Glossary · Robotics
Robotic process automation (RPA)
Also known as: RPA, Software robots
German: Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
In business IT, robotic process automation (RPA) is the use of software bots that mimic user interactions with applications, such as clicking, typing and copying data between systems, to automate rule-based office tasks. Despite the name, RPA involves no physical robots.
- Robotics
- AI
In one sentence
Robotic process automation (RPA) uses software bots that imitate user actions in applications to automate office tasks; no physical robots.
Example
An RPA bot copies maintenance orders from the ERP system into the plant's maintenance planning tool every night.
Explained in context
Context cards connect this term with others to answer one question. Also in British English and German.
How it applies
- Engineering: RPA bots work through user interfaces, so they break when screens change. They suit stable, rule-based tasks where an API integration is not available.
- Operation: Combined with AI components, RPA becomes part of an Agentic workflow; governance, logging and access rights then matter as for any automated user.
- Documentation: The documentation team should avoid confusion with physical robotics: in terminology databases, mark RPA as a business IT term and do not translate robot in RPA contexts as Roboter in the sense of a machine.
RPA vs. AI agent
An RPA bot follows scripted steps. An AI agent decides its own steps with a language model and tools. Both automate software tasks; neither is a Robot in the ISO 8373 sense.