Robotic Process Automation [RPA], Test Automation – Myths and Facts
To answer all such questions, we’ve come up with a post to debunk all myths and highlight the facts of RPA and test automation. Let’s get started with an introduction to RPA.
What is RPA? What are its advantages and types?
The name Robotic Process Automation basically speaks for itself. In other words, RPA is everything that can help you switch from completing the routine tasks manually to optimize the business processes with a little help from the tech world.
RPA concept is a great thing to use when there is a need to:
- Automate daily tedious manual testing tasks which are:
- repetitive
- time-consuming
- rules-based
- Use software robots or Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Be applied across different industries
Generally, such an approach results in:
- Quick improvements in efficiency and productivity
- Enhanced accuracy
- Cost reduction
- Maintaining compliance
Simple RPA vs Cognitive RPA
RPA can be further categorized into simple and cognitive. Here’s how they are different:
| Simple RPA | Cognitive RPA |
| Automation of any routine tasks where there is no need of intelligence is termed as Simple RPA. For example, Data Entry jobs | Cognitive RPA involves human action/command for an RPA processing. For example, using Google assistant to find the shortest route while driving is a case of Cognitive RPA. |
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Myths of Robotic Process Automation
Myth 1 – RPA is similar to Test Automation
Overall, these two processes are similar as they both involve automation and offer the same advantages of reducing manual intervention and delivering quality. However, the System Under Automation (SUA) may differ depending on the adopted concept.
For example, let’s say, we’re running an eCommerce business, and our main source of income is an online store which can be considered our product. In this example, test automation will be applied only to the product, an online store, and its features. However, RPA could be applied to other business processes like data entry for product descriptions or automating the onboarding process for the HR department when hiring new employees.
Here’s a comparison table to help you tell some other differences between RPA and Test Automation:
| Test Automation | Robotic Process Automation |
| Should be applied to a product | Can be applied to products and other business processes |
| Has to be implemented across different environments (QA, Prod, UAT) | Only needs a single production environment |
| Limited to a particular set of users | Could be used by all individuals across the team |
On the other hand, test automation can be a powerful approach to make your business processes smoother and scale the operations in scenarios where you’re limited in your resources and have to bootstrap your company.
Myth 2: Testing with RPA is just like Test Automation
As we know RPA is a concept built with the automation in mind but has reached the next level where no or only limited coding skills are required. RPA as a concept could be used to automate anything with no dependency on the target system. So, at the roots, RPA can be considered a testing tool, but at a very generic level of understanding, as an umbrella term. Moreover, RPA isn’t a competitor to Codeless Testing tools as the later is a more powerful, purpose designed solution for test automation.
Myth 3: Testing Tools like Selenium Could be used for RPA
The market is flooded with test automation tools like Selenium, QTP, QF-Test, etc. so could they be used as RPA tools? The short answer is NO, and the long answer is that test automation tools come with a constraint that they need software to run on. At the same time, RPA could be applied to anything except a product. Hence, none of the testing tools available in the market could serve as an RPA tool.
Myth 4: RPA can cause job losses
A report published by McKinsey Global Institute says, “The right level of detail at which to analyze the potential impact of automation is that of individual activities rather than entire occupations[…] Given currently demonstrated technologies, very few occupations—less than 5 percent—are candidates for full automation. However, almost every occupation has partial automation potential.”
This type of analysis builds hopes that the work done would be most effective when done under a condition of human collaboration with machines, so as of now we do not see RPA eating up jobs. Instead, it’s wise to automate repeatable operations previously done by people, so professionals could focus on more complex tasks which require human intelligence.
Five Facts about Robotic Process Automation
Experts predict that workforce automation is one of the biggest trends with the potential to disrupt the tech world, based on reports from CGI and other sources. Here are a few facts and figures on software robotics, aka RPA:
- 47% of tasks can be automated using RPA
- With RPA tools the processing time could be reduced by 40%
- RPA may boost the growth of IoT and big data tech products
- RPA tools can provide enhanced analytics and visualization models which are customer focused and beneficial for business
- RPA is a strategic decision that needs to be implemented only after assessing the ROI
Robotic Process Automation at CloudQA
CloudQA is on its journey to deliver quality and reduce cost is in the process of launching its RPA solutions soon.
Our miniature robots could work across various industry such as banking, insurance, health or telecom. Our solution will help you in educating, implementing, supporting and maintaining the automation of business processes. CloudQA RPA tool will have such features as easy environment set up, non-intrusive, scalable and, above all, automation of both simple and cognitive business processes.
Contact us for more information on our RPA tools.
Test Automation with CloudQA
In the meanwhile, we already offer a variety of solutions for testing automation. Our products help business across different industries to scale and automate their QA through load testing, synthetic monitoring, and regression testing.
Moreover, with all of our products we work hard to make sure they have the lowest learning curve possible. Which means, that even businesses that don’t employ QA automation professionals can use them.
If you want to get started with testing automation today, request a free demo, and we will show you all the possibilities of our testing automation software.
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