Course Outline
Transitioning from Manual Reports to Automated Workflows
- Mapping existing manual reporting workflows
- Identifying automation candidates based on frequency, effort, and risk
Establishing the Automation Workbench
- Setting up Python, editors, and virtual environments
- Installing pandas, openpyxl, and Selenium
Python Fundamentals and Script Reusability
- Variables, conditional logic, loops, and lists
- Creating small functions and sequential script steps
- Interpreting and responding to error messages
File Management, Paths, and Data Formats
- Reading and writing CSV and Excel files
- Naming conventions, archiving, and date-stamping outputs
Data Preparation Using pandas
- Loading data sources into dataframes
- Filtering, joining, and aggregating datasets
- Cleaning dates, monetary values, and duplicate entries
Generating Reports with openpyxl
- Populating Excel workbooks with results
- Applying formatting, formulas, and charts
- Driving output generation from Excel templates
Validating and Reconciling Results
- Implementing control totals and row count verification
- Identifying duplicates and outliers
- Establishing quality gates prior to release
Leveraging Claude for Scripting and Reusable Skills
- Prompting Claude for automation code
- Reviewing and refining generated code
- Packaging reusable skills for team sharing
Web Automation via Selenium and Chrome
- Element locating, wait strategies, and navigation
- Securing sign-ins to internal portals
- Managing pagination, downloads, and file handling
Utilizing Power BI and Internal Excel Sources
- Accessing published reports and exports
- Managing shared folders and file lock conflicts
- Adapting to layout and column changes
Distributing Reports via Email and WhatsApp
- Sending Gmail notifications using app passwords
- Managing attachments, summaries, and recipient lists
- Using business messaging templates and opt-in protocols
Orchestrating Workflows with PowerShell
- Executing scripts and capturing output
- Handling parameters, logging, and exit codes
- Chaining steps into a unified pipeline
Scheduling Unattended Tasks with Task Scheduler
- Creating and configuring scheduled tasks
- Managing service accounts and run-as permissions
- Monitoring executions and retry mechanisms
Troubleshooting, Logging, and Security
- Implementing structured logs and error capture
- Managing credential storage and least privilege access
- Handling personal and regulated data securely
Documentation, Handover, and the Automation Capstone
- Creating process documentation and runbooks
- Capstone: Building a departmental report
- Executing the first scheduled run and conducting a review
Requirements
- Previous programming experience is not required.
- Proficiency in using Windows, Microsoft Excel, and a web browser.
- A solid understanding of the specific report or process intended for automation.
Target Audience
- Business, operations, finance, and administrative staff managing recurring reports.
- Team leads and supervisors aiming to transfer these skills to their teams.
- Analysts transitioning from manual reporting to automated data pipelines.
Testimonials (3)
I understand the basic flow of building a bot from start to finish
Dita Aura Febrian - PT Glostar Indonesia
Course - Integrated RPA for SAP Automation
the template provided. they will come in handy on my day to day duties
Lineo Nchaba - Revenue Services Lesotho
Course - UiPath for Business Analysts
He is very competent, organized, and he loves his job.
