Automating tasks by using Automation Anywhere RPA bots


As an application business analyst, you can automate tasks and repetitive actions by using the Automation Anywhere Robotic Process Automation (RPA) bots. RPA bots provide the following capabilities:

  • Reduces the operating costs with automated tasks.
  • Provides accuracy and error-free execution.
  • Enables automation of any process.
  • Requires minimal or no change to the underlying business processes.

The following image describes the actions to automate a task by using an RPA bot:

22_1_Automating_processes_Automation_Anywhere.png

To automate a task by using an RPA bot, in your application, you can create a process to trigger an RPA bot by using the Run Automation Anywhere Bot element in the Process designer of BMC Helix Innovation Studio. You can create an RPA bot or use an existing RPA bot in Automation Anywhere.

For information about how to create or use an RPA bot, see Build bots.

Before you begin

Make sure that an administrator has configured a webhook callback URL and the Automation Anywhere connector. For more information, see Adding-the-Automation-Anywhere-connector-configuration.

To create a process to use an Automation Anywhere RPA bot

  1. Log in to BMC Helix Innovation Studio.
  2. Navigate to the Workspace tab, and select the application in which you want to create a process.
  3. In the application, select Processes, and click New.
    The system opens the Process designer.
  4. In the Process designer, drag the Run Automation Anywhere Bot element to the canvas.
  5. In the element Properties pane, enter the values of the following input properties:

    Property

    Description

    Connection ID

    Connection ID of the Automation Anywhere connector.

    File ID or name

    Name of the bot that you want to trigger. Select the bot name from the list.

    Note: The values in the list are fetched from the server configured in the respective connector.

    Process Correlation ID

    Correlation ID can be used to uniquely identify a process instance execution.

    (Optional) Variables

    Value for the variables defined in your process.

    The Run Automation Anywhere Bot output property is JSON that provides the schedule ID of the bot. For example,

    {"id":"16"}
  6. If required, add the other process elements and specify the flow of execution that you want to create for your business logic.
  7. Save the process.

The following video (2:49) explains how to automate a task by using an Automation Anywhere RPA bot:

icon_play.pnghttps://youtu.be/WuNdVaKGDY4

Example: Automating the task of resetting passwords by using an RPA bot

Ajay is an application business analyst at Apex Global. He wants to automate the task of resetting a user password by using an RPA bot so that no manual intervention is required to complete the task. To automate the task, Ajay creates a process. Ajay uses the Create Document element to access attributes within the schema of the AutomationAnywhereBotParams document definition. He adds the values for the document nodes and uses these values as input to trigger the RPA bot. He uses the Run Automation Anywhere Bot element to run the RPA bot that performs the password reset and uses the Send Message element to notify the user.

Ajay performs the following actions to create the process to automate the triggering of an RPA bot:

Step

Description

Example

1

Create the process.

22_1_RPA process.png

2

Add the process properties.

22_1_RPA process properties.png

3

Add the Create Document element properties.

22_1_RPA Create document properties.png


a. To add a document, select the AutomationAnywhereBotParams document definition.

22_1_Select Automation Anywhere document definition.png


b. To add values for the document nodes, click Add/Remove Document Nodes, and select the key and value check boxes of nodes.

Important

Make sure that you specify the bot parameters in the bot script the same as that you specify as keys in the document nodes.

22_1_Automation Anywhere document nodes.png


4

In the Run Automation Anywhere Bot element properties, perform the following:



a. Enter the Connection ID.

22_1_Automation_Anywhere_Properties.jpg


b. Select the bot name from the drop-down list.

22_1_Automation_Anywhere_Process_List.jpg


c. Enter the Process Correlation ID.



d. Add the output from the Create Document element as inputs to the Run Automation Anywhere Bot element.


5

Add the Send Message element properties.

22_1_RPA send message properties.png

5

Save the process.


 Example: Using Automation Anywhere Callback to receive notifications about bot execution

Ajay is an application business analyst at Apex Global. He automates a task by using an RPA bot. He wants to receive a notification about the bot execution so that he gets to know whether the task was completed by the bot or not. Ajay performs the following actions to automate the task and receive notification about the completion or failure of the task:

Step

Description

Example

1

In your application, create the process to automate the task.

22_1_AA_callback_process.png


a. Add the process output variable.

22_1_AA_callback_output_variable.png


b. Add the Run Automation Anywhere Bot element properties.

22_1_Automation_Anywhere_Properties_Reset_Pwd.jpg


c. Add the Receive Task element properties.

22_1_AA_callback_recieve_task.png


d. Add the Timer element properties.

22_1_Callback_timer.png


e. Add the Send In App Notification element properties.

22_1_AA_callback_notify_on_bot_failure.png


f. Add the Send In App Notification element properties.

22_1_Send In app notification properties.png

2

Create the rule that is triggered by the Automation Anywhere callback.

22_1_AA callback rule.png


a. Add the Trigger element properties.

22_1_Callback rule trigger properties.png


b. Add the Qualification properties.

22_1_AA callback qualification.png


c. Add the Signal Process element properties.

22_1_AA_callback_rule_signal.png


 

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