ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · The impact of advances in technology
A retailer installs software 'bots' that log into its systems, copy supplier invoice data from emailed PDFs into the accounts payable ledger and follow fixed rules without changing the underlying systems. Which technology is being used?
The technology is robotic process automation. Software bots imitate human keystrokes on existing systems and carry out repetitive, rule-based tasks such as copying invoice data into the ledger, without altering the underlying applications or needing human judgement.
- ARobotic process automation (RPA)Correct
- BBlockchain
- CCloud computing
- DVirtual reality
Explanation
RPA uses software robots to mimic human actions on existing systems, performing structured, rule-based, repetitive tasks such as data entry. Blockchain is a distributed ledger, cloud computing is remote service delivery and virtual reality is an immersive simulated environment, so none describes rule-following bots.
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