What’s the difference? They sound similar, but they are not the same. Robot Software, or more commonly known as RPA1, refers to the system of automation that is achieved by replicating the tasks done by the user through the GUI2. The topic of RPA is covered extensively in [our recent blog post] 1 and should serve well to inform our readers on the major differences between RPA and Software Robotics, when paired together with this post.

Automation has been with us for a very long time and has always been the solution to increased efficiency, reduced errors and risk, improved profits, and proper compliance. With the advancement of technologies, Robotic Process Automatic (RPA) has been replacing traditional automation. A few of the differences between RPA and traditional automation are its technological use. Traditional automation makes use of Application programming interfaces(APIs) which require users to study and understand the system well, but RPA uses software bots to understand user actions at a more UI-friendly level.

Simplifying tedious processes which often require manual work forms the crux of automation. The idea of automation gained traction in 1946 in the automobile industry, through which production was sped up and made more seamless with automated mechanisms.  Over time, automation has evolved to cater to various purposes, across different industries. As far as the IT industry is concerned, automation has had and is continuing to aid in increasing efficiency and reducing human intervention in the areas of software tools, frameworks and deployments.