Why RPA is the Future of Automation?

What is RPA?

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) uses Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning skills to connect with current IT infrastructure to automate high-volume, data-intensive, repetitive operations with minimal human participation. It is utilized in a variety of sectors to automate workflow and processes by allowing bots to connect with apps on the user’s smartphone. In other words, it is a series of commands executed by bots under pre-defined business rules.

Increased productivity, fewer errors, and improved compliance are all reasons for RPA’s widespread usage. The fastest-growing corporate software is beginning to have a significant impact on the SDLC, as well as being relied upon to assist IT professionals in attaining high-end performance from their existing computing platforms. RPA has grown in favor as a means of eliminating manual labor in the workplace.

Once an RPA software bot has been trained to detect tasks and understand the actions of certain processes in current software applications, it may be trained to extract raw data and transport it to the target code from the front-end to the back-end without creating any infrastructure changes, manipulation of data, eliciting responses, initiating new actions, and communication. This approach increases agility and decreases the scarcity of a complex testing cycle that is typically clogged with specialized APIs and integrations. This frees up time for testers and developers to focus on their main duties rather than merging and managing APIs.

While there are other powerful solutions for online and API testing, RPA tools stand out because they enable codeless automation macros on the desktop. RPA tools can be extremely useful in a variety of situations. They can be used to test data as well as to test regression. In this article, we will go over a real-world testing scenario and teach you how to get started using RPA.

Is Robotic Process Automation Similar to Test Automation?

In theory, both RPA and Test Automation can be compared in terms of their automation offerings. Both eliminate the need for physical intervention and improve the quality of the final product. However, the extent to which these techniques are used varies substantially. In an e-commerce business, for example, test automation can only be used on the website or products. However, RPA can be used in a variety of other business processes.

RPA Tools You Should Try:

It is one of the most popular and common in this space. UiPath describes itself as doing automation of work using digital robots. It utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyze tasks to discover activities performed by folks in your organization.

Leading Organizations are using UiPath -

Advantage of UiPath tool-

1. Accessibility- With the support of numerous technologies already in use, UiPath’s extensible platform delivers hundreds of built-in, customizable, shareable activities and deep integrations. The UiPath is compatible with both mobile and web browsers.
2. Quality of the Agile process -During the whole software development life cycle of a project, the Agile process is a technique that facilitates continuous iteration of development and tests the developing module. The UiPath technology employs an agile methodology that is beneficial to both the client and the enterprise.
3. Artificial Intelligence- With the support of synchronized queue work and robot deployments with scheduled workflows and events, the Artificial Intelligence robotic manager lowers automation costs and meets service levels.

Disadvantage of UiPath -

1. With unstructured input, this tool cannot read any non-electronic data.
2. The main disadvantage in the UiPath tool is its auto-start feature of UIRobot.exe.
3. The UiPath program prompts the user to activate libraries from the nugget package management, which is automatically destroyed.

In here you can lean more about “UiPath” https://www.uipath.com/

They have a marketing twist when describing their commercial solution. They explain that their automation uses “software bots” to automate business logic with script less, end-to-end tests. The three main areas highlighted for their product are:

• RAP — automate every rule-based process.
• Cognitive — self-learning automation
• Analytics — real-time, operational intelligence with enterprise-wide business.

Advantage of Automation Anywhere-

1. Any OCR tool that can read all types of scanned PDFs can be integrated with Automation Anywhere. The majority of our clients want to automate their financial procedures, and Automation Anywhere is the best solution for all backend activities.
2. Email automation and database automation are two excellent methods for saving time and effort.

Disadvantage of Automation Anywhere-

1. Automation Anywhere should use code level automation instead of drag and drop options.
2. Real-time scenarios relating to tools causes capabilities to be more evolved.

In here you can learn more about “Automation Anywhere” https://www.automationanywhere.com/

Offers an RPA automation suite that they describe as their intuitive digital workforce available in the Cloud and on-prem. It includes:

• An Object Studio that helps you build your automation using a drag-and-drop interface.
• A Digital Workforce made up of autonomous software robots.
• A Control Room to easily assign a process to your digital workers.

Leading brands choosing blueprism-

In here you can learn more about Intelligent Automation “blueprism” https://www.blueprism.com/

Automagica is an open-source, Smart Robotic Process Automation (SRPA) platform based on the Python language. What is cool about Automagica is you can quickly automate a bunch of different cross-platform processes like:

• Browser automation
• PDF manipulation
• File and Folder manipulation
• Email operations
• Word and Excel automation

In here you can learn more about “Automagica” the open source Smart Robotic Process Automation https://rpabotsworld.com/open-source-rpa-tool-automagica/

Test Automation vs. Robotic Process Automation

Summary of RPA Testing

Uses of RPA

• Code-less: No need to memorize any syntax.
• Simplicity: Easy to create a process through simple drag and drop.
• Scalability: It can be achieved by assigning work to multiple workstations.
• Cost saving: Huge reduction in cost as minimal workforce is required.
• Accuracy: As the tasks are performed by the bots.
• Productivity: As it is robotic, productivity will be very high.
• Flexibility: Test process does not depend on the type of software under test, whether it is web based, desktop application or mobile application.

Conclusion

RPA is not intended to take the role of test automation. Both have “automation” in general, thus they can accomplish different goals. With RPA involved, the User Acceptance Test (UAT) can be more accurate and productive. As a result, RPA can be thought of as a new and powerful tool for software testing.

References:

RPA vs Test Automation: https://cloudqa.io/robotic-process-automation-rpa-test-automation-myths-and-facts/

Robotic Process Automation, Is it same as Test Automation? https://smartbear.com/blog/robotic-process-automation-is-it-same-as-test-auto/

Robotic Process Automation as a power tool for Testing: https://www.ministryoftesting.com/dojo/lessons/rpa-as-a-power-tool-for-testing

The best Robotic Process Automation tools you should try: https://testguild.com/rpa-tools/