When deciding to build or buy robotic process automation (RPA), healthcare providers must first have a clear understanding of what it is, and what it can do. In simple terms, RPA software enables users to configure or train a robot to emulate the actions of a human being within a process by interacting with other digital systems through user interface and other application controls.
RPA is commonly used for repetitive, simple rule-based tasks however this is a very limited interpretation of it. The robots that can be built with today’s technology can be governed by business logic and structured inputs, as well as artificial intelligence to manage complex processes with significant decision-making abilities.
Because terms and their definitions are not standardized within the RPA industry, it is helpful to describe what is meant by the term robot or bot. A robot is the collection of RPA software components that automate a single defined process. In other research, the term robot may be used to describe the machine that runs automations which could be multiple processes. Within revenue cycle management, a bot typically is used to complete a defined process.
See related article: Deciding whether to build or buy robotic process automation systems
