RPA

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a technology that uses software robots, or “bots,” to automate repetitive, rule-based digital tasks traditionally performed by humans. These tasks often involve interacting with multiple applications, processing data, or handling structured information. RPA mimics human actions such as logging into systems, entering data, copying files, or generating reports without requiring deep system integration.
RPA helps businesses increase efficiency, reduce human error, and lower operational costs. It is widely applied in industries like banking, healthcare, insurance, and logistics to automate back-office operations and free employees for higher-value work.
Advanced
RPA tools operate by recording workflows and executing them with software bots. Advanced platforms integrate with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to handle semi-structured or unstructured data, such as invoices or emails. This combination is often referred to as intelligent automation or hyperautomation.
Bots can run attended (triggered by a human) or unattended (working independently on servers), and they can scale rapidly across business units. Governance, security, and orchestration tools are often included to monitor bot activity, ensure compliance, and optimize workloads. Integration with APIs, enterprise systems, and cloud platforms extends the scope of automation to complex workflows.
Relevance
Applications
Metrics
Issues
Example
A global insurer used RPA to automate its policy renewal process, which previously required staff to handle thousands of requests manually. By deploying unattended bots, the company reduced processing time from days to hours, improved accuracy, and redirected employees to customer service roles, enhancing satisfaction and loyalty.