Is RPA only for developers?
Not anyone with a good understanding of the process and workflows can be a good RPA developer. There are several test automation tools, blog groups, and Q&A sessions to fine-tune the development. Perhaps it is an outrageous mention, but someone in an RPA promotion orientation mentioned that RPA could be built within the time an Uber taxi gets booked and arrived.RPA is an advanced technology solution, and it is normal for people to visualize technology professionals with highly skilled training pooling their expertise to build the RPA. But that’s wrong; even non-technical personnel can make RPA and implement it. Of course, these RPA vendors are supplying easy to use programs for the actual business users to key in the details, which essentially is designing the workflow. The software converts these thought processes into ‘bots,’ and yes, you created your RPA.
Look at this definition coined for RPA,
“Robotic Process Automation – It is a technological marvel that lets anyone configure a computer software, or even a “bot” to emulate and integrate the actions of humans interacting within digital systems to execute a business process. RPA robots use UI to capture data and manipulate applications as humans often do. RPA can interpret, trigger responses, and communicate with other systems to perform a wide variety of repetitive tasks. Only substantially better: an RPA software robot will never rest and make zero mistakes.”
Even though the definition calls it technology, it implies that it allows anyone to configure computer software.
India’s Economic Times reported last year, quoting digital training institutes, that large numbers of non-technical people enroll for courses, training in digital and automation technology like Robotic process automation.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is here to stay and grow, and the future of work seems to be on one’s understanding of what is happening in the realm. Instead of discarding RPA as something for the techies, the workforce will do well to acquire the required skills in understanding and participating in the design of RPA.
The terms used in RPA, like robots, artificial intelligence, and bots, all sound quite technical. And do they replace humans! Perhaps the simple answer is yes, but the work will be done infinitely more efficiently, without errors and fatigue.
Then where will all the workers go! Here also, the answer is simple: they will get re-skilled to perform more critical tasks. They get skilled in designing RPA, for they are best suited for doing that because they understand the process, they can better identify the pain points and suggest solutions.
These suggested solutions are to be coded, which may imply substantial technical resources to do that. Here again, it need not be. The off-the-shelf RPA tools are quite innovative and user friendly, and that the business people can use the tools and create the bots and complete the Robotic Process Automation.
Someone who is to get involved in the development of RPA can look at acquiring or sharpening these skills:
- Thinking ability is like a system. It is not tricky as business people are familiar with the systems by using them regularly.
- Be a learner. One need not acquire a specialized qualification in RPA but needs to have a learning mindset. Things will get more precise as the work progresses.
- Number skills and logical thinking are highly beneficial.
- Good communication skills are an asset.
- Problem-solving ability. Such people are good designers of new things.
- Troubleshooting skills are precious and can solve many situations.
- Need to be consistent and have perseverance robots are consistent
- As always, it is humans who create robots. And humans are still required to make, get it to work the way they want, and it can be altered when needed. Here perhaps someone with a better understanding of the business will be more useful than a technical resource writing code.
The techies are the best bet for an organization to write the software codes to automate the mundane, repetitive jobs identified in the workflow created with business and operations people’s help.
However, automation will not replace humans and jobs. These human resources are trained people, and the organization must have invested heavily in their training and development. It will not be an excellent scenario to let these valuable resources go.
Again RPA, once designed, will not remain constant. It will need changes to take care of the changes in the environment, business, and competition.
Suppose the non-technical trained resources can be deployed with the necessary skill to design and develop the RPA. In that case, they will be the right resources to keep it going and modify it whenever necessary. And when the automated tools for creating RPA are available, the non-techies can do the job equally.
The answer is ‘No,’ RPA is not only for developers!
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