Using RPA to extract data in hard-to-get-places

Filling the Gap & Saving Time with Automation 

Accessing data from “locked-in” sources has long been a challenge for organizations. Legacy systems, vendor lock-in, and unstructured data are common roadblocks to extracting valuable information. Fortunately, the advent of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has enabled Kick Bot Solutions and BizXcel to revolutionize data gathering with a variety of tools aimed specifically at getting data from these hard-to-access areas. 

Addressing Legacy Systems: 

Legacy systems that predate modern database tools often hinder data extraction through conventional methods. RPA enables bots to interact with computer interfaces, just as a human would, navigating through legacy systems and retrieving critical data. In this way, automation technology mimics human interaction, facilitating seamless data extraction from legacy sources. 

Overcoming Vendor Lock-In:  

Vendor lock-in and the absence of bulk data extraction APIs can also limit data accessibility. Vendor lock-in occurs any time vendors keep information abstracted and make it difficult to access. In these cases, whether from vendor legacy systems or the lack of bulk extraction features such as APIs, data becomes inaccessible. Similar to legacy sources, RPA bots address this challenge by interacting with applications in a human-like manner, extracting data in bulk. Once extracted, the data can then be transformed and utilized in a variety of applications.  

Accessing Unstructured Data:  

Unstructured data comes in many forms but some of the more common forms are data contained in Word documents, PDFs, images, and websites. While each format poses different challenges, each can be resolved through automated data gathering. RPA accomplishes this task by leveraging the combined power of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and web scraping to capture, centralize, and normalize data into records for full access.   

More specifically, OCR technology enables machines to convert images or scanned documents containing text into machine-readable and editable text. RPA bots utilize OCR to extract valuable textual information from unstructured data sources. In short, OCR allows RPA to “make sense” of unstructured data found in images such as charts, graphs, and text embedded within pictures. 

In addition, RPA bots employ web scraping to navigate through web pages and collect specific information as needed. By combining OCR with web scraping, RPA bots efficiently extract text and data from web pages, transforming unstructured web content into structured data that can be readily analyzed. 

For example, an RPA bot can scrape a website by locating a product image using a description and then applying OCR technology to extract the textual information from the image. This integration enables RPA to quickly access and compile unstructured data from various sources on the web and transform it into valuable information. 

Moving Outside of Technology for Data: 

One of the most inaccessible sources of information for automated data collection is the human mind. With RPA's human interaction features, bots can collaborate seamlessly with humans to capture and integrate qualitative data effectively. This human-to-bot synergy helps streamline the integration of human knowledge into the data extraction process. Furthermore, leveraging the power of AI allows bots to synthesize and turn human-sourced, qualitative data into data that further enhance analysis.   

For example, by utilizing AI with RPA it is possible to monitor social media or other channels (Slack, MS Teams, etc) to collect the sentiment of the conversations occurring.  This provides valuable information to the organization that allows them to mitigate potential situations or take advantage of opportunities that may be occurring right now. 

Conclusion:  

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has emerged as a powerful tool for unlocking data from locked-in sources. By automating data extraction, RPA empowers organizations to access valuable information from legacy systems, break free from vendor lock-in, and conquer unstructured data. With RPA paving the way for data accessibility, businesses can make informed decisions, gain a competitive edge, and even achieve higher margins through a deeper understanding of their operational performance. 

For more possible usages of RPA, please download our 101 free bots here.