Robotic process automation

Robotic process automation (often called RPA) is software that copies the clicks and typing a person does on a computer, to finish repeat tasks by set rules. There are no physical robots. It was built for big offices with thousands of the same forms. Small teams now get much of the same benefit by connecting their tools and adding an AI helper (the industry calls it an agent), which can read messy emails and invoices that rigid rules can't. We work with a five-person online homewares store that typed 60 supplier invoices a month into Xero. Now an AI helper reads each invoice from the inbox and drafts the bill in Xero, and the bookkeeper checks and approves them in one sitting a week. Overseas invoices in other currencies are still done by hand.