What is PDD and SDD in RPA? THE TWO MOST CRUCIAL BLUEPRINTS in Robotics Process Automation

There are basically 7 stages in the RPA life-cycle, but in this article, we are going to address about solution design phase, its documentation, and the most widely used acronyms that appear regularly in RPA conversations: PDD (Process Design Document) & SDD (Solution Design Document). Although there are many facets to be explored, we are going to limit this article to PDD &and SDD in RPA

RPA or Robotic Process Automation is currently a hot buzzword that has been able to capture the imagination of large-scale organizations, especially the ones that are preparing to transform into digital working enterprises. To put this statically, a Grandview study estimates that the Automation sector’s value is expected to soar from $358 million in 2017 to $3.11 billion in 2025. 

Moreover, many business leaders have started taking RPA seriously. In Fact, 85% of large & very large-scale organizations are planning to deploy some form of RPA by the end of 2022. Since all businesses rely on reduced cost & efficiencies, robots or software can help them automate a transaction, communicate with other digital systems, or extract & manipulate data. 

TL;DR – Quick Summary

PDD (Process Design Document) and SDD (Solution Design Document) are the two most critical documents in the RPA lifecycle. PDD is created first by Business Analysts, it captures the current manual process (“as-is”) and defines what needs to be automated. SDD is created next by RPA Developers, it translates the PDD into a technical blueprint for how the bot will be built. Together, they ensure every RPA project is built correctly, approved by stakeholders, and maintainable long-term.

What is RPA Solution Design Phase? 

The RPA lifecycle is the structure of how automation is delivered and executed. It consists of every one of the phases a bot goes through: from identifying a business process or task to automate through to its deployment as a bot in production and its continuous monitoring thereafter.

RPA solution design in RPA lifecycle management comes after ideation & assessment. It includes modeling & defining processes or tasks that need to be automated that are discovered in the discovery phase. It also includes mapping any dependencies that the automation might have. For instance, the automated task will interact with a system or regulations that impact it. 

The design phase of the RPA lifecycle features a blueprint for RPA developers to analyze and understand what tasks need to be automated. Traditionally, the Design phase is drafted in paper-based documents like PDD, but with time this process has ushered in a better, digital way of design. The RPA development phase comes next. 

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Where Do PDD and SDD Fit in the RPA Lifecycle?

To understand PDD and SDD, you first need to see where they sit in the full 7-stage RPA lifecycle:

What Is a Process Design Document (PDD) in RPA?

A Process Design Document (PDD) in RPA is a detailed, business-oriented document that captures the current manual process (the “as-is” state) and defines all the requirements, steps, exceptions, and business rules needed for automation. It is created by Business Analysts in collaboration with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and must be approved by the client before any development begins

Who Creates the PDD?

The PDD is typically created by a Business Analyst (BA) in collaboration with the Subject Matter Expert (SME), the person who actually performs the manual process today. In some organisations, the RPA Solution Architect or Process Consultant may also contribute.

What Is the Purpose of a PDD in RPA?

• Serves as the single source of truth about what the process does
• Documents every step, decision point, and exception in the current manual process
• Forms the foundation from which the SDD and automation bot are developed
• Protects the project team from scope creep, any changes require a formal change request
• Ensures business stakeholders and developers share a common understanding of the process

Complete Components of a PDD in RPA

A well-structured PDD typically contains the following sections:

What Is a Solution Design Document (SDD) in RPA?

A Solution Design Document (SDD) in RPA is a technical document that translates the business requirements from the PDD into a detailed blueprint for how the automation bot will be built. It is created by RPA Developers or Solution Architects and describes the “to-be” automated process, including bot behaviour, system integrations, exception handling logic, and data flows.

What Is the Purpose of a SDD in RPA?

• Translates business requirements into a technical automation design
• Acts as the primary reference document for the developer building the bot
• Ensures all stakeholders (technical and business) agree on how the bot will work before a line of code is written
• Enables knowledge transfer — future developers can understand and maintain the bot using the SDD
• Documents the “to-be” process, which may differ from the “as-is” because automation often improves the workflow

Who Creates the SDD?

The SDD is created by a Senior RPA Developer, RPA Lead, or Solution Architect. Unlike the PDD — which is a business document — the SDD is a technical document requiring deep knowledge of the RPA platform (UiPath, Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism, etc.).

Complete Components of a SDD in RPA

PDD vs SDD in RPA: Key Differences (Comparison Table)

Best Tools for Creating PDD and SDD Documents

Summary 

When it comes to RPA, documenting almost everything is a blessing rather than a curse. Creating PDD & SDD in RPA doesn’t necessarily imply immediate automation but ensuring access to key information & knowledge. So that it can be readily accessible to future developers & users. 

Read More: Learn 12 essential skills to become an RPA developer. 

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FAQs

1. What does PDD stand for in RPA?

PDD stands for Process Design Document (also sometimes called Process Definition Document). In RPA, it is the first formal document created in the Solution Design phase. It captures the current manual process in detail — including all steps, business rules, exceptions, and transaction volumes — as the foundation for building automation.

2. What does SDD stand for in RPA?

SDD stands for Solution Design Document. In RPA, it is a technical document created by RPA developers after the PDD is approved. It translates the business requirements from the PDD into a detailed technical blueprint for how the automation bot will be designed, built, and deployed.

3. Which comes first: PDD or SDD in RPA?

PDD always comes first. The PDD documents the business process and must be signed off by the client before the SDD is created. The SDD is then written by the RPA developer using the PDD as its primary input. The sequence is: PDD creation → PDD sign-off → SDD creation → SDD sign-off → Development.

4. Is PDD the same as BRD (Business Requirements Document)?

PDD and BRD are similar but not identical. A BRD captures high-level business requirements without necessarily documenting the step-by-step process. A PDD in RPA goes further it captures keystroke-level process steps, screenshots, exception flows, and transaction volumes specifically to guide bot development. Some organisations use BRD and PDD interchangeably; others treat them as sequential documents.