The Ultimate Blue Prism RPA Cheat Sheet: Mastering Robotic Process Automation

Introduction: What is Blue Prism and Why It Matters

Blue Prism is an enterprise Robotic Process Automation (RPA) platform that enables organizations to create digital workforces by automating rule-based business processes. It uses software robots to mimic human interactions with digital systems and software, executing repetitive tasks with precision and reliability.

Why Blue Prism Matters:

• Reduces operational costs by automating repetitive tasks
• Improves accuracy by eliminating human error
• Increases productivity and operational efficiency
• Enables redeployment of human resources to higher-value work
• Provides scalable automation solutions for enterprise environments
• Ensures compliance through consistent process execution and detailed audit trails

Core Concepts and Principles

Key Components of Blue Prism Architecture

Fundamental Terminology

• Business Objects: Reusable components that encapsulate application functionality
• Visual Business Objects (VBOs): Graphical representation of application interfaces
• Process Diagrams: Visual workflows that orchestrate automation steps
• Pages: Containers for stages within a process or business object
• Spying: Technique to identify and map UI elements of applications
• Surface Automation: Automation based on UI interaction
• Data Items: Variables used to store and manipulate data during process execution
• Exceptions: Errors or unexpected conditions during process execution

Step-by-Step Processes and Methodologies

Creating a Blue Prism Process

1. Process Planning

   • Define process requirements and objectives
   • Map the current manual process
   • Identify automation opportunities and exceptions

2. Development Environment Setup

   • Install Blue Prism client
   • Configure connection to Blue Prism database
   • Set up necessary credentials and access rights

3. Object Creation

   • Use Application Modeller to map application interfaces
   • Create application VBOs with necessary actions and methods
   • Test object functionality independently

4. Process Design

   • Create a new process in Process Studio
   • Define process inputs and outputs
   • Build the process flow using pages and stages
   • Implement business logic and decision points
   • Integrate exception handling

5. Testing

   • Unit test individual components
   • Conduct integration testing of the full process
   • Validate process against various scenarios
   • Debug and refine as needed

6. Deployment

   • Use Release Manager to prepare for deployment
   • Create process documentation
   • Deploy to production environment
   • Set up scheduling and runtime resources

7. Monitoring and Maintenance

   • Monitor process execution in Control Room
   • Review logs and exception reports
   • Implement continuous improvement

Key Techniques, Tools, and Methods

Process Studio Techniques

• Start and End Stages: Define entry and exit points
• Decision Stages: Implement conditional logic
• Calculation Stages: Perform data manipulations
• Action Stages: Execute business object actions
• Loop Stages: Iterate through collections or repeat actions
• Exception Blocks: Handle errors gracefully
• Resume Stages: Continue execution after exceptions
• Link Stages: Connect different sections of a process
• Note Stages: Add documentation directly in the process

Object Studio Techniques

• Read/Write Stages: Interact with application elements
• Navigation Stages: Move through application screens
• Wait Stages: Pause until conditions are met
• Code Stages: Implement custom VB.NET or C# code
• Recovery Procedures: Handle application-specific errors
• Data Manipulation: Transform and validate data

Application Modeller Techniques

Data Manipulation

• Data Items: Local and global variables for storing information
• Collections: Data structures for handling multiple related items
• Environment Variables: Configuration values accessible across processes
• Data Conversion: Transforming between data types
• String Manipulation: Functions for text processing
• Date/Time Functions: Working with temporal data
• Calculation Functions: Performing mathematical operations
• Regular Expressions: Pattern matching and complex text operations

Work Queue Management

• Creating Queues: Setting up work distribution systems
• Item Tagging: Categorizing work items for routing
• Priority Management: Ensuring critical items are processed first
• Exception Handling: Managing failed queue items
• Deferral: Postponing processing of certain items
• Work Queue Analytics: Monitoring queue performance

Comparison Tables

Blue Prism vs Other RPA Tools

Automation Approaches in Blue Prism

Common Challenges and Solutions

Best Practices and Practical Tips

Naming Conventions

• Use consistent, descriptive names for all objects, processes, and data items
• Follow a standard format: [Function][Entity][Action]
• Examples:
  • Business Objects: BO_SAP_Login, BO_Excel_ReadData
  • Processes: PROC_InvoiceProcessing, PROC_CustomerOnboarding
  • Data Items: str_CustomerName, col_InvoiceData, num_TotalAmount

Process Structure

• Design modular processes with clear, single-responsibility objects
• Limit page complexity to improve readability and maintenance
• Create reusable utility objects for common functions
• Implement proper initialization and cleanup procedures
• Document process logic with notes and comments
• Use subpages to organize complex logic

Exception Handling Best Practices

• Implement multiple levels of exception handling:
  • Business exceptions: Expected variations requiring special handling
  • System exceptions: Technical failures requiring recovery
  • Application exceptions: Application-specific errors
• Log detailed exception information, including:
  • Exception type and message
  • Process stage where exception occurred
  • Relevant data values at time of exception
  • Screenshots of application state
• Implement retry mechanisms with configurable attempt limits
• Create dedicated exception handler processes for complex recovery scenarios

Security Guidelines

• Follow the principle of least privilege for service accounts
• Rotate credentials regularly
• Encrypt sensitive data items
• Implement session management best practices
• Use Blue Prism Credential Manager for all authentication
• Maintain audit logs for compliance

Performance Optimization

• Minimize external application interactions
• Batch process data when possible
• Use native Blue Prism functions instead of custom code when available
• Optimize wait conditions and timeouts
• Implement efficient exception handling
• Close applications properly after use
• Limit resource-intensive operations like OCR

Resources for Further Learning

Official Resources

• Blue Prism Portal – Official documentation and learning materials
• Blue Prism University – Official training and certification courses
• Blue Prism Digital Exchange – Marketplace for components and solutions

Community Resources

• Blue Prism Community Forum – User discussions and knowledge sharing
• RPA Subreddit – General RPA discussions including Blue Prism
• LinkedIn Blue Prism Groups – Professional networking and knowledge sharing

Certification Path

1. Blue Prism Developer (Foundation)
2. Blue Prism Developer (Professional)
3. Blue Prism Solution Designer
4. Blue Prism Technical Architect
5. Blue Prism ROM Architect

Recommended Books

• “Service Automation: Robots and the Future of Work” by Leslie Willcocks and Mary Lacity
• “Robotic Process Automation and Risk Mitigation” by Mary Lacity and Leslie Willcocks
• “Blue Prism: The Ultimate Guide to RPA” by Richard Murdock (Note: Unofficial guide)

Video Tutorials

• Blue Prism YouTube Channel – Official tutorials and webinars
• Blue Prism How-To Series – Step-by-step implementation guides