Q1. What is Robotic Process Automation (RPA)?

Answer:
1. Definition: RPA is a business process automation technology that uses
software robots to perform repetitive digital tasks.
2. Digital Worker: These robots act like humans interacting with applications.
3. Automation Role: RPA reduces human involvement in routine tasks.
4. Components: RPA = Robots (mimic humans) + Process (steps to complete
task) + Automation (no human intervention).
5. Functions: Can extract, process, and transfer data between systems.
6. User-Friendly: Most RPA tools require little or no coding.
7. Flexibility: Can work with websites, CRMs, Excel, emails, etc.
8. Scalability: Can run multiple bots at once, increasing efficiency.
9. Reliability: Bots don’t need breaks, improving uptime.
10. Example: Automating invoice data entry from email to ERP system.
11. Conclusion: RPA = digital workforce that enhances business speed,
accuracy, and cost-effectiveness.

Q2. Why is RPA needed?

Answer:
1. Cost Reduction: Cuts down expenses by automating manual work.
2. Improves Accuracy: Bots never get distracted, ensuring error-free execution.
3. Boosts Productivity: Bots can work 24/7 without fatigue.
4. Better Employee Utilization: Humans can focus on innovation instead of
repetitive tasks.
5. Scalable Operations: Businesses can increase or decrease bot usage as per
demand.
6. Speed: Tasks that take hours for humans are completed in minutes.
7. Improved Compliance: Bots follow rules strictly, avoiding regulatory risks.
8. Consistency: Ensures uniform execution across all departments.
9. Flexibility: Can be applied in banking, insurance, healthcare, HR, etc.
10. Customer Experience: Faster services improve customer satisfaction.
11. Example: A bank reduced customer onboarding time from 16 days to 9
minutes using RPA.
Q3. Explain the Types of RPA.
Answer:
1. Attended RPA: Works with users; runs when triggered manually.
2. User-Initiated: Helps employees complete transactions faster.
3. Example: Customer service representative uses attended bot to fill 3
screens in 1 step.
4. Unattended RPA: Runs independently without human involvement.
5. Cloud-Based: Works in background like batch jobs.
6. Trigger Options: Can start at specific intervals, via orchestrator, or by data
input.
7. Best Use: Suitable for back-office automation.
8. Example: Automatically processing claims at midnight without staff.
9. Hybrid RPA: Combines attended + unattended bots.
10. Advanced Use: Uses AI like NLP to assist humans.
11. Example: Bot listens to customer conversation and suggests solutions in
real time.
Q4. Explain the History of RPA.
Answer:
1. Early 1990s: Initial foundations of automation.
2. 2000s: The term “RPA” became popular.
3. Machine Learning (1959): Introduced by Arthur Samuel; allowed automation
of critical tasks like text summarization.
4. Natural Language Processing (1960): Combined with AI to enable human-
computer communication.
5. Screen Scraping: First step toward RPA, extracting data from screens.
6. Workflow Automation: Automated repetitive business tasks using rules.
7. Artificial Intelligence: Introduced reasoning, learning, and self-correction.
8. AI Applications: Included image recognition, speech recognition, and
sentiment analysis.
9. 1990s-2000s: Integration of all these led to RPA platforms.
10. Predecessors: Screen Scraping + Workflow Tools + AI = RPA foundation.
11. Example: Screen scraping helped legacy systems interact with new apps,
paving way for RPA.
Q5. What are the Benefits of RPA?
Answer:
1. Time Saving: Automates repetitive processes instantly.
2. Error-Free: Bots eliminate human mistakes.
3. Cost Efficiency: Reduces manpower cost significantly.
4. Scalable: Bots can be increased or decreased as per requirement.
5. Better Compliance: Ensures rule-based strict operations.
6. Improved Customer Experience: Faster services = happier customers.
7. Employee Productivity: Workers focus on creative and strategic tasks.
8. Audit Trail: Logs and records ensure transparency.
9. Integration Friendly: Works with multiple apps without APIs.
10. Example: Invoices processed with 97% accuracy using RPA.
11. Proven Results: A company reduced headcount by 67% in invoice processing
with RPA.

