Overview

RPA (Robotic Process Automation) using CMD (Command Prompt) allows Chartered Accountants (CAs) to automate repetitive tasks through simple scripts. While AI can answer questions, interacting with web interfaces via automation is essential for CAs to streamline their workflows. CMD-based RPA offers a cost-effective, open-source solution to automate tasks like logging into portals, submitting forms, managing emails, and handling documents, all without expensive proprietary tools.

Solution is not an app, or a service, only technology implementation

Example and screenshot –

Here, it shows a simple task of interacting with the ICAI website

Note : the text and overlay is generated by the agent itself, this is how we can control the steps and see the history of interaction

Business Challenge

We face several time-consuming tasks:

1. Manual Portal Interaction: Logging in and submitting tax returns manually is tedious and error-prone.
2. Email Management: Sorting, replying, and attaching documents to emails can consume significant time.
3. Data Entry: Repetitive data entry into forms or spreadsheets increases the risk of errors.
4. Document Handling: Uploading and downloading documents from portals is a routine task that requires automation.

These repetitive tasks waste time and increase the risk of mistakes, especially when dealing with multiple clients.

Solution

1. Web Portal Automation: Automate logging into portals, submitting forms, and downloading documents through browser-based interaction. This is achieved using tools like Python with Selenium, running scripts via CMD.

2. Email Automation: Automate the process of reading, sorting, and responding to client emails using scripting tools.

3. Local Data Handling: Automate data extraction from emails or portals and input into local files (e.g., Excel, CSV) for processing and reporting.

4. Cost-Efficient: The open-source nature of this solution eliminates the need for expensive proprietary RPA tools.

Steps for Implementation

1. Task Identification: Identify tasks to automate (e.g., logging into portals, handling emails).
2. Use Command Prompt to trigger API calls and automate tasks like login, form filling, document uploads/downloads, and email handling. CMD will serve as the interface for triggering API requests, executing commands, and scheduling tasks.
3. Set up task schedulers to run the CMD-based RPA processes at specified times, ensuring tasks like form submissions, email replies, and document uploads are handled automatically.
4. Testing and Validation
5. Start using the technology

Benefits

1. Performs human-centered tasks like clicking, typing, reading, uploading, etc
2. Time-Saving: Automates routine tasks, allowing CAs to focus on client interactions and strategic work.
3. Increased Accuracy: Reduces human error in tasks like form filling, document uploads, and email responses.
4. Cost-Efficient: Open-source tools provide a low-cost alternative to proprietary RPA solutions.
5.  Faster Execution: Tasks are completed much faster, ensuring deadlines are met.
6. Scalable: Easy to scale automation as workloads grow, without the need for additional resources.
7. Shows the current step being implemented, so we can stop, or revise any function
8. Can be used for any task on the web