Robotic Process Automation is emerging into a huge technology sector that is in high demand for well qualified and trained people. It’s a great position for the next generation to get into.
Banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, the retail industry, the civil service and telecommunications are just some of the industries using Robotic Process Automation (RPA) tools, allowing businesses to get more done in shorter amounts of time.
Robotics is only becoming stronger as we become more reliant on them. Getting into this new sector can seem a bit daunting. Many of our youth won’t have parents or people they look up to in this sector as only a few years ago robotics was nothing like it is today.
However, there are many resources that can help guide you into getting into the RPA space. Since this is such new technology, certification and training programs are emerging to help IT workers become more qualified. The idea is to get these workers trained and up to speed on where the technology is now and where it is going. There are countless places, however, we will discuss just a few here.
Udemy
The first and one of the more popular places people go to get their feet wet in just about anything is Udemy. There are courses there that will help with your overall growth and understanding if you have some very basic knowledge to start with. There are also courses for the complete beginner.
The UiPath – Level 1 Robotic Process Automation is a great place to start to learn UiPath Studio on your Window’s computer. This has some basic requirements that most students just entering the workforce will probably have. Some of the topics you’ll learn include:
- UiPath platform Installation
- UiPath Orientation
- Structure (Flowchart vs. Sequence)
- Control Flow (Decisions, Loops, Switches)
- Automating Excel interactions
- Automating Email
- Automating mainframe
This course won’t make you a fulltime developer, but it’s a great introduction. At present, the course has 10,000 students enrolled with a
The value of Udemy training and certification depends on the employer. Some people state that Udemy courses show an employer that you’re a continuous learner. Others argue that employers won’t take Udemy certificates serious.
There are many variables that recruiters and hiring managers look for when assessing CVs, so there’s no one right answer.
However, the point of education is to get knowledgeable in the subject rather than just for a certificate. You can use Udemy to learn RPA and then use that knowledge to get further accredited certification, which we’ll discuss in the next section.
Link: Udemy: UiPath – Level 1 Robotic Process Automation.
UiPath Academy
UiPath is one of the most popular RPA platforms. It features three main products: Studio, Robot and Orchestrator.
- UiPath Studio – is a highly visual automation tool with process recorders and prebuilt drag and drop activities to help people without developer skills create RPA workflows.
- UiPath Robots – are software workers that run the automations created in Studio. Attended robots directly assist employees, while Unattended robots work autonomously.
- UiPath Orchestrator – is a console that deploys robots, schedules work and reports on performance.
The UiPath Academy online training platform is UiPath’s own training programme where you can start your RPA journey. The training has been tailored to enable all the key roles within an RPA Centre of Excellence, from RPA Developers, Solution Architects and Infrastructure Support to Project Managers and Business Analysts.
Link: UiPath Academy online training platform
The training programmes offered include:
- Implementation Methodology Training
- Business Analyst
- RPA Awareness Training
- Level 1 – RPA Developer Foundation Training
- Level 2 – Orchestrator Training
- Level 3 – RPA Developer Advanced Training
You can get your RPA Developer Advanced Certificate to demonstrate your in-depth knowledge about the UiPath components and features.
To pass the test you must have a 70% score. If you have taken enough Udemy courses to have the knowledge of UiPath but you need proof, then UiPath certification would be a perfect option.
However, if UiPath is new to you, you’re best completing the RPA Developer Advanced Learning Plan, which includes Foundation, Orchestrator and Advanced
Link: The UiPath Academy Certification Programme.
For promotional purposes, the UiPath RPA Developer Advanced Certification is free of charge, but this is soon to change, so you’ll need to be quick.
Multisoft Virtual Academy
Offer four courses in RPA, which are:
- RPA Online Training
- Blue Prism Training
- Automation Anywhere Training
- UiPath Training
These are ideal courses for those that work, as they run Saturday and Sunday evening. Looking at the Blue Prism course, you will learn Blue Prism’s Robotic Automation, UI automation, case management and error management. You will also receive certification from Mulisoft Virtual Academy if you complete the course. Things you will find in this course are:
- Blue Prism’s Robotic Automation
- Inputs and Outputs
- Process Studio
- Process Flow
- Error Management
- Case Management
- Object Studio
- Additional and Advanced Features
This training is live online training and all you need is Wi-Fi and be able to log into their platform. There will be course materials, mock tests, projects and assignments to help you learn the process.
It’s worth noting that Multisoft Virtual Academy is based in India and this might have some barriers for you. You can visit their YouTube channel to identify if their style of teaching is for you.
Link: Multisoft Virtual Academy – Robotics Process & Automation
Edureka
This course teaches you UiPath and claims to make you an expert. You’ll learn the concepts of key considerations while designing an RPA solution using UiPath; perform image and text automation; create RPA bots; perform data manipulation and debug and handle the exceptions; all while using real-life case studies.
This course is like the Mulisoft Virtual Academy course in a way that the courses are offered during weekend evenings. Some of the topics include:
- Transaction logging
- Types of Bots
- Explanation on how the RPA works and what it is
- Reasons to automate
- Credential management
- Some robotic process automation tools.
This is a great course if you are looking to automate things such as accounts payable/purchased order processing, invoice processing, complaints management, insurance claims processing, and customer feedback. Once completed you will receive a certification of the completion.
According to Edureka , RPA certificate holders work at 1000s of companies like Honeywell, CISCO and DELL.
The same as Multisoft Virtual Academy,
Link: Edureka – Robotic Process Automation Training using UiPath
MindMajix
This course has a focus on the fundamentals of automation. It focuses on development and design. This is a course that is 30 hours long and lead by live instructors.
They will use live real-world case scenarios, offer 24/7 support and have a practical approach. They offer makeup classes should you miss a class and have pre-recorded classes as well as the live options. You can even sign up for pre-recorded options if you don’t have the time available for a live class.
Some of the topics include:
- Desktop Automation
- Web Automation
- Process Automation
- Debug Workflow
- Various RPA Solutions
- RPA Tools
Link: MindMajix RPA Training
Automation Academy by WorkFusion
Automation Academy offers both free and paid for classes teaching you RPA using WorkFusion’s software such as RPA Express.
Automation Academy boasts some reputable training partners including Deloitte, Accenture, PwC, KPMG and TATA.
Courses include:
Courses include:
- RPA Developer
- Machine Learning Data Analyst
- Machine Learning Engineer
According to Automation Academy’s statistics, they have:
- 25,000+ students
- 2,000 student enrolment per month
- 30+ courses created by automation experts
- 23,000+ certificates of achievements issued
Link: Automation Academy
Conclusion
There are many paid and free courses online to learn Robotic Process Automation, whether you’re new to the industry or looking to enhance your knowledge.
Proving to a potential employer you have the skills and knowledge is much easier with certification. However, reputable certification is always going to be more highly regarded by employers and clients.
This is where online training and training providers can be confusing. Your safe route is to get certified by the platform provider whether that’s Blue Prism, UiPath, WorkFusion or one of the other popular platforms.
Always do your research before enrolling and paying for a course. It’s not just the content that matters, but you also want to ensure the tutors are experienced and the training provider’s customer service is first class.
If you want advice regarding your career in RPA, you’re more than welcome to get in touch with us. We work across a variety of positions in the RPA space from high-level interim and permanent RPA practice leaders, presales, sales (junior and senior), solution architects, business analysts, solution consultants, project/programme managers and certified developers.
Harrison Goode – Co-Founder
M: +44 (0) 7505 141 065
T: +44 (0) 1908 382 398
E: harrison.goode@edgetechheadhunters.io