancers have opened up Digital Bot Stores from where companies can download bots that are relevant to its process flows and/or websites.
India is the global leader/hub in the field of software automation, but, there is a shortage of skills in the country when it comes to RPA. RPA is a new-age technology with high demand and hence it is highly recommended that college students acquire this skill and become job-ready by the time they graduate. To make this a reality, ICT Academy has collaborated with Automation Anywhere, the leader in RPA to impart the educational institutes with RPA to address the need for nurturing people who can build Bots and neutralize the lack of manpower in the RPA domain.
Reference:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotic_process_automation