What is the best practice for workflows using local desktop applications in RPA?

The best practice for workflows using local desktop applications in RPA is to check if the process is running and use selectors. This approach ensures that the automation is both reliable and efficient. By verifying the application's state before starting the automation, you can avoid errors related to the application being in an unexpected state (such as not open or minimized), which could lead to failed automation processes.

Using selectors allows the RPA tool to interact with specific UI elements of the application based on attributes like IDs, classes, or names. This targeted approach increases the robustness of the automation, as it can adapt to changes in the application's interface without needing a complete redesign of the workflow. This combination of checking the application's state and employing selectors contributes to creating more resilient and maintainable automation solutions.

On the other hand, ignoring the application state can lead to issues where the automation might attempt to interact with an application that isn't ready, while depending solely on fixed window positions can make the automation vulnerable to changes in screen resolution or window placements. Additionally, automating tasks without prior checks increases the risk of encountering errors during execution, which can result in poor user experience and additional troubleshooting.