Robotic process automation, explained
The bot follows steps that a person could perform through an application's screens or a direct connection between systems.
Robotic process automation uses software bots to repeat rules-based computer tasks such as extracting data, filling forms, or moving files.
RPA copies a defined routine
A useful RPA task has clear inputs and a predictable result. The bot can open a record, copy selected information, enter it elsewhere, and record whether the task finished.
This approach can help when an older application has no practical direct connection. It can also use a direct application interface when one is available.
Small changes can break the routine
A bot does not understand a process in the way its operator does. A changed field name, a new screen, or an unexpected record can stop the task or produce the wrong result.
Give failures an owner and keep a record of each run. Use RPA for stable, repetitive work, then place it inside a broader workflow when people or other systems must handle the next step.
Robotic process automation terms
- Software bot
- A program configured to carry out a repeated set of computer actions.
- User interface
- The screens, fields, and controls a person or bot uses in an application.
- Rules-based task
- Work that follows defined conditions without requiring judgment each time.
Tasks that may fit RPA
Repeated data entry
A bot can copy known fields between systems when the mapping stays consistent.
Standard form work
A bot can fill a form when each answer comes from a defined source.
Routine file moves
A bot can rename or move files according to stable business rules.
Questions about robotic process automation
No. The robot is software that carries out actions on a computer.
No. RPA follows a process defined by people. Other technologies may be added, but rules-based repetition is the core of RPA.
Avoid work that changes often, depends on judgment, or has many unplanned exceptions. Those cases need a person or a broader process designed around decision-making.
Related glossary topics
Take repetitive work off the list
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