Nasscom Digital Edge 101
Module - 9
Module 9 – Blockchain and Robotic Process
Automation
Topic 1: Evolution of Blockchain
What Is Blockchain?
A blockchain is a decentralized, distributed digital ledger designed to record data or
transaction entries across a secure, global network of independent computer nodes.
This structural dispersion ensures that once data is finalized, it becomes nearly tamper-
proof and resistant to unauthorized retroactive alteration.
Transactions occurring on the network are systematically batched into structured
storage elements called blocks. Each block is securely bound to its chronological
predecessor using advanced cryptographic mechanisms, forming an unbroken, public,
and verifiable data chain. This design establishes operational transparency and
absolute data immutability across the entire system.
Block 3
Block 1 Block 2
• Data Registry
• Data Registry • Data Registry • Current Hash
• Current Hash • Current Hash • Previous Hash
• Previous Hash • Current Hash
History and Technological Evolution of Blockchain
The structural evolution of distributed ledger technology (DLT) is defined by key
chronological milestones:
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[1991-1992] Cryptographic Document Timestamping (Haber & Stornetta)
[2004] Reusable Proof of Work (Hal Finney)
[2008-2009] Bitcoin White Paper & Launch (Satoshi Nakamoto)
[2014-2015] Smart Contracts & Ethereum (Blockchain 2.0 Launch)
[2019-2020] Mainstream Enterprise Adoption & Cloud Services (BaaS)
[2022] The Merge: Ethereum Transitions from PoW to PoS.
• 1991–1992 (The Foundational Stage): Research scientists Stuart Haber and W.
Scott Stornetta introduced the first structurally secure digital ledger designed for
timestamping electronic documents. Their architecture integrated Merkle Trees,
which allowed multiple document records to be combined into a single,
verifiable cryptographic block.
• 2000–2004 (Early Cryptographic Frameworks): Computer scientist Stefan
Konst published advanced theories on cryptographically secured data chains. In
2004, developer Hal Finney introduced Reusable Proof of Work (RPOW), a
milestone that effectively prevented double-spending without requiring a
centralized authority.
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• 2008–2009 (The Bitcoin Breakthrough): An anonymous entity named Satoshi
Nakamoto conceptualized the first fully realized "Distributed Blockchain" by
releasing the white paper: Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System. In
2009, the Bitcoin genesis network officially launched, initiating public open-
source cryptocurrency mining.
• 2014–2015 (The Rise of Blockchain 2.0): The technology evolved beyond simple
asset transfers with the launch of the Ethereum network. This introduced Smart
Contracts—self-executing digital scripts embedded directly into the blockchain
code—which laid the groundwork for decentralized applications (dApps).
• 2016–2018 (Surging Volatility and Testing): Global commercial adoption grew
rapidly, and Japan officially legalized Bitcoin as a valid payment format. However,
this phase also saw major security challenges, such as the Bitfinex exchange
hack resulting in the theft of $120,000$ Bitcoins, which highlighted the need for
stronger security frameworks.
• 2019–2020 (The Enterprise Transition): Ethereum transaction volumes passed
1 million daily transfers. Tech companies launched Blockchain as a Service
(BaaS) models, highlighted by the release of Amazon Managed Blockchain.
• 2022 (The Green Transition): The Ethereum network completed "The Merge,"
moving its consensus engine from Proof of Work (PoW) to Proof of Stake (PoS).
This transition cut the network's operational energy consumption by over 99.9%,
making large-scale dApp deployments highly sustainable.
Top 10 Global Enterprises Utilizing Blockchain Systems
Large organizations across various industries use blockchain to improve efficiency,
trace data, and secure transactions:
1. Walmart: Cut invoice errors and processing discrepancies from 70% down to 1%
by tracking food logistics and supply chains on an immutable distributed ledger.
2. Adobe: Supports the Solana and Polygon networks to verify authorship and
authenticate Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) while running the Content Authenticity
Initiative.
