Robotic process automation (or RPA) is technology designed to automate business processes that are rules-based, structured, and repetitive. It is (in a nutshell) the automated testing of digital processes, allowing people to focus on business activities that add more value. RPA is part of a broader shift to automation, amid a “perfect storm” of technology that includes AI, machine learning, big data, robotics and the Internet of Things.
This move towards greater automation will impact every industry. In fact, Gartner analysts have predicted that 85% of large organizations will have some form of RPA implemented by 2022, and it’s only a matter of time before RPA is routinely deployed in smaller and medium-sized businesses as well. So if you haven’t considered the potential impact of RPA on your business, now is a good time to do so. This article will help you on your way.
Is testing in a (standard) webshop still necessary anyway?
The answer is yes and why? I can expect a standard shop to work..
Certainly, detecting bugs in software is not necessary (it is if you have customization 😉). Testing your business processes for sure!
Before you go live (or start using software), it is useful to know which scenarios are possible and to intercept things in advance and limit barriers where possible so that the process for your customer up to and including a purchase runs as smoothly as possible.
There are different types of tests, such as a chain test and a process test. With a process test you will test each process separately, such as the ordering process, payment, delivery and invoicing process. In a chain test you will test all individual processes one after the other, for example from order to invoicing. These are manual tests that you go through on the basis of your own scenarios.
Can this be automated? Yes!
More and more app builders are on RPA! For example, in Shopify there are various apps available to propose and implement improvements in the webshop based on user activities. Click here for an example of such an app.
