How to Become an RPA Developer?

With robotics technology moving rapidly ahead of itself, it has become very important for developers to meet software needs. The hardware mechanics have become very advanced over time and are being upgraded at a regular interval. But these hardware systems cannot run on themselves. They require software to control them and process the operation they are built for. Therefore, to meet the software need of these highly advanced robotic machines that can perform basic human-like actions, RPA Programs or Robotic Process Automation Software are built. These actions include extracting data, completing the keystrokes, control the navigations, and many more. These actions can be done by humans but Robotic automation systems do it faster and have better consistency with the reduced chances of errors. These provide a higher rate of production in case of being introduced in the production line.  

Hence, technological firms hire RPA developers that are experts in the field of software development to create the best software to be embedded with the robots so that they provide the needed function.  

Let us understand more about RPA developers in detail.

Who is RPA Developer?

An RPA developer is a trained professional who has expertise in the field of software development, and not just any software. They develop robotic process automation software, that is embedded with the mechanical parts of a robot. The software works as the brains of the robot and instructs the robots what they are required to do. The responsibilities of an RPA developer can vary from one organization to another.  The basic work of an RPA developer is to deploys hardware-oriented software that deploys codes that are responsible for automating repetitive tasks. However, it is the need of the organizations that signifies the roles and responsibilities of an RPA developer.  

Demand & Scope: The world is moving toward technological advancements every day. All the tech giants are looking for ways to automate every process with the help of robots and software. This sudden increase in the need for automation has increased the requirement of highly skilled professionals. They create a perfect bridge between technology and human actions that is the need of the world. Therefore, RPA developers are highly required in today’s world to take the technologies even further. They connect the software with the hardware for easy processing and performing repetitive processes that can enhance the productivity as well as the efficiency of the organization. By the end of 2027, the RPA market is predicted to reach a market of $10.7 billion, and it can only be reached with the help of highly skilled RPA developers.

A lead developer in any organization could earn up to $150,000 per year. The scope for RPA developers is very broad. They are almost required in every industry which does work on a production basis. They are required in every industry consisting of machinery as an integral part of the production process.  

Roles & Responsibilities: Some basic responsibilities entirely depend upon RPA developers. This includes developing and updating automation software, designing the layout of all the processes. Once the software is developed, they work efficiently and provide the best production rate. Therefore, let us look at some of the roles and responsibilities of an RPA developer.

• They identify and develop the most effective automated processes for any business organization.  
• They aim to increase the efficiency of the workflow in any management, and it is done by frequent testing of the RPA system. This allows the production or any other business processes to flow efficiently.  
• Proper monitoring is always required to access the output of the process that is being automated. This will allow the developer to understand that if the software requires any update to increase the efficiency. This will help them to understand if there are any kind of issues that are affecting the automation process, and inherently decreasing the efficiency of the workflow.  
• The developers are also responsible for creating detailed outlines of all the processes and study the data to make sure that the required production is being met with the use of an automation system. This also allows the organization to maintain a detailed report, to monitor profit and loss.
• Quality assurance is very important in any organization. Therefore, RPA developers are responsible for running a diagnostic on all the products and ensure that they are of the required quality.  

Anyone who has an interest in developing applications and computer software can become an RPA developer. The basic educational qualification required is an engineering degree in computer sciences – however, the engineering curriculum is not embedded with all the other skills that are required to become a highly-skilled RPA developer. Therefore, you can opt to complete certification courses from standard institutes that will help you to enhance your knowledge and build better skills when it comes to RPA development. 

1. Programming Skills

Since RPA developers are required to have skills that would allow them to easily develop software that can be embedded with the processing of production machines, they must have high knowledge of the required programming languages like Java, C, C++, etc., and their environments. They should be able to identify which platform will provide the best-required automation, to increase the efficacy of the workflow of the production.

2. Scripting Languages like HTML and JavaScript

Many organizations have integrated software that is developed with online tools. Therefore, an RPA developer must have an understanding of the source codes and DOM, which are all a part of JavaScript. They must also know about writing Javascript codes, in case any software needs an update. The developer must also be equipped with some knowledge about HTML. The HTML tags are inculcated in the elements of the dynamic web applications. This will allow the developer to easily look for elements that are causing problems and resolve the issues effectively. Many programming languages can be used for different automation processes by developing software that is written in varied languages.  

3. SQL

An RPA developer must be able to retrieve past data from the company archives. This will allow him to have a better understanding of the dynamics of the organization. They must be able to retrieve this data with the help of SQL servers, as the automation bots easily understand the SQL queries. This will make the process faster and will help in easier analysis.  

4. Knowledge of AI and ML concepts

An RPA Developer must keep their knowledge updated when it comes to AI. AI is the building block of any automation process. Therefore, an RPA developer must be able to implement AI techniques into the software to make it more efficient. This will also help in increasing the quality of the product. Undoubtedly, at least the basic knowledge of machine learning is very important. As it is the responsibility of a developer to create software that is embedded with the machines. The developed software works as the brains of these machines and automates their process. Therefore, along with the knowledge of the software, the developer must be able to understand how the machine works and the details of the production process, to design software accordingly.  

5. Familiarity with Automation Tools

An RPA developer must have an understanding of all the automation tools that can be embedded with the software to improve the effectiveness of automation. Many automation tools are embedded with the software to make the business process easy and smooth. Some of these tools which the developer must be familiar with are UiPath and Blue Prism. The UiPath is used in the production process that requires the repetition of any mechanical process and removes any human intervention that may be required. It works by a simple drag-drop program, that repeats a certain process several times. An RPA developer must be able to analyze the processing of the automation tools so that they can use them to their advantage.  

6. Required Analytical and Soft skills

They must have an understanding of every problem that could occur and must find innovative and effective ideas that would easily resolve the issue. The developer must be able to easily understand what the organization requires them to do. Hence, they must have enhanced communication and other skills, that will allow them to easily understand the needs.  

Relevant Certifications: 

1. An RPA developer is recommended to be UiPath certified. It is a certification course, that provides knowledge about automation tools.
2. BluePrism certified developers have a keen sense of all the automation processes that will help them to make the business process easier and more efficient. They learn cognitive automation and infrastructural management.
3. Automation Anywhere Certification helps the developer to develop skills that are based on theoretical knowledge and help them in identifying practical solutions.

The need for RPA developers is growing at an exponential rate. The growth of the technological world has started to push the limits of every other industry. They have started to influence them to use automated techniques to increase quality as well as productivity. And, with the help of highly skilled RPA professionals, it has become very easy to develop systems that are automated and error-free.