Robotic Process Automation or RPA is a process automation tool that automates tasks previously fulfilled by a human operator. It combines business intelligence capabilities with sophisticated software to automate repetitive tasks often done on a computer. The most common use for robotic process automation is handling customer service calls at a call center. This strategy has proven to be more efficient than managing the same volume of calls manually and allows employees to focus on more complex tasks in the call centre, like staffing and providing product training. However, RPA can be used in many different industries, such as healthcare and other service sectors. Aside from customer service, invoice processing, boosting productivity, employee onboarding, payroll, storing information, and analytics are some processes that use RPA for SMBs.
These mathematical calculations are often performed by a piece of software that is specifically coded to perform the specific task. RPA programs have been used in the hospitality industry to provide front desk staff with the capability to check guests in and out faster. However, this technology has now entered other industries, such as automotive services since it allows professionals within the car repair shop to handle customers more efficiently.
Newer RPA tools use AI, machine vision, and natural language processing to mitigate breakage problems. Modern RPA platforms also provide some integration with centralized IT governance and management capabilities, making it easier to scale the use of RPA across the enterprise.
The benefits of robotic process automation are as follows. Workforce automation is a growing trend in organizations because it allows companies to get more out of their employees at lower costs. Other industries, such as healthcare and retail, have also embraced this technology to reduce costs. For example, one study by Dobby Bill Guard suggests that RPA could save healthcare companies roughly $15 billion by reducing their total customer service costs by 14 million over four years.
Automation also saves companies money by reducing the overall number of staff members needed to conduct a certain task. An example is when robotic process automation is used in a bank to process mortgage applications; it will save the bank money by allowing them to reduce the number of employees processing mortgages. The cost of housing has increased, but, due to automation, workers are not needed in banks to process mortgage applications.
There are a lot of benefits to using RPA, and this trend is forecast to grow over the next few years. One study done by Robert Half claims that the industry will be employing about 40,000 workers by 2020, and many of those workers will be employed in the surrounding industries such as healthcare, finance, and retail.
Robotic process automation allows for more efficient use of resources because it can automate processes that require both people and machines. With more efficient processes, businesses can save money by reducing the number of employees needed to complete certain tasks, and employees can also be more engaged with their work because they are not spending their time performing a task that is being done by another person.
