Introduction to Robotic Process Automation
Expert-defined terms from the Professional Certificate in AI in Robotic Process Automation course at London School of Planning and Management. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) #
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence proc… #
These processes include learning, reasoning, and self-correction. AI is used in various applications, including robotics, natural language processing, computer vision, and more.
Automation #
Automation
Automation is the technology by which a process or procedure is performed with m… #
In the context of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), automation involves the use of software robots to perform repetitive tasks.
Bot #
Bot
A bot, short for robot, is a software application that runs automated tasks over… #
Bots are commonly used in RPA to automate processes that are repetitive and rule-based.
Cognitive Automation #
Cognitive Automation
Cognitive automation refers to the use of Artificial Intelligence and other adva… #
This includes tasks such as natural language processing, pattern recognition, and decision-making.
Dashboard #
Dashboard
A dashboard is a visual representation of data that provides an overview of key… #
Dashboards are commonly used in RPA to monitor the performance of automated processes.
Data Extraction #
Data Extraction
Data extraction is the process of retrieving data from various sources, such as… #
In RPA, data extraction is often a key component of automating processes that involve data entry or data processing.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) #
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is a type of software that integrates core bu… #
ERP systems are often targeted for automation using RPA.
Human #
in-the-Loop
Human #
in-the-Loop (HITL) refers to a process where a human operator is involved in the decision-making loop of an automated system. In RPA, HITL can be used to handle exceptions or complex tasks that are beyond the capabilities of the software robot.
Integration #
Integration
Integration refers to the process of combining different systems, applications,… #
In RPA, integration is essential for connecting the software robots with other systems and applications to automate end-to-end processes.
Machine Learning #
Machine Learning
Machine Learning is a subset of Artificial Intelligence that enables machines to… #
Machine learning algorithms are used in RPA to improve the performance and accuracy of software robots over time.
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) #
OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is a technology that enables the recognition… #
OCR is often used in RPA to extract data from documents and input it into automated processes.
Process Mining #
Process Mining
Process mining is a technology that uses event logs to analyze and optimize busi… #
In RPA, process mining can be used to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for automation.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) #
Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is the use of software robots to automate repet… #
RPA technology can interact with existing applications, process data, trigger responses, and communicate with other systems.
Scalability #
Scalability
Scalability refers to the ability of a system to handle a growing amount of work… #
In RPA, scalability is crucial for deploying software robots across different processes and departments within an organization.
Unattended Automation #
Unattended Automation
Unattended automation is a type of automation where software robots can execute… #
Unattended robots can work 24/7 to perform scheduled tasks, making them ideal for batch processing and back-office operations.
Virtual Workforce #
Virtual Workforce
A virtual workforce is a group of software robots that work together to automate… #
In RPA, virtual workforces can perform tasks more efficiently and accurately than human workers, freeing up employees to focus on higher-value activities.