Robotic Process Automation as the underlying technology

Software robots are ideal for administrative tasks where steps are often repeated, and they can be deployed across multiple departments. The underlying technology is known as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), and in recent years it continues to evolve and innovate, thanks in part to the influence of artificial intelligence (AI), creating more and more opportunities.

The advantage of an RPA software robot is that it can be fully customized to meet specific needs. The robot can replicate step by step what a human should do, even in complex processes with multiple steps and applications. But these robots can also be programmed to perform tasks in the background with API links, without intervention in unnecessary user interfaces. This can also make entire processes much more efficient.

What are the benefits of deploying software robots?

• Efficiency: software robots can perform repetitive tasks quickly and accurately without fatigue, increasing efficiency.
• Accuracy: software robots make fewer errors than humans, which improves the quality and reliability of processes.
• Time savings: they can perform tasks 24/7, resulting in significant time savings.
• Consistency: software robots perform tasks consistently according to predetermined rules and instructions.

Where can you software robots better not be used for?

• In applications that are being phased out
• Processes you better optimize and standardize first
• Processes where inputs are unstructured
• Processes with many exceptions
• Processes you just want an employee to perform, such as customer contact
• Business-critical processes

What is the definition of a software robot?

The definition of software robot varies quite a bit. There are basically two definitions:

• One automated process, also called robot script or automation
• One digital worker, also called unattended robot, with its own Windows account and machine, and 24 hours of runtime in one day to perform multiple processes

What is the cost of a software robot?

The cost of a software robot consists of three different components:

• Development cost: one-time, depending on the complexity of the process, and whether built by an internal or external developer, often between 5 and 20 days
• License cost: depends on an attended or unattended robot license, and the number of processes using such a license. A single license allows you to automate and run multiple processes sequentially (i.e., one at a time)
• Management costs: depending on whether you have invested this internally or externally, an average of one hour per month to make adjustments due to changes in the application, input data or way of working of the process

Want to know more about RPA?

By deploying a virtual colleague, standardized work is taken over from your staff, allowing work to continue day and night and significantly increasing your employees’ productivity.

Are you curious about the possibilities of robotization for your organization? Then contact Mark de Poorter, partner Tacstone Technology.