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Are AI Agents, RPA, and Excel Macros the Same?
Keyword is automation
If you ask me the common link between them all, there is a one word answer: Automation
But not all automation is created equal.
Excel Macros
Excel macros are like a calculator with pre-set functions. You can record a repetitive task (e.g., formatting, calculations, or generating reports) and automate it to run with one click.
But this superpower ends at Excel’s walls — a macro can’t (mostly) step outside.
To jump to the next level, we have RPA.
RPA (Robotic Process Automation)
It follows specific instructions to automate structured, repetitive tasks — but it works across platforms.
Need to extract data from an email, update a CRM, and log it into a database? RPA can handle the end-to-end process by mimicking human interactions with different software.
It’s like a macro that has jumped outside Excel’s walls.
If we equate Excel macro to a calculator with preset functions, then RPA is like a vending machine.
You cannot add a pack of chips to a vending machine that dispenses only gum. At least, not straightforward. It requires…
