The software or robot can be taught a workflow with multiple steps and applications, such as taking received forms, sending a receipt message, checking the form for completeness, filing the form in a folder, and updating a spreadsheet with the name of the form, the date filed, and so on. RPA software is designed to reduce the burden for employees of completing repetitive, simple tasks.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Robotic process automation (RPA) refers to software that can be easily programmed to do basic, repetitive tasks across applications.
• RPA creates and deploys a software robot with the ability to launch and operate other software.
  Designed primarily for office-type functions, RPA works like a digital assistant, doing routine onerous tasks that would otherwise eat up employees’ time.
• RPA today is found across a range of industries and applications.
• RPA without human oversight, however, can lead to problems, as was the case with mortgage “robo-signers.”