Robotic process automation (RPA)
Definition
Robotic process automation uses software robots that operate existing applications through their user interface — clicking, typing, copying between screens. It automates rule-based routine work without changing the underlying systems, and breaks when those interfaces change.
RPA is a bridge technology: valuable where a system has no API and replacement is not realistic, fragile wherever the screen layout, login flow or field order moves.
Where an API or a database interface exists, an integration is cheaper to run and far more stable than a UI robot.
In practice
- Useful for legacy systems without interfaces
- High maintenance cost when applications are updated
- Prefer API integration whenever one is available
Related terms
- API integrationAn API integration connects two systems through their programming interfaces so data moves automatically and reliably. It is the stable alternative to manual re-entry, CSV exchange and interface robots, and it is the backbone of every serious automation.
- Legacy systemA legacy system is business-critical software that is technically outdated but still runs core operations. It typically lacks modern interfaces, which makes it the main constraint — and often the main cost driver — in automation projects.
- Workflow automationWorkflow automation routes a task through its defined steps, owners and conditions automatically: who gets it, what must be checked, what happens on approval or rejection, and what is recorded. It removes coordination work rather than performing the work itself.