Robotic Process Automation: A Beginner’s Guide

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is changing the way businesses operate, automating repetitive tasks, boosting efficiency, and freeing up human teams to focus on higher-value work. Whether you’re new to automation or exploring ways to scale operations, this beginner’s guide to RPA will walk you through everything you need to know: what robotic process automation is, how it’s used in business, and how to build a compelling case for adoption.

Table of Contents

• What Is Robotic Process Automation (RPA)?

• How Does RPA Work in Business?

• Robotic Process Automation vs Business Process Automation

• Advantages of Robotic Process Automation

• RPA for Small Businesses: Is It Worth It?

• What Does a Business Analyst Do in RPA?

• Building a Business Case for RPA

• How to Get Started with Robotic Process Automation

What Is Robotic Process Automation (RPA)?

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is used when no APIs are available, such as on websites or desktop applications. Bots can then log into applications, extract data, fill in forms, and complete repetitive rule-based tasks, without the need for human intervention.

If you’ve ever copied and pasted data between systems, processed invoices manually, or generated routine reports, RPA can automate those workflows – quickly and accurately.

How Does RPA Work in Business?

RPA is commonly used in industries like finance, healthcare, insurance, retail, and logistics to automate structured tasks at scale. Think tasks like:

• Invoice processing

• Payroll data entry

• Claims validation

• Onboarding workflows

• CRM data migration

What makes robotic process automation in business so valuable is its ability to integrate with existing systems, without the need to overhaul your tech stack. Wrk’s no-code, custom automations make RPA accessible for small businesses and non-technical teams.

Robotic Process Automation vs Business Process Automation

While often confused, RPA and Business Process Automation (BPA) are distinct:

• RPA focuses on task-level automation, mimicking human interaction with software.

• BPA addresses the entire business process, often involving deeper integration, process redesign, and orchestration across departments.

Think of RPA as a quick win for individual workflows, while BPA is a longer-term strategy for transforming entire operations.

Advantages of Robotic Process Automation

Why are more organizations adopting RPA? The proof is in the productivity (and the cost savings, faster workflows, and so on). 

• Increased productivity – Bots work 24/7 without fatigue

• Fewer errors – Eliminate human error in repetitive tasks

• Cost savings – Reduce the need for manual labor and rework

• Faster workflows – Speed up turnaround times in operations

• Scalability – Easily replicate automation across multiple teams or systems

• Compliance – Automatically log actions for audit trails and data accuracy

RPA for Small Businesses: Is It Worth It?

Absolutely. While RPA was once reserved for large enterprises, Wrk’s customized automations employ robotic process automation for small businesses in a cost-effective way, allowing them to scale without hiring more staff.

Small teams use RPA to automate email triage, schedule social posts, track leads in CRMs, or manage customer service tickets – all with no-code or low-code automations.

What Does a Business Analyst Do in RPA?

A business analyst in robotic process automation plays a crucial role in identifying automation opportunities, mapping workflows, and bridging the gap between business teams and technical teams. They help define processes suitable for RPA, document requirements, and ensure that automation aligns with business goals.

For growing companies, a business analyst can be the linchpin in successful RPA implementation.

Building a Business Case for RPA

Before investing in RPA, leadership will want to see ROI. Here’s how to build a strong robotic process automation business case:

• Identify high-volume, rule-based tasks

• Estimate hours saved per month

• Calculate labor cost reductions

• Highlight compliance or error-reduction benefits

• Emphasize scalability without adding headcount

Many Wrk clients see returns in days/weeks – not months – thanks to fast deployment and measurable gains.

How to Get Started with Robotic Process Automation

You don’t need a dev team to start automating. Wrk offers a bespoke, no-code automation platform that allows you to launch your first process in hours, not months.

• Choose a task or workflow

• Set up a call with the RPA experts at Wrk

• Get a customized automation in 24 business hours or less

• Let the bots run your process on autopilot

Need help? Book a demo or talk to our team to explore your first RPA use case.