Robotic Process Automation vs. Artificial Intelligence

Many companies have an RPA team in place and are already using RPA somewhere in their organization. When curious organizations reach out to us, they often ask how AI differs from RPA and whether the two complement one another – from a technical standpoint and when it comes to the efficiency and productivity gains that the two technologies can bring to a company. In this article, we outline the main differences.

Well-defined tasks vs. unstructured data

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are often mentioned together, but they are not the same thing. While both of these technologies are concerned with automating repetitive tasks, they differ in many ways.
RPA is a software that is designed to repeat actions that are defined once. This is achieved by programming a “robot” to follow a set of rules and perform a sequence of tasks that would normally be done by a human. RPA is primarily focused on automating routine and repetitive tasks, such as data entry, record keeping, and other mundane tasks.

AI, on the other hand, is a broader field that includes a range of technologies that enable machines to simulate human intelligence. This includes natural language processing, machine learning, deep learning, and other techniques that allow machines to learn from data, make decisions, and perform tasks that were previously only possible for humans.

The main difference between RPA and AI is that RPA is designed to automate tasks that are already well-defined and routine, whereas AI is designed to enable machines to learn from data and make decisions based on that data. RPA is essentially a tool for automating repetitive tasks, while AI is a tool for enabling machines to learn and perform more complex tasks.

Another key difference between RPA and AI is the level of human involvement required. RPA robots are typically programmed by humans to perform specific tasks, and they require human intervention to make decisions or adapt to new situations, even with the slightest variation. In contrast, AI systems are designed to be autonomous and able to make decisions without human intervention. AI systems can also learn from data and adapt to new situations without human input.

So, while RPA and AI are often mentioned together, they are distinct technologies with different purposes and capabilities. Understanding the differences between RPA and AI is essential for organizations that are considering implementing these technologies in their operations.

What to choose for your organization for Sales Order Automation?
Whether to choose Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to automate your sales order process depends on your specific business needs and goals. However, there are several reasons why you might choose AI over RPA to automate your sales order process:

– Higher level of automation: While RPA can automate repetitive tasks, AI can automate more complex tasks that require data analysis, decision-making, and natural language processing. This can result in a higher level of automation, which can free up human resources for more valuable tasks.

– More intelligent decision-making: Unlike RPA, AI can make intelligent decisions based on data analysis, which can lead to more accurate and informed decision-making. For instance, AI can analyze customer behavior and preferences to make personalized product recommendations, whereas RPA can only follow pre-defined rules.

– Better customer experience: AI-powered automation can lead to a better customer experience by providing personalized recommendations, faster response times, and improved customer service. This can lead to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty, which can ultimately increase revenue.

– More scalable: AI can be more scalable than RPA because it can handle a larger volume of data and transactions. This means that AI can be used to automate processes across multiple departments and functions, whereas RPA may be limited to specific tasks or processes.

– Future-proof: AI is a rapidly evolving technology that can adapt to changing business needs and customer demands. This means that AI-powered automation can be future-proofed, whereas RPA may become outdated as technology advances.

In conclusion, while both AI and RPA can be used to automate sales order processes, AI may be a better choice if you require more intelligent decision-making, higher level of automation, better customer experience, scalability, and future-proofing. Furthermore, some RPA solutions incorporate AI and vice versa. In any case, it’s important to carefully consider your specific business needs and goals before making a decision or ruling out options. Book a demo here, to learn more about the solutions that Go Autonomous offers and how they may complement the technology that you are already using today.