Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
What is Robotic Process Automation (RPA)?
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a technology that uses software “robots” (bots) to emulate human actions within digital systems. These bots interact with user interfaces just like a human would—clicking buttons, typing text, and moving data between applications—to automate repetitive, high-volume, and rule-based tasks.
While Generative AI creates and Agentic Automation reasons, RPA excels at doing. It acts as the “digital hands” of an organization, bridging the gap between legacy systems that don’t have modern APIs.
Key Characteristics
Rule-Based
Operates based on “if-then-else” logic;
it requires a defined process map
to function
Non-Invasive
It sits on top of existing software and
does not require deep integration or changes to the underlying IT infrastructure.
Structured Data
Traditionally works best with structured data, (like Excel rows or database fields) & works with business rules & exceptions.
Accuracy & Speed
Performs tasks with improve in the accuracy and significantly faster(3x)
than a human worker.
Example Use Cases
Finance and Accounting (Invoicing)
The Task: Processing incoming invoices from various email attachments.
The RPA Action: The bot monitors a dedicated inbox, downloads PDF invoices, extracts specific data points (like invoice number and total), logs into the ERP system (like SAP), and enters the data to create a payment record.
Human Resources (Onboarding)
The Task: Setting up a new employee across multiple internal systems.
The RPA Action: Once a "New Hire" form is submitted, the bot automatically creates the user's account in Active Directory, generates an email address in Outlook, and sets up their profile in the payroll and benefits portals.
Supply Chain and Logistics
The Task: Tracking shipment statuses across third-party carrier websites.
The RPA Action: The bot logs into various carrier portals (FedEx, UPS, DHL), retrieves the current status of outstanding tracking numbers, and updates the company's internal inventory management system in real-time.
The Automation Spectrum
| Technology | Role | Value Add |
|---|---|---|
| RPA | The "Hands" | Execution: Speed and accuracy for repetitive tasks. |
| Generative AI | The "Creative/Summarizer" | Creation: Handling unstructured data and generating content. |
| Agentic AI | The "Brain" | Reasoning: Independent planning and complex decision-making. |
eAllianceAI builds Robotic Process Automation (RPA) custom solutions for each customer’s specific business requirements, analyzing the “As Is” business processes and collaboratively (with the customer) designing the “To Be” business process, using RPA.
