Automating tasks by using RPA bots


As a case business analyst, you can configure BMC Helix Business Workflows automated tasks to use RPA bots by using the Automation Anywhere

connector. You can use bots to automate tasks and perform repetitive actions.

Automation Anywhere RPA bots provide the following capabilities:

  • Reduces the operating costs with automated tasks.
  • Requires no changes to existing business processes while implementing Automation Anywhere RPA.
  • Provides accuracy and error free execution.
  • Enables integration of legacy systems that do not have REST APIs.

Before you begin

To use Automation Anywhere RPA in BMC Helix Business Workflows, make sure you have completed the following tasks:

  • Purchased a valid Automation Anywhere RPA license.
    For more information, see Automation Anywhere products.

  • Installed an Automation Anywhere Enterprise Control and Automation Anywhere Enterprise client on a Windows environment.
    For more information, see Automation Anywhere installation.

  • Configured BMC Helix Business Workflows automated tasks to use RPA bots by using the Automation Anywhere connector.
    For more information, see

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    .

    Important

    Make sure that you create a process to trigger the Automation Anywhere RPA bot inBMC Helix Business Workflows.

Example: Automating a task to create a new employee record in a legacy HCM system

Hannah is a case business analyst in Calbro Services. After onboarding a new employee, she wants to create the employee record in the Oracle Human Capital Management (HCM) system. To automate the task, Hannah creates Create New Employee bot to add a new employee in the Oracle HCM system. She uses the Automation Anywhere connector to configure BMC Helix Business Workflows to work with the bot. She performs the following tasks:

  1. Configures the webhook callback URL to receive real-time event notifications
  2. Configures the Automation Anywhere connector
  3. Creates a connector account
  4. Creates new connector configurations
  5. Creates a process to trigger the Automation Anywhere RPA bot

To configure the webhook callback URL to receive real-time event notifications

  1. Log in to BMC Helix Innovation Studio.
  2. Click Administration
  3. Select Webhook Connection > Callback Configuration
  4. On the Webhook Callback Configuration page, click New Configuration
  5. On the Create New Callback Configuration page, enter the following details:

    Field

    Field value

    Configuration Name

    Automation Anywhere

    Bundle Name

    BMC Helix Business Workflows

    Processor

    Automation Anywhere RPA

    X-AA-RPA-CLIENT-ID

    Enter a GUID or string for authorization such as AA-12345.

    Callback URL

    This URL is populated automatically.

  6. Click Save.

To configure the Automation Anywhere connector

  1. Log in to BMC Helix Integration Service and navigate to the Catalog tab.
    The catalog has a list of all the connectors that are present in BMC Helix Integration Service.
  2. From the list of connectors, select the Automation Anywhere connector.
  3. Click the connector pane at the bottom of the page to expand it.
  4. Select Configurations > Add Connection Configuration, and enter the following details:

    Field

    Field value

    Name

    Automation Anywhere

    Description

    Execute Automation Anywhere scripts and check status

    Site

    Production Site

    Number of instances

    1-default value

    Selected by default

    Select this field to make the connector configuration the default configuration.

    Enable usage

    Select this check box to enable the connector.

    Automation Anywhere URL

    Enter the Automation Anywhere Control Room URL that you use for client login.

    CallBack URL

    Enter the webhook callback URL.

    Authorization Key or Username

    Enter the authorization GUID or string that you added while configuring the webhook callback URL for Automation Anywhere connector, such as AA-12345.

    Password

    Enter the password for the account you are using.

  5. Click Save Configuration.

To create a connector account

  1. Log in to BMC Helix Integration Service and navigate to Catalog.
  2. From the list of connectors, select the Automation Anywhere connector.
  3. Click the connector pane at the bottom of the page to expand it.
  4. Select Accounts > Add Account, and enter the User Name and Password for the account.

    Important

    Make sure that you use these credentials to make REST calls to the Automation Anywhere Controller.

  5. Click Login.

To create a new connector configuration

  1. Log in to BMC Helix Innovation Studio.
  2. Click Administration.
  3. On the Administration tab, select Configure My Server > Integration Service > Connector Configuration
  4. Click New and enter the following details:

    Property

    Field value

    Name

    Automation Anywhere

    Connector Type

    Automation Anywhere connector

    Configuration

    Automation Anywhere

    Profile

    Automation Anywhere Admin

  5. Click Save.

To create a process to trigger the Automation Anywhere RPA bot

  1. Log in to BMC Helix Innovation Studio. 
  2. From the Workspace tab, select BMC Helix Business Workflows, and click Processes.
  3. Select Processes > New.
    From the Palette, drag the Connector element to the canvas, and enter the values for the following properties:

    Property

    Field value

    GENERAL

    Label

    Connector

    Description

    Enter the connector details such as the use of this connector, properties, and so on.

    Connection Name

    Automation Anywhere Config

    INPUT MAP

    Connection

    Automation Anywhere Config

    Use as alias

    Do not select this option.

    Action

    Select Run RPA Bot Script to trigger an event or a task.

    Process Correlation ID

    Select Click to build an expression, and select the correlation ID that can be used to uniquely identify a process instance execution. 

    RPA Bot Name

    Select Click to build an expression, and select the bot name Create New Employee.

    (Optional) Bot variables

    Select Click to build an expression, and select the value for the variables defined in your process.Note: Make sure that the variable name is the same as the variable name defined in the RPA script.

    The following figure shows the Connector element properties:
    20.08_Automation Anywhere connector values.png

  4. Click Save.

You can use this process in an automated task to create the employee record in the Oracle HCM system.

 

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