How can you optimize RPA debugging for faster resolution?

2 Implement logging and exception handling

Another essential debugging technique is to implement logging and exception handling in your workflows. Logging helps you capture and record relevant information about the execution of your workflow, such as the start and end time, the status, the errors, and the data. Exception handling helps you manage and handle errors that occur during the execution of your workflow, such as retrying, skipping, or terminating the process. By using these techniques, you can track and analyze the performance of your workflow, identify and resolve issues, and ensure compliance and auditability.

3 Use debugging tools and features

Depending on the RPA platform you use, you may have access to various debugging tools and features that can help you optimize your debugging process. For example, some RPA platforms offer features such as data scraping, UI explorer, selectors, and spy tools that can help you interact with the UI elements and extract data from different sources. Other RPA platforms offer tools such as debug view, watch panel, locals panel, and output panel that can help you monitor and inspect the variables, arguments, outputs, and logs of your workflow. By using these tools and features, you can leverage the capabilities of your RPA platform and enhance your debugging experience.

4 Follow best practices and standards

One of the best ways to optimize RPA debugging is to follow best practices and standards in designing and developing your workflows. By following best practices and standards, you can ensure that your workflows are consistent, readable, modular, reusable, and maintainable. Some of the best practices and standards include using descriptive names for variables, arguments, and activities, using comments and annotations to document your logic, using workflows and invoke workflow activities to break down complex processes, and using best practices for selectors, data types, and error handling. By following these best practices and standards, you can reduce the chances of errors, improve the quality of your workflows, and facilitate debugging.

5 Test and debug iteratively

Finally, another tip to optimize RPA debugging is to test and debug iteratively throughout your RPA project lifecycle. Testing and debugging iteratively means that you test and debug your workflows at every stage of development, from design to deployment, and not just at the end. Testing and debugging iteratively helps you identify and fix errors early, avoid rework, and ensure that your workflows meet the requirements and expectations. Testing and debugging iteratively also helps you incorporate feedback, changes, and improvements in your workflows, and ensure that they are robust and reliable.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?