Agentic AI + Robotic Process Automation (RPA): Better Together?

June 30, 2025
Academy
Diagram showing how Agentic AI and RPA combine in a smarter automation stack. On the left, structured blue process flows feed into an orange adaptive AI system managing dynamic UI workflows, under the headline ‘Agentic AI + RPA: A Smarter Automation Stack

Why Should QA and Automation Teams Care About Combining Agentic AI and RPA?

Software teams today face relentless pressure: shorter release cycles, fragmented systems, and rising maintenance costs. Even well-established RPA implementations struggle when UIs change or processes span multiple platforms. This is exactly where Agentic AI steps in bridging gaps by introducing adaptive, context-aware automation that complements traditional RPA.

In many projects, teams leverage vision-based Agentic AI tools (like AskUI) to cover dynamic or visually complex workflows, ensuring automation doesn’t break when applications evolve.

What Is Agentic AI and How Does It Differ from Traditional RPA?

Agentic AI refers to goal-driven intelligent agents that interpret interfaces visually and make real-time decisions almost like human testers or operators. Unlike traditional bots, they:

  • Rely on visual and contextual cues rather than static selectors.
  • Adjust dynamically to pop-ups, layout shifts, or unexpected UI states.
  • Seamlessly navigate across web, desktop, or even virtual environments.
Feature Agentic AI (e.g., AskUI) Traditional RPA
Decision-making Contextual, dynamic Rule-based, static
UI handling Visual, cross-platform DOM/xPath or selectors, limited
Resilience Self-adjusts to UI changes Prone to breaks, needs script fixes
Coverage Hybrid apps, Citrix, VDI included Mostly structured apps only

How Does Combining Agentic AI with RPA Enhance Automation?

In short: Agentic AI and RPA complement each other. RPA excels at stable, repetitive tasks, while Agentic AI handles exceptions and dynamic environments.

By integrating the two:

  • RPA takes care of structured back-office workflows.
  • Agentic AI platforms like AskUI step in when UI variability or multi-platform processes appear.
  • Together, they reduce failures, manual interventions, and maintain a consistent automation pipeline.

Example Use Case

A QA team at a logistics company uses RPA for standard ERP data entry. When unexpected UI changes break scripts, their Agentic AI layer dynamically recognizes the new layouts and keeps workflows running—avoiding costly downtime.

When Should You Consider Blending Agentic AI and RPA?

  • Rapidly changing UIs: SaaS platforms with frequent updates or experiments.
  • Hybrid or multi-platform processes: Desktop + browser + mobile workflows.
  • Critical operations: Where automation failures could impact revenue.
  • Reducing script maintenance: Letting visual AI agents adapt on the fly.

In fact, many teams start by layering tools like AskUI on top of existing RPA to tackle their most fragile or business-critical automations.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Agentic AI with RPA?

Pros Cons
Strengthens automation resilience May need initial integration effort
Reduces manual script maintenance Could require upskilling teams
Extends coverage to complex environments Slightly higher upfront investment
Future-proofs against UI volatility

FAQs: Agentic AI + RPA

Why pair Agentic AI with RPA instead of relying on one?

Agentic AI handles variability and unexpected UI changes, while RPA excels at structured, rule-driven workflows. Combining them balances adaptability with efficiency.

What types of teams benefit most from this approach?

Teams managing hybrid environments, frequent UI updates, or needing to automate Citrix/VDI scenarios typically gain the most from layering Agentic AI with existing RPA.

How does this reduce maintenance overhead?

Agentic AI dynamically adapts to interface changes, cutting down the frequent script reworks often required by traditional RPA alone.

Is it possible to pilot this on a small process first?

Absolutely. Many organizations start by integrating Agentic AI into a single fragile workflow before scaling across broader operations.

Can it extend automation to previously 'untestable' apps?

Yes. Visual AI enables automation even where traditional RPA selectors fail—like in legacy desktop apps or virtualized environments.

Future-Proof Your Automation Strategy

Combining Agentic AI with RPA isn't just a technical upgrade it's a way to make your automation smarter, more resilient, and ready for whatever comes next. Whether you want to reduce manual maintenance or tackle complex multi-platform workflows, the synergy of these tools can transform how your team operates.

Curious to see what this could mean for your business? Let's connect and explore how AskUI’s adaptive approach can help you stay ahead.

Youyoung Seo
·
June 30, 2025
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