The Procurement Glossary » Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Technology & Systems

Also known as: RPA

Definition

Software 'bots' that mimic human actions to automate repetitive, rules-based digital tasks across systems.

Explanation

RPA is used in procurement to bridge systems that lack integration — copying data between screens, extracting invoice fields, updating records. It delivers quick wins but is best treated as a stopgap where proper integration or automation is not yet available.

Example

An RPA bot logs into the supplier portal each morning, downloads new invoices and enters them into the ERP.

Related terms

• Procurement Automation — The use of software to perform procurement tasks with little or no manual intervention.
• Workflow Automation — The automated routing of tasks, approvals and notifications according to predefined business rules.
• API Integration — Connecting two software systems through an application programming interface so they can exchange data automatically.
• Touchless Invoice Processing — The fully automated handling of an invoice from receipt to payment with no manual intervention.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Robotic Process Automation (RPA)?

Software 'bots' that mimic human actions to automate repetitive, rules-based digital tasks across systems. RPA is used in procurement to bridge systems that lack integration — copying data between screens, extracting invoice fields, updating records. It delivers quick wins but is best treated as a stopgap where proper integration or automation is not yet available.

Can you give an example of Robotic Process Automation (RPA)?

An RPA bot logs into the supplier portal each morning, downloads new invoices and enters them into the ERP.

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