Robotic process automation (RPA) refers to the automation of manufacturing, assembly, or process management operation using machines. The term is widely used to refer to several different industrial process industries including packaging, personal and safety wear, medical instruments, food and chemical processing, and consumer products. It can also refer to mechanical systems that use robotic equipment for specific tasks. Some common types of automated processes include packaging, automated handling, automated control, and production monitoring.
Robotic process automation has emerged to enable companies to save costs on unproductive work by automating repetitive tasks. It has been found that an investment in RPA could yield significant returns over a period of time because it reduces overhead costs and increases efficiency. Robotic process outsourcing involves the transfer of manufacturing tasks from one company to another. It may be done through employing an entire company or a number of companies’ robots to perform tasks that are not related to the specific business of the outsourced companies. It may also refer to the use of computer software applications to carry out tasks that formerly were performed by skilled labour.
One advantage of using RPA is that it takes the place of humans and lowers the cost associated with training labour. Robotic process automation software allows machines to perform repetitive tasks without the need for additional supervision and human input. The system achieves this by using a combination of hardware and software that enable the system to detect the most appropriate tasks based on predetermined parameters. The machines thus save on cost, thereby increasing profitability.