3. Alphabet (Google): Integrates distributed ledger architectures into YouTube data
pipelines, Google Maps verification systems, and Google Cloud services.
4. Amazon: Offers enterprise-grade infrastructure called Amazon Managed
Blockchain, allowing companies to build and launch decentralized business
networks quickly.
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5. Apple: Enabled secure, contactless digital asset transactions by integrating
cryptocurrency payment access directly with its "Tap to Pay" NFC hardware.
6. Bank of America: Invests heavily in blockchain-based global payment networks
to lower clearing costs and speed up international settlements.
7. McDonald’s: Registered digital trademarks for virtual restaurants, custom
collectibles, and NFT applications designed for metaverse environments.
8. Roche: Uses the specialized Digipharm blockchain platform to manage medical
data and improve healthcare delivery tracking.
9. SAP & Unilever: Co-developed GreenToken, a transparent supply chain tracking
system that verifies the sustainable extraction and ethical sourcing of palm oil.
10. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS): Builds advanced crypto-financial tools,
including virtual banking platforms and custom NFT marketplaces tailored for
corporate clients.
Topic 2: Getting Started with Blockchain
How a Blockchain Works Behind the Scenes
The operations of a public, decentralized ledger rely on an integrated sequence of
events across a distributed network:
[ User Initiates Transaction ]
[ Broadcasted to Peer-to-Peer Network of Nodes ]
[ Validation via Consensus (PoW/PoS Cryptography) ]
[ Transactions Bundled into a New Data Block ]
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[ Block is Cryptographically Linked to Previous Block (Hash Codes) ]
[ Permanent, Immutable Record Added to the Ledger ]
1. Digital Ledger Layer: A structural registry records all inbound transactions in a
secure list distributed across a peer-to-peer network.
2. Block Formation: Transactions are grouped into data blocks. Each block
receives a unique cryptographic identifier called a hash code, generated using
mathematical functions like SHA-256. The new block also embeds the hash
code of its parent block, creating an unbreakable chronological link.
3. Verification and Consensus: Transactions undergo structural verification by
independent computers (nodes) across the network using decentralized
cryptographic validation rules.
4. Block Addition: Once validated, the block is appended to the ledger, extending
the blockchain in a permanent, verifiable sequence.
Core Consensus Mechanisms
To guarantee data validity without a central authority, networks use mathematically
sound consensus mechanisms:
Proof of Work (PoW)
The original validation system used by the Bitcoin network. Independent node
operators, called miners, use heavy computational processing power to solve complex
mathematical puzzles. The first miner to find the correct value receives the right to
validate transactions and earn a block reward. While highly secure, PoW demands
significant electrical power and scales slowly due to the computational time required.
Proof of Stake (PoS)
A faster, highly energy-efficient alternative used by Ethereum 2.0. Instead of buying
energy-intensive mining hardware, users stake their own digital currency assets to
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become network validators. The network selects validators based on the amount of
capital staked and their performance history, drastically lowering electricity costs while
speeding up transaction times.
The 4 Major Types of Blockchains
Organizations pick specific blockchain architectures based on their transparency,
privacy, and performance requirements:
Primary
Blockchain Access & Core Target
Management
Format Openness Applications
Layer
Fully
Open to Public
decentralized;
everyone; anyone cryptocurrencies
Public governed by open-
can join, write, (Bitcoin, Ethereum)
Blockchain source
and verify and decentralized
community
transactions. apps (dApps).
consensus.
Centralized; a
Restricted; single
Corporate data
participants organization or
Private tracking, asset
require explicit system
Blockchain management, and
access administrator
supply chains.
invitations. controls
permissions.
Semi- Distributed Inter-bank
decentralized; governance; settlement, shipping
Consortium
restricted access controlled by a networks, and
Blockchain
to predetermined group of approved shared research
groups. organizations. databases.
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Primary
Blockchain Access & Core Target
Management
Format Openness Applications
Layer
Controlled access Real estate
Mix of public and options; select transactions,
Hybrid
private access data points are sovereign identity
Blockchain
paradigms. left completely controls, and voting
public. networks.
