Why You Should Add RPA to Your Skillset

RPA Defined

First of all, what is RPA? It’s an acronym for Robot Process Automation, which in turn is defined as software with artificial intelligence and machine learning characteristics, designed to accomplish basic, repetitive tasks normally performed by humans. Note that it is not actually artificial intelligence or machine learning per se. We’ll explore why later.

RPA is broken down into four different streams. The first stream consists of software that’s very customizable, and dedicated to processes found in very specific areas such as finance or accounting. The second stream deals with automated data collection. The third stream covers template-driven self-development kits used by programmers to custom-design robots for specific industries and organizations. Finally, the fourth stream covers scalable, reusable software specifically designed for enterprises.

The existence of RPA begs comparison with the term “machine learning,” especially since the latter figures into the former to a lesser extent. However, the significant difference between machine learning and RPA is that Robotic Process Automation mimics human actions for the purpose of accomplishing a task, usually something repetitive and simple. Machine Learning simulates human intelligence and thinking.
So RPA gives robots the programming to do the boring, repetitive tasks that people would just as soon not do, while Machine Learning gives machines the ability to make decisions. RPA is brawn, Machine Learning is brain.

The Rise of RPA

So now that we’ve established that Robot Process Automation helps automate the boring, repetitive (yet very necessary!) tasks that no one really wants to do, it raises the question of how popular RSA is, and where it’s heading. 

According to this press release from earlier this year, enterprise adoption of RSA scored a 105% growth rate between 2016 and 2017. In addition, the RPA software market has enjoyed an average of 95% growth this past year, reaching $500 million USD. In addition, experts predict a growth in the range of 75 to 90 percent through 2019.

Much of this impressive growth comes from small to medium-sized enterprises, with North America dominating the RPA market, although Europe and the UK account for the highest major market growth. Not to be outdone, the Asia-Pacific region is adopting RPA in larger numbers in the telecommunications, retail, IT, and healthcare industries.

Hadoop adds to the mounting evidence of RPA’s increasing dominance with predictions that the savings of RPA usage will amount to potential savings of around $6 trillion USD by 2025. In addition, RPA will be able to handle the tasks equal to the output of 140 million full-time hours (FTE) with the same time frame.

What Use is RPA?

While all of the above information about Robotic Process Automation sounds promising, the real test of its worth is in determining how useful it is to you and your enterprise. Why does any business need RPA? What are the practical applications?

Also read: Automation Anywhere | From Daily Life to RPA Software

As it turns out, RPA can be implemented in a diverse number of industries (e.g. banking, retail, insurance), freeing up employees to tackle more rewarding tasks, things that could increase their own visibility in the company and consequently result in increased benefits and other rewards.
Robotic Process Automation can be used to tackle jobs such as:

• Order processing
• Shipment scheduling and tracking
• Customer due diligence tasks
• Vendor, customer, and employee onboarding
• Data extraction from PDFs and other documents
• Generating mass e-mails
• Generating and delivering invoices
• Updating user information
• Employment history verification
• Payroll automation
• Updating inventory records
• Issuing refunds

This is just a partial list of things that RPA can handle, and all of them are tasks that are time-consuming, repetitive, and let’s face it, thankless. Although people may be concerned about automation taking their jobs, it’s safe to say that no one has a strong attachment to these particular duties, and wouldn’t be upset to see them removed, just so long as they still have duties and responsibilities that justify their continued employment.
The follow-up question for this, though, is how RPA works with your particular skill set. It is generally agreed that in order to be effective in working with RPA, a professional needs to have a grasp of skills such as systems analysis, systems evaluation, programming, and mathematics. Furthermore, the aspiring candidate should be skilled in decision making, problem solving, and communication.

Making the Most of RPA

In the face of all this information, it’s clear to see how Robotic Process Automation can be a potentially excellent career path to take. As more industries of all sizes around the world adopt RPA processes to streamline operations, there will rise a need for professionals who are adept at working with this new technology.

One thing is certain: businesses of all sizes have tasks that no one wants to do, and given the option to automate them, will do so. There will always be a need for more people who understand how to implement and maintain such processes.

If you already have experience and skill in concepts such as machine learning and AI, adding RPA will round out your skillset and prepare your for whatever new developments appear in the near future. No professional in these fields is complete without RPA training.

That’s why Simplilearn has rolled out the UIpath RPA Certification to help you master the skills needed to become an RPA expert. This training course will build your RPA expertise from the ground up using the advanced UiPath RPA platform. The course prepares you for the RPA Developer Advanced Certification exam, which is recognized as a premium certification. You’ll gain real hands-on exposure in creating RPA bots, design effective RPA solutions, and automate repeated processes within your organization.

By means of the Online Classroom Flexi-Pass, you will receive 32 hours of in-depth learning, broken down into seven distinct and effective lessons. Once completed, you will be ready to take the above-mentioned exam and be on your way to a career in a hot, fast-growing field, rich in potential. Take that first step, and sign up today!