By Matthew David – In many organizations, the first step toward automation and artificial intelligence/machine learning is the adoption of robotic process automation (RPA) technology.

Many enterprises are using RPA to improve efficiencies in costs and in IT processes. In many cases, reducing errors, time, costs, and redundant actions can improve the workflow for customers and other stakeholders.

At its core, RPA helps organizations automate defined, multi-step, manual tasks that are done in high volume. RPA does this by creating software robots that copy human actions to interact with existing application interfaces.

RPA has the potential to reduce costs by 30% to 50%. It is a smart investment that can significantly improve the organization’s bottom line. It is very flexible and can handle a wide range of tasks, including process replication and web scraping.

RPA can help predict errors and reduce or eliminate entire processes. It also helps you stay ahead of the competition by using intelligent automation. And it can improve the digital customer experience by creating personalized services.

One way to get started with RPA is to use open-source tools, which have no up-front licensing fees. Below are five options to consider for your first RPA initiative, with pros and cons of each one, along with advice on how to choose the right tool for your your company. Read On: