Abstract: Robotic process automation (RPA) systems with improved user access enable a user to interact with an RPA system by way of a communication platform. The communication platform can support text messaging and/or speech communication with a virtual agent that in turn is able to interface with an RPA system. In this way, a user of the communication platform is able to conveniently interact with the RPA system, such as in a conversational manner. By analyzing and interpreting the conversation, the user's intent or desire can be determined and then carried out by the RPA system. Thereafter, results from the RPA system can be formatted and returned to the user. In one embodiment, to better understand the user's intent or desire from the text messages or natural language communications (i.e., voice or speech communications), artificial intelligence can be used.

Abstract: Robotic process automation (RPA) tasks for operating on data within a productivity program may be initiated by single user action from within the productivity program. A user device is provided with a plugin program that provides an automation user interface within the productivity program. A request to perform an automation task on data in a productivity file is received along with identification of a software robot to perform the automation task. The request also specifies data from the productivity file. The request is provided to a control room server that controls execution of a plurality of different automation tasks by a plurality of different software robots. Results of the automation task are received from the control room server and are provided to the plugin program, which provides the results of the automation task to the user within a productivity file accessible by the user.