What do we mean by “robot” and why does everyone need one? In Robotic Process Automation (RPA), a robot is software that emulates the work that people do, but robots do it faster and more accurately. They log into applications, move files and folders, copy and paste, fill in forms, interact with data, and more. They do the repetitive and manual work, so people can focus on the higher value tasks that are more rewarding and help grow the business.