RPA
Robotic Process Automation
In short
RPA, robotic process automation, is software that imitates work steps on the screen: it clicks, copies, types and reads screens the way a person would, only without breaks. It is the answer for systems without an interface. Despite the name there is usually no artificial intelligence in it, just a recorded sequence that works for exactly as long as the screen stays the same.
The common mistake: RPA is AI
An RPA bot does not understand what it is doing. It follows a recorded path: copy field A, open window B, paste into field C. If an update moves the button, the sequence breaks.
That is not a flaw of a particular product but the principle. Artificial intelligence only comes in when unstructured input such as emails or PDFs has to be read – and then as a second component, not as RPA itself.
RPA or an interface
The rule of thumb is simple: where an [API](/glossar/api) exists, it is better. An interface exchanges data directly; screen automation imitates a person, including their dependence on every input form.
RPA is the right choice when a system has no interface, or only unlocks one for a lot of money – typically older industry software, government portals or suppliers' web applications.
For a Swiss company
Many processes here run through portals that were never built for automation: supplier portals, cantonal online counters, older industry solutions. That is exactly where RPA can save a lot of typing – provided someone is responsible when a form changes.
And where modern standards exist, check them first: Swiss banks deliver account statements in the ISO 20022 format (camt.053), which can be imported directly instead of being retyped from e-banking.
How we handle it
We first check whether an interface exists and only automate on the screen when there is none. In the Microsoft world the tool for this is Power Automate Desktop, because it works with the rest of Microsoft 365.
Every flow gets monitoring that reports when it breaks. A bot that fails silently is worse than none. It is part of our process automation work.
A term in your quote that nobody explained?
In a strategy call we translate the offer in front of you – even when it did not come from us.