You might be surprised to learn that there are different kinds of robotic process automation given all the buzz (RPA).
With RPA, a process can be automated in one of two ways: while a person is interacting with it, or fully autonomously.
Let's examine various RPA types and how to select the best option for your use cases.
Types of RPA Automation
Based on how the software aids in automation, there are primarily two types of RPA. One of them functions as a virtual assistant you may use to help you finish chores, while the other automation primarily handles back office tasks.
Attended automation
These are the helpers that work on your computer and facilitate some of the tasks you are carrying out. For instance, if you frequently search for information and copy it from one program into another, you can call up an RPA to do just these tasks. RPA then gives you back control to complete the following set of tasks. Typically, this kind of automation benefits call center agents.
Imagine the long, tedious operations being replaced with simple clicks! As a result, training your salespeople will take much less time. Thus, participating in RPA can shorten handling times on average while enhancing customer satisfaction.
Unattended Automation
You can run the entire process on a back-end server if you do not require a representative or worker interaction while the procedure is being executed. When automation is unattended, this is what takes place.
Workflows are self-triggered and operate on servers in this kind of automation. They are available 24 hours a day and run on predetermined schedules or in real time. Only the outcomes of an automated job would be visible in the event of unattended automation.
For instance, the only thing you would see for invoice processing would be a report listing the invoices that could not be processed automatically. After seeing the report, you can focus just on the invoices that require your attention.
Control rooms can be used to schedule or launch the automated processes. Through the control room, you may assign jobs, change priorities, manage queues, and get involved if performance problems arise.
Hybrid Automation
Hybrid automation is another method that is becoming more popular. This can apply to the usage of unattended automation or AI in conjunction with attended automation.
Most popular automation has the drawback of using up computer resources while the bot is running. It would be preferable to have an attended bot handle the tasks that require human interaction and delegate the rest to an unattended bot. This is how hybrid automation can assist you in more effectively and efficiently automating the activity.
Let's see how we might decide between the two common RPA configurations.
How to choose from the types of RPA?
As you might have inferred, if you want your bots to follow your instructions, you should employ attended bots. Uses for attended bots include:
- tasks requiring in-the-moment human-system communication
- Enhance daily tasks for your employees so they can complete them more quickly and effectively.
- Educate and encourage your staff to accept automation
Unattended automation typically gives you greater control and better value for your money. They carry out a process automatically by adhering to your regulations. Unattended automation would be used for:
- Structured tasks that can be fully mapped
- wherever possible, swap out complete roles.
- Large amounts of data may be difficult to collect, classify, analyze, and distribute while unattended on desktops.
- You can utilize attended and unattended automation separately or in combination to provide your company with a competitive advantage.
RPA comes in a variety of forms, so choosing the correct one for your needs is crucial.