By Exemplary AI
Reviewed
Does the task follow fixed steps, or change with each request?
RPA, or robotic process automation, repeats a set of instructions, such as copying a value into a form. An AI agent can read a request and choose among the actions it is allowed to take. Fixed steps suit predictable work. Agents help when the wording, documents or next steps vary. The two can work together.
Keep the steps that work. Let us help with the parts that need understanding.
Exemplary agents can read documents and use connected business tools. We help define the task and allowed actions, so you can add AI where people currently have to interpret a request or decide what happens next.
Talk to us about your task- You show us where the current process gets stuck.
- We help connect the tools and set the agent’s instructions.
- You decide which actions need approval before they happen.
What changes for your team?
Scroll across the table to view both approaches.
| What matters | RPA: follow fixed steps | AI agents: respond to the task |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Repeats instructions written in advance. | Uses the request and available information to choose its next step. |
| Where it fits | Stable forms and repeatable steps. | Varied requests, documents and tasks involving several tools. |
| When something changes | The instructions may need updating. | May adapt within its instructions, or ask for help. |
| What to check | That each fixed step still works. | That it chooses the right action and asks for approval where required. |
When each approach fits.
RPA: follow fixed steps
- The same information follows the same path each time.
- Your existing automation already works reliably.
AI agents: respond to the task
- Someone has to interpret messages before work can begin.
- The next step depends on what the documents or systems say.
A support request needs more than copying text into a ticket.
This example shows where an AI agent can help before a familiar set of steps takes over.
- 01
Read the request
An agent reads the message and looks up the relevant information in the connected tools.
- 02
Prepare the next step
It drafts a response or proposed update within the rules your team has set.
- 03
Get the right approval
A person reviews actions that need approval, and the agreed process continues.
You do not have to replace working automation.
If a fixed process is reliable, keep it. We can help assess where AI adds useful reading or decision support around it. Connections to an existing automation tool need to be checked during setup.
Give the agent a clear job.
Start with one task, a small set of allowed actions and a clear point at which it should ask for help. Exemplary provides controls for tool access, spending limits and action history.
Questions you might have.
Will an agent do anything it wants?
It should only use the tools and actions you permit. We help configure those limits and the points where a person must approve the next step.
Will it work with our existing software?
Exemplary offers connections to business tools. We check the specific system and actions you need before agreeing on the setup.
How do we know it is better?
Run the same sample tasks through both approaches. Compare correct results, time spent checking them and total cost.
More about these options
These guides explain how to choose an approach. Examples show how a task could work; they are not customer results. The links below explain the capabilities and background behind this guide.