Automation and Robotic Process Automation (RPA): The Difference

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Automation And Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
The Difference
In the wake of technological advancement and
Industry 4.0, automation, as a cornerstone, has
revolutionized how most businesses function. But,
when we ruminate about traditional automation
capabilities, we realize Robotic Process
Automation (RPA) surpasses it in many ways. The
global robotic process automation (RPA) market is
projected at over 13 billion U.S. dollars by
2030. Traditional automation can be perceived as
the sturdy foundation of the Automation
landscape, and RPA is the next-level player
navigating the realms of the user interface and
APIs while mimicking human interactions. Does RPA
have its limitations? Will it substitute
Traditional automation technology in the long
run? We delve into this engaging world of massive
potential and objectively point out how these two
differ fundamentally and how businesses leverage
both for enhanced efficiency and revenue growth.
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Traditional automation vs Robotic Process
automation Traditional automation performs
backend tasks of user applications and executes
device integration at an infrastructural level.
It combines pre-defined instructions and
programming and APIs to integrate with different
systems to execute repeated tasks and requires
exceptional coding and programming skills and
knowledge of the target system. Robotic Process
Automation RPA mimics human interaction with the
system and operates on the user interface,
thereby mitigating the need for deep knowledge of
programming and coding skills. This technology
retrieves data between applications and completes
complex tasks effortlessly using AI and ML.
Leveraging bots on the superficial layer of
systems relieves users from diving deep into
technological nuances or programming
hassles. The key technical difference between
Automation and RPA While both automation
technologies drive the efficiency of business
processes, many differences propel RPA to be the
best choice for enterprises. 1. Essentially, to
use traditional automation, businesses need
professionals who are technically sound and adept
at working with the target systems. They execute
instructions
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• on the API level that interact with the backend
  system to carry out repetitive tasks. On the
  other hand, RPA, with its ability to operate on
  the user interface, consists of easy-to-
  understand flowcharts and can be used by
  non-technical resources.
• Traditional automation entails radical
  modification to the IT structure, as we are
  referring to integrations amidst systems, and
  such implementations are time-consuming. RPA
  leverages graphical user interfaces and simple
  integration with the ability to retrieve relevant
  information seamlessly.
• Pre-defined programs in traditional automation
  cannot be easily upgraded to produce different
  outputs. In short, customization is a task that
  entails massive effort and is highly complex,
  posed by API limitations. RPA, on the other hand,
  offers peak levels of customization by harnessing
  the power of bot functions with easy integration
  with the ERP or CRM systems. For the same reason,
  RPA is more scalable when compared to Traditional
  Automation.
• Since traditional automation functions involve
  human intervention during the coding process, it
  is prone to errors or aberration. RPA and its set
  of software bots handle all tasks efficiently and
  with precision.
• Enterprises need less investment to implement
  traditional automation software initially when
  compared to RPA implementation. But with time, if
  the business needs

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changes or customizations, the former incurs more
investment than the latter. Investing in RPA
tools is cost- effective in the long run. 6.
Traditional Automation needs more CPU space as it
relies on heavy coding residing on the
integration level. RPA involves lightweight
software bots that carry out the designated tasks
in a virtual space, mitigating the need for a
large processing room and infrastructure. RPA is
the clear winner if we consider the above
factors, but does it have any limitations in its
offerings? As with every technologically advanced
tool, RPA poses its challenges Security
concerns RPA deals with sensitive information
like personally identifiable information, which
is a deterrent if security glitches happen by
mistake. A high level of encryption while moving
data and ISO 27701 certification are viable
solutions to mitigate security concerns. Limitati
ons Craig le Clair, a Forrester author, claimed
that RPAs work best while executing simple tasks.
When we say simple, we imply dealing with tasks
requiring five or fewer decisions, juggling
between five or fewer applications, and involving
less than or equal to 500 clicks.
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Scalability Since RPA works on the user
interface level, any major changes in the API
structure can break the bot and yield an
incorrect output. How does Traditional
Automation make itself relevant today and in the
future? Just as virtual interactions between
human beings cannot completely replace in-person
meetings, RPA cannot fully substitute Traditional
Automation. Let us probe into possibilities as
simple as what if the backend technology breaks?
Traditional automation finds its relevance in
large-scale data transfers, and complex
decision-making owing to its deep system
integration. Remember the limitation of RPA with
the rule of five? Traditional Automation has a
superlative capacity to analyze and decipher data
to make complex decisions compared to RPA. For
more technical activities like application
integration, system synchronization, and database
updates, Traditional Automation is again an
indomitable force. RPAs business
applications RPA is used extensively in
accounting, financial services, healthcare, human
resources, and customer service industries for
automating processes and payments, document
retrieval and verification, billing or monitoring
inventory.
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Wrapping it up There is always room for more
technological advancements, and AI, at the
forefront of innovations, is consistently
outperforming software technologies from
yesteryears. As automation technology paved the
path for RPA, a new technology would be waiting
around the corner, to further alter the
automation dynamics. Being cognizant of these
would help you leverage the transformative power
of further advancement in the future. For now, as
a decision-maker of an enterprise, you would be
the best resource to understand
the organizations critical needs for growth.
Having said that, the success of any new
implementation revolves around many factors Did
it help enhance productivity? Was it scalable and
user-friendly? Were users able to seamlessly
adopt it to deliver their KRAs without extensive
training time or resources? RPA seems to score
high considering all these factors, and
transitioning into this thriving technology has
beckoned positive outcomes across industries. It
would only be wise to take charge of your
business while capitalizing on this Automation
wave. AUTHOURS BIO With our best tech
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