Q6. Explain the Levels of RPA Adoption.

Answer:
1. Level 1 (Assisted Productivity): Bots assist humans; robots don’t replace
workers.
2. Objective: Improve human efficiency with automation tools.
3. Example: Bot fills in forms but user submits them.
4. Level 2 (Partial Automation): Bots perform end-to-end tasks; humans still
supervise.
5. Centralized Management: Robots managed by orchestrators.
6. Example: Bot processes loan approvals while staff monitors.
7. Level 3 (Full Automation): Human workforce handles only exceptions.
8. Deployment: Cloud/VM + advanced analytics and auto-scaling.
9. Example: HR bots handle payroll end-to-end; HR only resolves errors.
10. Level 4 (Cognitive RPA): Integration with AI, ML, NLP, voice recognition.
11. Example: Bots that understand speech, process unstructured data, and self-
heal.
Q7. Explain the Skills Required for RPA.
Answer:
1. Programming Knowledge: Basics of Java, .NET, C, or C++.
2. Algorithmic Thinking: Structured, logical mindset is needed.
3. Database Knowledge: SQL for queries and data handling.
4. Scripting Skills: HTML, JavaScript for web automation.
5. AI/ML Basics: Helps integrate RPA with cognitive automation.
6. Process Knowledge: Ability to analyze business workflows.
7. Tool Expertise: Knowledge of UiPath, Blue Prism, Automation Anywhere.
8. Testing Knowledge: UAT and debugging for stable bots.
9. Security Awareness: Understanding compliance and threat modeling.
10. Problem Solving: Ability to handle exceptions and errors.
11. Example: An RPA developer automating payroll must know SQL for
databases and UiPath for workflows.

Q8. Explain the RPA Lifecycle.

Answer:
1. Discovery Phase: Analyze client requirements and check feasibility.
2. Complexity Check: Decide whether automation is beneficial.
3. Solution Design: Create Process Definition Document (PDD).
4. Object Model Diagram: Design flowcharts for step mapping.
5. Tool Selection: Choose UiPath, Blue Prism, or Automation Anywhere.
6. Development Phase: Create automation scripts as per PDD.
7. Coding Needs: Some bots may need coding, others don’t.
8. UAT Phase: Bots tested in pre-production environment.
9. Deployment: Deploy bot in live environment.
10. Maintenance: Fix errors and update bots when needed.
11. Execution: Bots are executed regularly to generate results.
Q9. Explain the Current Status and Value of RPA.
Answer:
1. Proven Success: Thousands of organizations use RPA.
2. Cost Reduction: Frees human resources for strategic roles.
3. Shorter Cycles: Reduces process time significantly.
4. Case Study (Bank): Reduced onboarding from 16 days to 9 minutes.
5. Case Study (Marketing): 97% product categorization accuracy.
6. Case Study (Software Company): Reduced headcount by 67% in invoice
processing.
7. Help Desk Efficiency: Fewer inquiries due to accurate results.
8. Software Integration: Connects apps without APIs.
9. Affordable: Basic RPA software is low-cost or free.
10. IT Efficiency: Provides system integration for better IT workflows.
11. Conclusion: RPA is cost-effective, accurate, and widely adopted worldwide.

Q10. Explain the Use Cases of RPA.

Answer:
1. RPA in HR: Automates payroll, onboarding, and leave management.
2. RPA in IT: Handles system monitoring, backup, and password resets.
3. RPA in Healthcare: Manages patient data, billing, and scheduling.
4. RPA in Retail: Automates stock management and invoice processing.
5. Banking: Loan processing and compliance checks.
6. Insurance: Claim processing and policy renewals.
7. Telecom: Customer request handling.
8. Logistics: Shipment tracking and scheduling.
9. Manufacturing: Inventory and quality control automation.
10. Government: Tax filing and record management.
11. Example: Hospitals use bots to schedule patient appointments
automatically.