What is RPA?

RPA (Robotic Process Automation) is the technology that allows anyone to configure computer software, or a “robot” to emulate and integrate the actions of a human interacting within digital systems to execute a business process. RPA robots utilize the user interface to capture data and manipulate applications just like humans do. The advantage of RPA is that it enables customers to bring a level of automation to legacy processes without having to change, and sometimes replace, legacy systems.

Software robots can be taught a workflow with many repetitive steps and processes such as receiving forms, sending confirmation messages, classifying files into specified folder, etc.

RPA comparison (Source: http://blogs.ampcus.com/)

RPA vs Traditional Automation

Robotic Process Automation VS. Traditional Automation (Source: https://www.javatpoint.com/rpa-vs-traditional-automation)

Benefits of RPA

RPA technology can help organizations on their digital transformation journey by doing the following:

• Acting as a digital assistant for employees by doing simple and repetitive but time-consuming tasks
• Providing improved accuracy and efficiency by digitizing and auditing process data
• Reducing staffing costs, especially for manual and repetitive tasks
• Reducing and minimizing human errors
• Providing higher security by limiting data leakage
• Ensuring quality assurance and regulatory compliance
• Increasing productivity as the system can operate 24/7

With the above characteristics, RPA is considered a digital workforce and a support tool suitable for all sizes of enterprises. The automation of repetitive processes not only helps personnel reduce the time taken for tedious tasks but also enables them to be engaged in in-depth operations. In other words, RPA helps to make the administration more disciplined and effective.

During Covid-19, a broader horizon has been opened for RPA as companies start to realize the capabilities and benefits of this technology. With the onslaught of the pandemic, the automation of business-critical, time-consuming processes is a means of survival, especially when businesses worldwide are applying a work from home approach to maintain social distancing. RPA enables businesses to stay connected, uphold customer support and provide stability in times of uncertainty.

Current RPA development tool kits

Although there are many RPA development tool kit available in the market, there are three big names that users, worldwide, have been using to build RPA applications and solutions, which are: UiPath, Automation Anywhere and Blue Prism. 

For UiPath and Automation Anywhere, there are various versions divided into two main categories: community and enterprise edition. For the community edition, since it is free of charge, there are limitations regarding the functionality and quantity of process. On the other hand, the enterprise edition has more offerings but users will need to pay for more, which is quite costly. With Blue Prism, pricing is not transparently display and users will need to explore via sales agent or the Blue Prism’s partners.

RPA at NashTech

As one of the leading IT companies in Vietnam, NashTech applies many emerging technologies to our projects and operations, including RPA.

We applied RPA to our Business Process Solutions (BPS) services. Along with other emerging technologies such as AI and Machine Learning, RPA can simulate simple data entry tasks to complex document processing. NashTech has deeply exploited the strengths of this technology and, step by step, applied it to transform our own operations. We have experience in using RPA tools such as UiPath, Automation Anywhere, Blueprism to automate daily manual repetitive tasks to complex workflow, from usual process to perception decision automation.

One project where NashTech has leveraged RPA technology is to automate processes for a leading electronics manufacturer. A series of RPA was developed and implemented which include:

• Mailer task: to download email’s attachments to file server
• Excel 2 DBL: to extract data from client’s excel file following the data checking ratio
• Invoice crawler: to download invoices from client distributors’ sites, rename and save into the defined folder
• Invoice extractor: to capture required information from the downloaded invoice and paste into the master file
• DataChecker: to compare information captured by BOTs with provided data
• ResultComposer: to remark the results of the data checked

As a result, it helped our client increase competitiveness and efficiency by saving labor costs because RPA executes 10X faster and error-free. Furthermore, 8 over 14 sub-processes have been handled by RPA with less than 10% of exceptional cases, 2 sub-processes have been eliminated. The whole business process has been shaped with less human interaction with data flow. In short, the achievements gained by applying RPA can be summarised as:

NashTech’s RPA Achievements

Besides having extensive knowledge and expertise in using third-party RPA tools, NashTech has invested in developing our own RPA tool, which supports us and offers our clients an altenative. By using our RPA tool, clients will not be charged a license fee which significatly reduces the overal implementation cost of an RPA initiative. Furthermore, since NashTech developed the tool inhouse, it offers broader ability and control to meet customers’ needs as we can easily customize the tool to meet any requirement and adapt to any of our clients’ process. It is a huge advantage compared to using third party tools since there is still limitations on what we can do or customize within their offerings. This is also a strong proof that NashTech has been striving nonstop to keep up the pace with the fast-changing technology world.

By continuously adapting to advanced technologies, NashTech has been pursuing our ambition to conquer any challenge in not only RPA but also the IT industry as a whole.

Curious about what NashTech does to adopt other emerging technologies besides RPA? Let’s explore more about our cloud–based application!