SpacePencil’s new version of Roboteur opens up new use cases in robotic process automation (RPA) while bringing the vision of no-code development close to reality.
New features in Roboteur version 7 mean the home-grown RPA system competes on an even playing field with the world’s biggest names in RPA, while retaining is ease of use and cost-effectiveness.
This is according to Barry Buck, chief technology officer at SpacePencil, who says customers are employing Roboteur to meet a wide range of process automation applications.
On top of the existing features, Roboteur version 7 now boasts virtual file systems that secure an individual’s work and allows it to be shared with other Roboteur users through the creation of virtual folders.
The addition of Teams functionality means that administrators can create and assign permissions; see the overall picture and change flow charts where necessary. “You can be quite granular in permissions using this feature,” Buck says. “It means that developers can now work in parallel and link their work together.
“Importantly, it is also language independent.”
In the new version, the Macro Studio has undergone a complete overhaul, with new engineering for diagrams, a better user experience and improved productivity features.
The Job Studio has been added, where administrators can perform reactive orchestration.
A Shape Studio also features in version 7. Buck describes this as a virtual no-SQL database where developers and business analysts can drag text, numbers, lists and other non-relational files or objects into a shape. “They can then start saving these shapes and persisting them across search and records updating.”
To manage the macros, jobs and shape project fields in Roboteur version 7, a package repository has been added as well. “At any stage you can publish your macro, job or shape source file and it will be archived with a version. It’s basically a package management system.”
The new features are complemented with a new user interface that makes the system easier to use and more intuitive than ever.
Some examples of user-friendly features include a search function in the Macro Studio that lets users search for commands already added, and shortcuts to be able to edit those commands.
A mini-map of the whole flow diagram is embedded in the system so users can see instantly where they are on the flow, and where they need to go.
Colours have also been added to make the system even more intuitive, and to help users distinguish state. And, in the Designer, everything is resizable and scalable, with a full zoom function.
Small improvements in the user interface include a clone button, undo, redo and more. “There are a lot of small improvements that add up to make Roboteur version 7 a mature software solution for professionals,” Buck says.
“The end result is very slick and feels very generational. We can truly say that between version 6 and version 7, Roboteur has grown up: It is now a mature tool that includes advanced features like package management, virtual database, virtual servers, virtual functions and virtual teams.”
For more information go to www.spacepencil.co.uk.
Roboteur at a glance
Roboteur is a robust robotic process automation (RPA) system that combines sophisticated features with a user-friendly interface and simple process design.
- Drag and drop development – Dragging a command function onto the studio page effectively writes all the required code. Further input‘s set the input variables to that portion of code and link the inputs and out puts to the next building block.
- Ready to use commands – Over 120 packaged commands available. All with the same interface look and feel. Unlike other development languages you don’t need to learn a new syntax. This is all done inherently. Easy configuration of required variables completes the building block.
- Repetitive command configuration – Learning how to configure your first command building block enables knowledge of all command blocks. The differentiators are merely the inputs and outputs to and from each. This makes it quick and easy to build your first bot.
- Reusable development – The modular building blocks provided and further object building blocks can be built to be reusable and to take different inputs. You can save any self-built building block (Macro) for later use receiving different inputs, new or previously used inputs and output to the next building block or Macro. In effect you are building new blocks of code using the tool to build itself.
- Command line instruction – Any unique requirements in the development or functions that do not form part of the pre-packaged command set can be supplemented by using any traditional language that can be executed from the command line with the required argument. Like a reusable macro you now have a new command block function that will be able to run in any process flow.
- Scheduling – The point of RPA is to be less reliant on human intervention. Bots can be configured to start at a scheduled time is part of the platform. Once it is scheduled it will run automated.
- Easy navigable logs – All development and management of the processes, and the bots themselves, are managed from a central server either in cloud or on site depending on your requirements. Managed access enables starting and stopping of processes . This is helpful for managing processes and bots in remote locations.
- Central management of robots – All development and management of the processes, and the bots themselves, are managed from a central server either in cloud or on site depending on your requirements. Managed access enables starting and stopping of processes . This is helpful for managing processes and bots in remote locations.
- Macro import and export – Sharing of macros between servers is just a push of a button, point it in the right direction and it is exported or imported to the required place. The macro is now ready to be populated with the new required variables and ready to run.
- Easy to start – With a download and watching of some freely available videos you are engaged in the world of RPA. There is no myth or magic, it is just a case of knowing your requirements, logic and process flow, and dragging and connecting them into the studio.
- Central management of robots – All development and management of the processes, and the bots themselves, are managed from a central server either in cloud or on site depending on your requirements. Managed access enables starting and stopping of processes . This is helpful for managing processes and bots in remote locations.
- Macro import and export – Sharing of macros between servers is just a push of a button, point it in the right direction and it is exported or imported to the required place. The macro is now ready to be populated with the new required variables and ready to run.
A roadmap to Z-One
For SpacePencil, Roboteur version 7 is a major step forward. Not only is it a slick and mature RPA system, it is also the foundation for the company’s vision of a low-code future.
Buck explains that Roboteur was developed on SpacePencil’s Z-One platform – and is now being used to further develop and automate Z-One.
He believes that the next generation of software development will see automated processes applied to design and development. “In fact, the only difference between robotic automation and software automation is that now you can have a bot doing it – and so you can do it 24/7.”
The first generation of software dealt with automating pen and paper-driven business processes, says Buck. The second generation automated communication, and the third generation was about building a layer of automation between the old and new systems.
“The fourth generation, where we are now, is automating the software itself. Any applications built today have to encompass all of the software that’s gone before.”
There are parallels in the trajectory of the RPA world, Buck adds. “The early generations of RPA were about automating legacy software systems that were time-consuming to increase efficiency.
“But they weren’t about innovation: we have the answer to half of the question, but weren’t asking the full question.
“Looking for processes that are eligible for automation is efficient, but we are missing a fundamental piece of the puzzle – a cohesive interface into new higher-level processes.”
He explains that anyone still building bespoke software today will inevitably always be a generation behind. “Software takes a long time to build. It’s got to be integrated and it can be immensely complex.
“As with RPA today, you shouldn’t be focusing on one piece of the stack, but looking to wrap the full stack.”
Roboteur version 7 allows developers to do just that. “Now developers can create not just software automation, but brand new software. It’s fantastic for RPA and opens up all sorts of potential for the future of software design.
“Indeed, version 7 is much more than RPA. We are actually building a programming platform that has a low barrier to entry, but that allows developers to achieve very high results.”
With Roboteur version 7, developers can now build automated processes and software much quicker than before and, because the user interface is graphical and user-friendly, business analysts can start building their own solutions and workflows too.
“You can now get something working in a couple of minutes that used to take hours,” Buck says. “This ties right into the imperative for businesses to be more agile.”
Being able to simulate and test on the fly adds to the agility, and best practice is built in.
“For the first time, it’s possible to define and build a cohesive and comprehensive solution for an entire business. Roboteur version 7 lets people be much more productive because it takes the complexity out of their jobs.”
The features now available is Roboteur version 7 will be refined to form the basis of the Z-One development, integration and automation platform, Buck explains. The commercial launch of Z-One will be in the last quarter of this year.
For more information go to www.spacepencil.co.uk.