Attended vs. Unattended RPA: Which is Right for Your Company?

The human mind is remarkable on a daily basis. We can take in and process a huge amount of information quickly and efficiently, making decisions that we wouldn’t be able to make if we had to consciously think about every single step.

However, there are some tasks where even the human mind can start to feel the strain. Repetitive, rule-based tasks are the perfect example – our brains are just not built to repeat a task over and over again for hours on end.

This is where robotic process automation (RPA) comes in. RPA is a form of technology that can be used to automate repetitive, rule-based tasks that would usually be carried out by a human.

Instead, a software bot completes the job faster, which gives staff more time to work on complex assignments. RPA is designed to improve efficiency by taking on the tedious and time-consuming tasks that humans often don’t want to do or simply aren’t very good at.

For example, imagine you work in Accounts Receivable and spend your days inputting data into various systems. It’s a repetitive and error-prone task, but it’s a necessary one.

With RPA, you could set up a robotic process to take care of the data inputting for you. The software bot would be able to work through the data much faster than you could and with fewer errors.

This would free up your time so that you could focus on more critical tasks, such as building relationships with your customers.

Although there are different types of RPA available in the market, the most commonly used are:

• Attended RPA
• Unattended RPA
• Hybrid RPA

Below, we’ll break down some key differences between Attended RPA and Unattended RPA to help you decide which is best for your company. Keep in mind that Hybrid RPA combines characteristics of both Attended and Unattended RPA.

Attended RPA is designed to be used by humans. The robots are set up to work alongside humans in order to automate tasks.

This type of RPA is best suited for tasks that require some level of human intervention.

For example, if you work in customer service and need to access multiple systems to resolve a customer query, an Attended RPA robot could be used to automate parts of the process, such as logging into the relevant systems and pulling up the required information. Also, if you work in data entry and need to input data into multiple systems, an Attended RPA robot could be used to automate the process of logging into each system and entering the data.

The Attended RPA robot would then pass the information to you so that you could resolve the customer query. This would save you time as you wouldn’t need to log into each system individually.

Businesses looking to automate functions while retaining a human component might benefit from this sort of RPA.

• Employees need minimal coding knowledge.

 Attended RPA tools come with a user-friendly interface, which makes them easy to use and learn. No coding skills are necessary for the set up or operation of the robots. The robotic process is designed to be triggered by any user, who will also be responsible for monitoring its progress.

• Requires less IT infrastructure than Unattended RPA.

As Attended RPA tools are designed to be used by humans, they don’t require the same level of IT infrastructure as Unattended RPA. This makes them easier and cheaper to set up and maintain.

• Automate tasks across multiple systems.

Because Attended RPA tools are designed to be used by humans, they can be easily integrated with the systems that humans use to carry out their work. This makes it possible to automate tasks that span multiple systems.

• Train employees on new systems and processes.

By automating tasks, Attended RPA can be used to train employees on how to carry out new systems and processes. 

For example, if your company is introducing a new CRM system, you could use Attended RPA to automate the process of inputting customer data into the system. The robotic process would input the data in the same way that an employee would, which would allow employees to see how the task is done and learn from it.

• Attended RPA Tools can be disruptive.

Because Attended RPA tools are designed to be used by humans, they can be disruptive to workflow. This is because the robotic process can often take over tasks that humans are used to doing themselves.

• Requires employees to have knowledge of the robotic process.

For Attended RPA to be used effectively, employees need to have knowledge of the robotic process, be trained on how to use it, and know how it fits into their work.

• Attended RPA Tools can be inflexible.

Attended RPA tools can be inflexible because they can only be used to automate tasks that are carried out by humans. If the robotic process is unable to input data the same way employees would, it would not be able to automate the task effectively.

• Attended RPA tools can be unreliable.

Attended RPA tools can be unreliable as they are reliant on humans. This means that if a human makes a mistake, the robotic process can also make a mistake.

