Robotic process automation (RPA) has been one of the best inventions ever incorporated in the industries today. RPA provides solutions for most of the problems facing manufacturers, making it an indispensable tool.

However, with every industry running to get hands-on automation robots, the one thing that’s become clear is that most manufacturers don’t understand robot software -Or at least how to choose them.

This creates a big problem for the industries, as the wrong robot software can drastically affect your production. So, what should you look for when choosing a robot software?

Here are five factors you should keep in mind:

1.     Compatibility with your systems

When choosing a robot software, compatibility with your existing frameworks is always the first priority. You want to find a software that easily works with the technology you already have in place.

Look into more than just the OS, dig deeper into the libraries and related files ensuring they can work with your production. If you’re going with Linux-based systems, then ensure that the software you choose supports the Linux files. If middle-range software, then make sure you have the system to support it.

With compatible software, integration into your systems becomes faster and easier. It also fosters more flexibility and makes development much easier.

2.     Hardware issues

Another vital issue is your hardware. Even if the software is compatible with all the systems in place, if the hardware doesn’t support it, there’s nothing you can achieve.

You, therefore, need to ensure that you have all the facts about your robot’s hardware. Find out the specifications and what it can or can’t accommodate. Most developers design robot hardware with specific distribution systems in mind.

Therefore, while it may work with one software, it may be more effective when used with specific software. So do your research and ensure that the software you choose gets the best of the robot hardware.

3.     Software scalability

One of the primary reasons for industries to invest in robots is to improve their scalability. With such high speed, accuracy and efficiency, robots work way faster than workers improving the industry’s performance.

But this isn’t always the case when you have the wrong software for your robots. You need to ensure that the robot software you choose has the capacity to scale up.

This includes multi-tasking, reprogramming to different tasks and a big enough memory space to keep process procedures. You don’t want to keep programming the robot each time you want to repeat a task!

A good robot software allows you to track records of your production while also allowing you to dial-up or down depending on the volume demands. It should also have the capacity to learn new procedures and steps, making production expansion easier.

4.     Easy, friendly user interface

An industrial robot is a sophisticated piece of technology. But this doesn’t mean its software has to be complex as well. To make the most out of a robot, all your employees need to be able to operate it efficiently.

That’s why having a clean and easy user interface is a huge priority. The robot software should be easy to navigate and use different functionalities.

The programming side of it should also be easy for most people. Your IT team should be able to easily configure the codes, to incorporate new tasks and processes.

The more complex a software is, the harder it is to modify and hence, takes longer to integrate to your system.

5.     Analysis features

Being a computer of sorts, your industrial robot should also provide you with accurate analytics of your production. The robot software should incorporate some complex calculations to give an idea of your workflow in production.

You should also be able to optimize this software to include some key analysis features you want in the report.

Final Thoughts

Finding a good robot software is just as important as purchasing the robot itself. The better your software is, the better the robot will perform in production. It’s, therefore, paramount that you choose the right software for your automation.

With the tips above, we’re confident that you’ll make a smart decision when choosing a robot software for your metal friend!