I'm currently working on web projects for healthcare clients where I face the challenge of using outdated Windows software. Entering patient information into these old EHR systems is a real hassle—clicking through menus, dealing with dropdowns, and managing annoying popups take up way too much time. I've experimented with some basic RPA tools, but they can be expensive and don't adapt well to new tasks without frequent adjustments. Ideally, I'm looking for a solution that allows me to simply describe a task, trigger it via an API from the web interface, and have it run smoothly on their PCs, whether in the cloud or local. It would be great if the solution could adapt to unexpected situations and improve efficiency over time. What tools or tips have you found effective for automating interactions with legacy applications, while keeping costs down and ROI high?
3 Answers
If your tasks run in a browser, I recommend looking into using Selenium WebDriver. It’s typically used for automated testing but can also help with automating these browser-based tasks. You can use a browser extension to record your actions, and then customize the generated scripts to handle things like popups by adding some wait logic. It might take a little tweaking at first, but it can become a powerful tool.
For simple desktop automation, you might want to try AutoHotkey or Power Automate Desktop. They're straightforward for quick scripting needs. If you need robust governance and capabilities, UiPath is great, though it can be pricier. Also, Playwright can wrap browser interactions nicely. I'm curious whether you're looking to completely replace the human interaction or just streamline repetitive tasks?
I've worked a lot with legacy applications, and I totally get your frustration. From my experience, a mix of API-first strategies with lightweight desktop automation tools works best. We use Python libraries like `pywinauto` and `AutoHotkey` that can set up a local automation layer while listening to a web API. This combo can handle minor surprises without crashing the whole workflow. It's also a more cost-effective approach than traditional RPA tools. The trick is to keep your logic for workflows separate from UI actions, so when the interface changes, the system adapts without a hitch.
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