Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Services

RPA is software that mimics human actions to perform rule-based tasks on computer systems, entering data into forms, extracting data from websites or documents, moving information between applications, generating reports, and sending emails based on triggers. Unlike system integrations that connect via API, RPA interacts with applications at the UI layer, which means it can automate systems that don't have APIs available. RPA is most valuable for high-volume, rule-based tasks that are currently done manually and don't require human judgment.

RPA automates tasks at the application interface level, bots interact with screens, forms, and UIs the way a human would. Business process automation (BPA) is broader and includes API-based integrations, workflow orchestration, decision logic, and human-in-the-loop steps. RPA is often a component of a larger automation programme. If the systems you need to automate have accessible APIs, API-based integration is usually faster, more reliable, and cheaper to maintain than RPA. RPA is the right choice when: the system has no API, API access is not available to your team, or you need to automate a legacy application that cannot be integrated any other way.

High-value RPA use cases include: invoice processing and AP data entry, payroll data processing, HR onboarding data entry across multiple systems, compliance reporting and regulatory filing, customer data extraction from portals, order processing and ERP data entry, email classification and routing, and report generation and distribution. The best candidates are: high-volume (100+ instances per week), rule-based (clear decision logic, minimal exceptions), cross-system (data that has to move between multiple applications), and currently done manually.

A single bot automating a well-documented process takes 4-8 weeks from process analysis to production deployment. A programme with 5-10 bots takes 3-6 months. Most of the time is in process documentation and testing, finding the edge cases that break the bot before users encounter them. We insist on process documentation before building because bots break when processes are not well-understood at the start.

Bot breakage due to UI changes is the most common RPA maintenance issue. We build bots with resilient selectors and fallback logic where possible to reduce breakage. When a system update breaks a bot, our maintenance agreements include priority fix timelines. For high-frequency breakage situations, we recommend evaluating whether API integration is available, it is more reliable than UI automation and worth investing in when bots are frequently disrupted.

A single bot for a well-defined process runs $8,000-$20,000 for development and deployment. Multi-bot programmes with a Centre of Excellence setup, training, and ongoing governance run $40,000-$120,000. Platform licencing (UiPath, Automation Anywhere) is a separate recurring cost, $5,000-$30,000/year depending on the platform and number of bots. Custom code automation avoids platform licensing costs and is often the right choice for simpler workflows.