What differentiates RPA from traditional automation tools?

The defining characteristic that differentiates Robotic Process Automation (RPA) from traditional automation tools is its ability to excel in environments with structured data. RPA is specifically designed to mimic human interactions with digital systems to carry out a variety of business processes that typically involve structured data, such as forms, databases, and spreadsheets.

Structured data allows RPA tools to operate effectively because these data types have a predictable format and organization, which makes it easier for software bots to navigate, interpret, and process without extensive configuration or programming.

On the other hand, while RPA can indeed function with some degree of human-like decision-making, this characteristic is not exclusive to it and can also be found in certain traditional automation tools that employ more complex algorithms and machine learning. The claim regarding requiring less training can be somewhat misleading, since both RPA and traditional automation tools might require significant training based on the complexity and the specific requirements of the tasks they are automating. Additionally, RPA's capabilities extend beyond just desktop applications, as it can also integrate with web and cloud applications, making it much more versatile than being limited solely to desktop environments.