All terms
Automation

What is Screen Scraping

Data extraction from application screens

Screen Scraping is a technology for automatically extracting data from application graphical interfaces when direct data access via API is unavailable.

How It Works

  • Analysis of visual interface elements
  • Text and control element recognition
  • User action emulation
  • Data extraction from terminal applications

Use Cases

  • Integration with legacy systems
  • Automation of terminal application workflows
  • Data migration from old systems
  • Data extraction from closed applications
  • UI testing automation

Technologies

  • OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
  • Computer Vision for screen analysis
  • UI Automation frameworks
  • RPA platforms (UiPath, Automation Anywhere)

Benefits

  • Works with any applications
  • No source code access required
  • Quick solution for legacy integrations
  • Minimal intervention in target system

Limitations

  • Dependency on application interface
  • Fragility with UI changes
  • Low performance
  • Difficulty handling dynamic content

Benefits

Accuracy & Quality. Eliminate human errors in repetitive operations. Achieve data accuracy up to 99.5%. Automatic quality control at every stage. Reduce complaints and returns by 35-40% through consistent execution.

How to Start

Step 1: Infrastructure. Evaluate current IT infrastructure and capacity. Determine upgrade requirements for servers and networking. Set up development, testing, and production environments. Enable monitoring and alerting from day one.

ROI & Efficiency

Operational Efficiency. Team productivity grows 35-45%. Mean time to resolution drops 70%. First call resolution rate reaches 80%. Processed request volume increases 5-7x with the same headcount.

Common Mistakes

IT-Only Automation. IT should not implement automation in isolation. Business users understand process nuances best. Collaborative work reduces error risk significantly. Regular demos and feedback sessions are essential.

Who Needs It

Marketing & Advertising. Agencies managing multiple campaigns simultaneously. Brands needing personalization at scale. Companies with high customer acquisition costs. Businesses optimizing the customer journey.

Practical Example

Case: Logistics. A transport company with 500 routes optimized planning with AI. Fuel consumption dropped 25%, delivery time decreased 30%. Automated dispatching assigns orders in seconds instead of 2 hours of manual work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:What is RPA and how does it differ from AI automation?
RPA (Robotic Process Automation) — robots repeating human actions in interfaces: clicks, data entry, copying. AI automation — intelligent algorithms for decision-making, text analysis, image recognition. Best results come from combining RPA + AI for end-to-end automation.
Q:What does maintaining automated processes cost?
Typically 15-25% of implementation cost annually. Includes: software updates, monitoring, issue resolution, adapting to business process changes. SaaS solutions include support in subscription. With proper architecture, support costs decrease each year.
Q:Can document processing be automated?
Yes, OCR + AI recognizes documents with 95-99% accuracy. Automatic classification, data extraction, and routing. Integration with ERP, CRM systems. Processing invoices, contracts, and forms in seconds instead of minutes. 60-80% time savings on document workflow.

Related terms

RPAOCR