Exploring the Distinction Between Attended and Unattended Bots in RPA

In the realm of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), using software robots to automate mundane tasks and streamline business processes has become increasingly prevalent. These bots come in different forms, each addressing specific automation needs within organizations. Two primary categories of RPA bots are attended and unattended, each serving distinct functions in enhancing operational efficiency and productivity. Let’s delve into the world of the bots to uncover their distinct objectives and functions, shedding light on why comprehending their roles is essential for optimizing automation strategies and driving business growth.

Attended bots are designed to work alongside human employees, providing real-time assistance and enhancing user productivity in daily tasks. These bots operate on the user’s desktop and require human intervention to initiate and complete specific actions. Attended bots are ideal for scenarios where human judgment and decision-making are essential and the automation process involves user interaction.

How Attended Bots Work:

Attended bots are usually activated either manually by the user or automatically in response to predefined triggers.

For instance, when a customer service representative receives a call, the bot can automatically pull up relevant customer details based on the incoming call information.

Once triggered, the attended bot performs specific tasks that are either repetitive or data-intensive, freeing up the human worker to focus on more nuanced aspects of the task.

For example, in healthcare, an attended bot might assist a doctor by pre-filling patient information into an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system during a consultation​.

The key feature of attended bots is their collaborative nature. They assist in tasks that require frequent human decision-making or actions.

For instance, in finance, an attended bot might help an accountant process an invoice by extracting relevant data and filling in forms, but the final review and submission still require the accountant’s approval​.

Attended bots are often integrated into users’ existing workflows. They can seamlessly interact with multiple applications, pulling data from one and pushing it into another, thereby reducing the need for manual data entry.

In the insurance sector, for instance, an attended bot might assist an underwriter by retrieving historical policy data and pre-populating forms, but the underwriter would still be responsible for final approval​.

Unattended bots operate independently without human oversight, executing predefined tasks autonomously in the background. Unattended bots are typically deployed on servers or virtual machines and can perform repetitive, rule-based tasks at scale without the need for human intervention. These bots excel in scenarios where 24/7 automation is required, such as batch processing, data migration, and report generation.

Here’s how unattended bots function:

Unattended bots can be set to run on a specific schedule or triggered by certain events, such as the arrival of a new file in a folder or the completion of a preceding task.

For example, an unattended bot might be scheduled to run every night to reconcile accounts, ensuring that all financial records are updated by the start of the next business day​.

Once triggered, unattended bots operate autonomously, executing tasks without any human input. They can navigate multiple systems, extracting data from one, processing it, and then updating or entering it into another system.

In healthcare, unattended bots can handle the entire claims processing workflow, from claims submission to payment reconciliation, without any human involvement​​.

Unattended bots can handle complex, multi-step workflows involving various systems and large datasets.

For instance, in the insurance industry, an unattended bot might process claims by verifying customer information, checking policy details, calculating payouts, and then processing the payment without human oversight​.

These bots are highly scalable and can be deployed across multiple processes simultaneously. This makes them ideal for back-office operations where repetitive tasks can be standardized.

In finance, unattended bots can handle processes such as invoice processing, payroll management, and compliance reporting with high accuracy and speed, significantly reducing operational costs.

The choice between attended and unattended bots depends on the specific automation requirements and the nature of the tasks to be automated. Here are key statements to consider when comparing these two types of bots

When deciding between attended and unattended bots for your business, it’s essential to consider the specific requirements of the tasks you want to automate. Here are key factors to pay attention to:

• If the task requires real-time interaction or frequent human decision-making, such as assisting customer service representatives during live calls or helping healthcare professionals with patient data entry, an attended bot is likely the better choice. Attended bots excel in scenarios where collaboration between the bot and the human user is necessary.
• If the task is repetitive, rule-based, and can be completed without any human intervention, such as invoice processing, claims management, or data reconciliation, an unattended bot is more suitable. Unattended bots are designed to handle end-to-end processes autonomously, making them ideal for back-office operations that require consistent, error-free execution.

• Consider the volume of tasks and the need for scalability. Unattended bots are more scalable and can manage high volumes of transactions across multiple processes simultaneously, making them ideal for large-scale operations.
• Attended bots are typically deployed on individual desktops and are better suited for processes that occur on a smaller scale or require immediate human oversight.

• Evaluate the cost implications and expected return on investment (ROI). While potentially more expensive to deploy initially, unattended bots can deliver significant cost savings by automating large volumes of tasks and reducing the need for human labor. This often results in a faster ROI, where large-scale automation can substantially impact.
• Attended bots, being more affordable and more accessible to deploy on a smaller scale, may offer a quicker and more cost-effective solution for tasks that require human interaction. They are particularly useful in environments that enhance employee productivity rather than entirely replace manual processes.

• Consider how well the bot will integrate with your existing systems and workflows. Attended bots can be seamlessly integrated into your current desktop applications, providing immediate assistance without significant changes to your workflow.
• On the other hand, unattended bots may require more extensive integration with your IT infrastructure, but they can operate across multiple systems and handle complex processes end-to-end.

It’s crucial to ensure that the bots can maintain compliance and data security in industries with strict regulatory requirements, such as healthcare and finance. Both attended, and unattended bots can be designed with compliance in mind, but unattended bots, operating independently and often dealing with sensitive data, must have robust security measures in place.

Comparing attended and unattended bots reveals that each type is designed to solve specific process problems. Attended bots are best for tasks that require real-time human interaction and decision-making, while unattended bots excel at automating complete processes without human intervention. By carefully considering the nature of the task, scalability needs, cost implications, integration requirements, and compliance concerns, you can determine which type of bot is the most appropriate for your business.

At Flobotics, we are here to help you analyze your processes and determine the best automation solution for your needs. Whether it’s implementing attended bots to enhance your team’s productivity or deploying unattended bots to automate complex workflows, we provide the expertise and support needed to achieve your automation goals. Let us help you unlock the full potential of RPA in your organization.