WHAT is RPA?
RPA stands for Robotic Process Automation. It is a branch of automation where the user’s actions such as mouse clicks and keyboard entries to computer applications are replicated and automated. This type of automation has been around since the late 1990s and early 2000s, but is only recently becoming popular due to its association with artificial intelligence and automation.

WHY is there a need for RPA?
By mapping a business or process workflow into a series of steps and conditions to be done on computer applications, it is possible to automate workflows that are repetitive and huge-volume in nature. For example, receiving an order from email, keying in order details in inventory management application and sending a confirmation note in the CRM application.

WHO is it for?
RPA is typically used by large enterprises such as banks and insurers where there is huge volume of repetitive business processes. Examples of companies in Singapore using RPA include DBS, JPMorgan, UBS, Citibank, Prudential, Singtel, Certis CISCO, NOL, Schroders, Continental etc….

Introducing TagUI: An open-source and free RPA software by AI Singapore
As commercial RPA software is expensive and a typical deployment can easily cost > $100K, SMEs or startups are typically priced out of enjoying the benefits of using RPA. TagUI is an open-source and free RPA software by AI Singapore which helps provide an alternative option for large enterprises and SMEs who want to start their RPA journey.

Benefits of RPA

• Improve efficiency and productivity by automating repetitive manual processes, enabling people to focus on higher-value activities which create greater value for customers.
• Human errors can be reduced, coupled with logs for added accountability.
• RPA is a non-invasive technology that is built on top of your existing IT infrastructure and assets as it mimics existing user workflows on those systems.

AI Singapore’s TagUI converts workflows written in 21 different human languages into automation actions on computer applications. There are visual recognition and OCR capabilities as well as native integration with R and Python for big data / machine learning / AI use cases. It can be triggered by desktop icons, command line, schedule, web service API, making it easy to be integrated with other automated workflows and call other downstream automation. It can be used on Windows, macOS and Linux versus only Windows for commercial RPA software. It is also easier to pick up and get started versus the sophisticated commercial offerings.

So…having read all the benefits of RPA and TagUI, how do you apply it?
If you have an IT team or someone with developer experience, it is easy to deploy TagUI directly. As it is open-source and free to use, you can download and use it immediately from TagUI homepage – https://github.com/kelaberetiv/TagUI. Otherwise, you can also engage a local consultancy firm to do that for you.

Alternatively, you can also let AI Singapore know more about your automation scenarios so that we can match students from participating polytechnics to your company through their final year projects or internship.

We conduct free TagUI workshops from time to time at our office and polytechnics to make it easy to learn TagUI.