Unattended RPA is designed to be used without human intervention. The robots are set up to work independently in order to automate tasks.

This type of RPA is best suited for tasks that can be carried out without human intervention. For example, if you work in finance and need to process a large number of invoices, an Unattended RPA robot could be used to automate the process.

The robotic process would read the invoices, extract the relevant data, and populate the fields in the accounting software. This would save you time as you wouldn’t need to manually enter the data into the software.

If you have a big workforce, RPA is perfect for your business because it can take care of duties that would be delegated to employees.

For example, if your company has a large number of customer service agents, you could use Unattended RPA to automate the process of logging into customer accounts and pulling up customer information.

• Automate high-volume, repetitive tasks.

Unattended RPA is ideal for executing high-volume, repetitive operations. This is because the robotic process can operate independently and without human assistance.

For example, if you work in a call center and need to make a large number of calls, an Unattended RPA robot could be used to automate the process.

• Automate complex tasks.

Unlike other forms of automation, unattended RPA can be programmed to complete tasks in a variety of ways according to the data it encounters. For example, an Unattended RPA robot could be programmed to read and interpret unstructured data, such as an email or a PDF document.

• It’s an accurate and consistent way to carry out tasks.

Because Unattended RPA is carried out by a robotic process, it is an accurate and consistent way to carry out tasks. This is because the robotic process will always carry out the task in the same way, regardless of who or what is doing it or when it is carried out.

Also, Unattended RPA is accurate as it can be configured to carry out tasks in a precise way. This means that there exists a much lower chance of human error.

• Cost-effective for any business.

Unattended RPA is cost-effective as it can be used to automate a wide range of tasks. This means money is being saved by not having to hire employees to carry out these tasks.

For example, if you need to process a large number of invoices, an Unattended RPA robot could be used to automate the process. This would save you the cost of hiring an employee to manually enter the data into the accounting software.

• Difficult to set up.

Without proper management, RPA can be tough to establish as it necessitates a great amount of technical savvy. The robotic process must be engineered to function in a precise manner, which can be complicated.

• Difficult to manage.

Unattended RPA is more complicated to manage since it demands a high level of technical knowledge. The robotic process must be monitored and controlled for it to operate correctly.

• Difficult to troubleshoot.

Without someone there to monitor it, RPA can be challenging to fix when things go haywire. The cause of the issue is often unclear because robotics is made to handle multiple jobs at once. As a result, pinpointing which task is responsible for causing errors can be time-consuming and complicated.

• Difficult to scale.

As RPA technology becomes more complex, it will be increasingly difficult to scale. The robotic process must be set up in a specific manner, which may be tough.

For example, if you want to add an Unattended RPA robot to your existing accounting software, you would need to ensure that the robotic process is compatible with the software. This can be difficult to do and may require the help of a developer.

Attended RPA is best suited for tasks that are carried out by a human regularly since the robotic process can be designed to work alongside humans.

Unattended RPA is best suited for high-volume, repetitive tasks. The robotic process can operate independently and without the need for human intervention.

If you want to learn more about this topic, RD Global is happy to offer you a free RPA consult. We’ll help you understand if RPA is right for your company and which type of RPA would be best suited for your needs. Just click on the button below to get started.

No matter which RPA you choose, RD Global can help you get the most out of your robotic process automation. We have a full team of experienced developers who can help you set up, monitor, and troubleshoot your RPA project. Also, our developers can help you scale your RPA project as your needs change.

We have a wide range of RPA services that can be tailored to your specific needs. So, if you’re looking for some help with your robotic process automation, feel free to contact us today. We are more than happy to talk about your project with you and help you get started.

We have a broad portfolio of diverse business sectors that have benefited from our RPA services. Rest assured that we have the expertise to meet the specific needs of your business and its environment.

If you’re looking for robotic process automation, RD Global is the perfect company for you.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with your robotic process automation needs.