Business Automation Glossary
AI-Powered Analytics
The use of AI to analyze large amounts of data and provide insights that help improve business decisions and processes.
Analytics
The process of collecting and analyzing data to gain insights into business performance. Analytics can help identify areas for improvement in automated processes.
Application Programming Interface (API)
A tool that allows different software systems to talk to each other and share data.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Technology that enables computers to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence, such as understanding language, recognizing patterns, or making decisions.
Automation
The use of technology to complete tasks without human intervention, reducing manual effort and speeding up processes.
Automation Tools
Software applications that help automate tasks. Examples include tools for managing emails, scheduling, and data entry.
Bot
A software program designed to perform automated tasks, such as responding to messages or moving data between systems.
Business Process Automation (BPA)
The use of technology to automate repetitive tasks and processes in a business. This helps improve efficiency and reduce human error.
Business Process Management (BPM)
The practice of analyzing, improving, and automating business processes to make them more efficient. It’s a systematic approach to making an organization’s workflow more effective and efficient. BPM often involves analyzing and improving processes.
Business Rules
Specific guidelines or criteria that dictate how a business process should be performed. Automation can enforce these rules consistently.
Business Rules Engine
Software that helps enforce rules or guidelines within a business process, ensuring that tasks follow the correct procedures automatically.
Change Management
The process of managing changes to business processes or technologies. This is crucial during automation to ensure smooth transitions and user adoption.
Change Request
A formal proposal to modify a process or system. In automation, change requests often arise from the need to improve or adapt existing workflows.
Cloud Computing
Storing and accessing data or applications over the internet, rather than on a local computer, enabling easier access and collaboration.
Conditional Logic
A feature that allows automated systems to make decisions based on “if-then” conditions. For example, if a payment is late, then send a reminder email.
Continuous Improvement
An ongoing effort to enhance products, services, or processes. In BPA, this means regularly assessing and refining automated processes for better performance.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
A system or technology that helps businesses manage interactions with current and potential customers by storing data and tracking communication. It’s designed to streamline communication and enhance customer service through automation.”
Data Entry Automation
The use of technology to automatically input data into systems, reducing the need for manual data entry and minimizing errors.
Data Mining
The process of analyzing large sets of data to find patterns, trends, or useful information that can improve decision-making.
Digital Transformation
The process of using technology to change how businesses operate, improving efficiency and customer experience.
Digital Transformation
The integration of digital technology into all areas of a business, fundamentally changing how it operates and delivers value to customers.
Digital Workflow
A series of digital tasks that are completed step-by-step to achieve a business goal, often involving multiple people or systems.
Digital Workflows
Automated processes that are carried out digitally, often involving multiple software applications and tools to complete tasks.
End-to-End Automation
Automating an entire business process from start to finish, rather than just individual tasks. This leads to greater efficiency and fewer manual interventions.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Software that helps manage all aspects of a business, like accounting, human resources, and supply chain, in one system.
Event-Based Automation
Automation that is triggered by a specific event or action, like sending an email when a customer places an order.
Exception Handling
The process of managing errors or unexpected events that occur during automated processes. Effective exception handling ensures that issues are addressed without disrupting the workflow.
Exception Reporting
A method of reporting discrepancies or unusual occurrences in business processes. Automated systems can generate these reports to help identify issues quickly.
Hyper Automation
The use of multiple automation tools, like AI and RPA, to automate as many business processes as possible, from simple tasks to complex workflows.
Integration
The process of connecting different software applications so they can work together. This allows data to flow between systems without manual input.
Integrations
The process of connecting different software tools or systems so they can work together seamlessly and share data.
Intelligent Automation
Combining automation technologies like RPA with AI to handle more complex processes that require some level of decision-making or problem-solving.
Key Performance Indicator (KPI)
A measurable value that shows how effectively a business or process is achieving its goals, like customer satisfaction or sales growth.
Knowledge Base
A centralized repository for information, documentation, and resources related to a business process. A knowledge base can support automation by providing guidance and solutions.
Low-Code/No-Code
Platforms that allow users to build applications or automate tasks with minimal or no coding, making it easier for non-technical users to create solutions.
Low-Code/No-Code Platforms
Tools that allow users to create applications and automate processes with little or no programming knowledge. These platforms empower business users to build solutions quickly.
Machine Learning (ML)
A subset of AI that allows software to learn from data and improve its performance over time without being explicitly programmed.
Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
A technology that reads printed or handwritten text and converts it into digital data that computers can process.
Performance Metrics
Measurements used to evaluate the effectiveness of automated processes. Common metrics include time savings, error rates, and user satisfaction.
Process Mapping
Creating a visual diagram of a process to better understand how it works, identify inefficiencies, and find ways to automate or improve it.
Process Mapping
A visual representation of the steps involved in a business process. It helps identify areas for improvement and is often the first step in automation.
Process Optimization
Improving a process to make it faster, more efficient, or more cost-effective, often through automation.
Process Optimization
The practice of making business processes as efficient and effective as possible. Automation plays a significant role in achieving optimization.
Return on Investment (ROI)
A measure used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment, calculated by comparing the gain or loss from an investment relative to its cost.
RPA (Robotic Process Automation)
Software robots, or “bots,” that can mimic human actions, like clicking, typing, or moving files, to automate repetitive tasks.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
A type of automation that uses software robots (or “bots”) to perform routine tasks that are usually done by humans, such as processing transactions or handling data.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Software that is accessed over the internet rather than installed on a local computer. Examples include Google Docs and Dropbox.
Scalability
The ability of a system or process to handle an increasing amount of work or to be easily expanded to manage growth.
Self-Service Automation
Tools or systems that allow employees or customers to complete tasks themselves without needing help, like resetting a password or tracking a package.
Service Level Agreement (SLA)
A formal agreement between a service provider and a customer that defines the level of service expected, such as response times or availability.
Service Level Agreement (SLA)
A contract between a service provider and a customer that outlines the expected service performance levels. SLAs can be integrated into automated processes to ensure compliance.
Task Automation
The use of software to complete specific tasks, such as sending an email or generating a report, without human intervention.
Task Automation
The automation of specific tasks within a larger process. This can include anything from sending automated emails to generating reports.
Task Queue
A list of tasks that need to be completed, often managed and prioritized by automation software.
Time Tracking Software
Software that automatically records the time spent on different tasks or projects, helping improve productivity and accountability.
Trigger
An event that starts an automated process, like receiving a new email or creating a new order.
UI (User Interface)
The part of a software application that users interact with, like buttons, menus, and screens.
User Interface (UI)
The part of a software application that users interact with. A good UI makes it easier for users to navigate and use automation tools.
User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
A process where end-users test a new system or process to ensure it meets their needs before it goes live. This helps identify any issues that need to be resolved.
Webhook
A method that allows one app to send real-time data to another app based on specific events, often used in automation.
Workflow
A sequence of tasks or activities that are completed to accomplish a goal, often automated in BPA to save time and reduce errors. Workflows can be automated to streamline operations.
Workflow Automation
The process of automating a series of tasks in a workflow, such as approvals, emails, and data entry, to make processes faster and more accurate.
Workflow Management System (WMS)
A software tool that helps design, monitor, and automate workflows to improve process efficiency.
Zapier
A popular automation tool that connects different apps and services, allowing users to automate repetitive tasks between apps like Gmail, Slack, and Google Sheets.