Topic 3: Applications of Blockchain in the Finance Industry
Blockchain in FinTech and Traditional Finance (TradFi)
The integration of fintech and blockchain architecture has changed how financial
institutions clear transactions, manage capital, and handle risk. Historically, traditional
banking models relied on slow, multi-layered clearing workflows bound by high
operational costs and manual errors.
Deploying cryptographic ledgers removes these systemic vulnerabilities. Major financial
hubs use blockchain to automate complex multi-party agreements via smart contracts,
speed up asset validation, and establish end-to-end auditability.
Key Use Cases Transforming the Financial Sector
• Cross-Border Transactions and Global Payments: Traditional international
wire transfers can take days to settle due to correspondent banking networks
and time-zone delays. Blockchain networks enable automated cross-border
settlements in near real-time, drastically reducing intermediary costs and
clearing friction.
• Asset Tokenization and Fractional Real-World Assets: Tokenization converts
tangible financial assets, such as real estate, bonds, or private equity, into digital
security tokens on a ledger. This process increases liquidity, scales fractional
ownership models, and makes high-value markets accessible to a broader base
of investors.
• Decentralized Finance (DeFi): DeFi replaces traditional intermediaries with
autonomous, open-source smart contracts. This enables peer-to-peer lending,
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automated borrowing, and algorithmic asset management without relying on
conventional banking infrastructure.
• Trade Finance Optimization: Global trade finance depends heavily on paper-
based documents, such as letters of credit and bills of lading, making it
vulnerable to duplication fraud. Digitizing these documents on an immutable
ledger provides real-time transaction visibility, prevents double-spending, and
lowers counterparty risks for global shipping networks.
Topic 4: Impact of Blockchain on Workforce & Workplace
Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs)
A Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) is an enterprise governance
framework managed entirely by open-source smart contract code rather than a
traditional executive leadership team.
• Governance Rules: Corporate governance rules, spending permissions, and
project milestones are hardcoded directly into the smart contract system.
• Voting Dynamics: Stakeholders hold native digital governance tokens, using
them to vote on business proposals or capital allocation.
• Execution: Once a proposal wins a majority vote based on token consensus, the
underlying smart contract runs the execution command automatically, without
requiring manual authorization.
Workplace Evolution and HR Transformation
Distributed ledger applications are modernizing the workplace and human resource
(HR) practices:
• Credential Verification and Fraud Prevention: Job applicants occasionally
falsify credentials or certifications. Academic institutions and certification
bodies can issue secure, cryptographically signed digital diplomas directly to a
candidate's blockchain profile. This allows HR teams to verify an applicant's
background instantly, removing the need for slow, high-cost third-party
background checks.
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• Automated Payroll Administration via Smart Contracts: Multinational
corporations often face high banking fees and compliance issues when
managing cross-border payroll. Smart contracts automate compensation
distribution by instantly converting and routing funds when predefined
milestones are met, ensuring on-time payouts for global and remote teams.
• The Gig Economy and Freelance Security: Freelance marketplaces often
charge high platform take-rates and impose lengthy payment clearing delays.
Decentralized payment gateways allow gig workers to connect directly with
clients, using stablecoins to settle invoices in minutes for minimal transaction
fees.
Topic 5: Getting Started with Robotic Process Automation
Understanding RPA
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) uses specialized software programs, called bots, to
replicate repetitive, rule-based digital tasks traditionally performed by humans. Unlike
traditional programming options that demand deep backend API updates, RPA interacts
directly with user interfaces (UI)—clicking buttons, entering data, and reading screens
exactly like a human operator, but with absolute precision and execution speed.
