RPA (Robotic Process Automation)

What is RPA in simple words

RPA (Robotic Process Automation) is a technology in which software robots imitate human actions at the computer. They "look" at the screen, press buttons, copy text and transfer data between programs — only they do it faster and without errors. In simple words, these are digital assistants that take over boring repetitive work.

Imagine that you have an employee who every day transfers data from Excel to 1C, checks reports, generates documents and sends them by email. It takes him several hours a day, and he sometimes makes mistakes. An RPA robot can do the same 24/7 without breaks, without errors and hundreds of times faster. At the same time, it works through the same interface as a human, so it does not require modifications of existing systems.

Unlike traditional integration via API, RPA bots work at the presentation level, imitating user actions: pressing buttons, filling forms, copying data between windows, reading and writing to tables. This makes RPA a universal tool that can work with any applications, even those without open APIs.

RPA is an important component of business process management (BPM) and is often integrated with BPMS systems for end-to-end automation. This allows automating not only individual operations, but also entire business processes.

Types of RPA bots

RPA bots come in three types depending on the usage scenario:

• Attended: Work at the employee's workplace and are activated by a person. For example, when an employee presses a button, the robot automatically fills in the form, checks the data and saves it. Such bots help employees work faster, but do not completely replace them.
• Unattended: Run on a schedule and work on server infrastructure without human participation. For example, every morning a robot collects reports from different systems, generates a summary and sends it to the manager. Such bots work fully autonomously and can perform tasks at any time.
• Hybrid: Combine both modes. For example, a bot can perform routine tasks automatically on a schedule, but when a non-standard situation arises, involve a person to make a decision.

It is recommended to start RPA implementation with a process audit — the research service allows identifying operations with high robotization potential. This helps focus on the most effective scenarios and quickly get results.

Virtualization technology allows running bots in isolated containers, which ensures security and independence from other systems.

RPA and low-code on the Fintech platform

The SINTEZ-M platform includes a built-in RPA module that allows creating software robots in a visual designer based on low-code development principles. This means that to create robots you don't need to be a programmer — it is enough to understand the business process and be able to work with a visual interface.

Ready-made robots are integrated with processes modeled in BPMN and managed through a single monitoring console. This allows creating comprehensive solutions where robots are part of larger business processes.

The training service includes training of RPA developers who will be able to create and maintain robots in your organization. Training is conducted both for technical specialists and for business users who want to automate their routine tasks. Read more about robotization in the technologies section.