LEGACY BUSINESS APPLICATION
(No Backend API Access / Fragmented Mainframe Architecture)
ROBOTIC PROCESS AUTOMATION
Mimics Keystrokes - Screen Scraping - Data Transposition
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Attended vs. Unattended RPA
Organizations deploy RPA bots using two distinct operational models based on
workflow dependencies:
Attended Bots
These bots run locally on an individual user's workstation and are triggered directly by
the employee to handle specific parts of a larger task. They are ideal for hybrid
workflows that require human judgment or critical thinking at key decision points,
allowing the bot to manage tedious micro-tasks while the human handles complex
problem-solving.
Unattended Bots
These bots operate independently on remote servers or cloud environments without
requiring human intervention. They execute high-volume, rule-based data processing
tasks on scheduled timelines. If a bot encounters an exception or an unexpected error,
it logs the incident to a centralized dashboard and flags a human supervisor to
troubleshoot.
Comparison of Core RPA Software Tools
Enterprise teams pick specific RPA software based on integration, scale, and coding
requirements:
Primary Core Common
RPA
Deployment Differentiating Enterprise
Platform
Focus Features Applications
Intuitive drag-and- Order fulfillment
Low-code drop workflow automation, small-
Zoho
automation app interfaces, built-in scale business
Creator
development. AI sentiment productivity
analysis tools. improvements.
Fraud tracking
Deeply Low-code setup,
systems,
Power integrated built-in process
automated
Automate Microsoft 365 mining, native AI
reporting inside
environments. Builder features.
corporate suites.
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Primary Core Common
RPA
Deployment Differentiating Enterprise
Platform
Focus Features Applications
High-accuracy Automated payroll
Legacy
document capture, reconciliations,
Tungsten enterprise
cognitive data long-term
Automation system
extraction document
migrations.
capabilities. processing.
Dedicated AI Agent Intelligent data
Cloud-native
Automation Studio, highly classification,
enterprise
Anywhere scalable web-based medical record
automation.
control center. updates.
High-performance
Large-scale
Orchestrator
Hyper- international
dashboard,
UiPath automation logistics tracking,
advanced NLP
deployments. cross-department
cognitive
data transfers.
understanding.
Peak retail
Rigid built-in version
Secure, transaction
control systems,
Blue Prism auditable handling, high-
shared central asset
operations. security banking
repository.
automations.
Real-time predictive Fast application
Complex case decision-making testing, large
Pega management models, advanced enterprise
workflows. workforce customer account
intelligence. handling.
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Topic 6: 3 Core Technologies of Robotic Process Automation
The Foundations of Automated Task Execution
Robotic Process Automation combines three distinct functional layers to automate
manual desktop workflows:
1. Workflow Automation: The structural engine that executes rule-based tasks
along clear decision branches, mapping out step-by-step paths for data to move
between systems.
2. Screen Scraping: High-speed data extraction routines that capture text and
visual layout details directly from software interfaces and web pages.
3. Artificial Intelligence (AI): Cognitive add-ons, such as natural language
processing (NLP), that help bots read messy, unstructured data sources like
customer emails or support tickets.
Screen Scraping vs. Web Scraping & API Scraping
Understanding data extraction methods requires separating screen scraping from its
alternatives:
• Screen Scraping: Focuses entirely on capturing text as it appears visually on a
user interface. It emulates mouse clicks and human movements, making it
essential for pulling data from legacy systems that lack modern backend data
connections. However, it is vulnerable to UI layout changes; if a developer moves
a text field or button, the bot may fail to find it.
• Web Scraping: A broader data collection method that extracts structured
information directly from a website's underlying source code (such as raw HTML,
XML, or JSON files) without needing to render the visual page layout.
• API Scraping: Interacts with documented, standardized endpoints provided
directly by the software developer. It is highly stable and unaffected by UI
changes, making it the preferred choice for high-throughput enterprise data
exchange when access is available.
The Evolution to Agentic AI and Intelligent Automation
Traditional RPA is structurally limited by its rule-based design; it can follow fixed
instructions perfectly but cannot handle unexpected layout changes or solve
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ambiguous problems on its own. The industry is solving this limitation by moving toward
Agentic AI models.
LEGACY RPA BOT AGENTIC AI MODEL
- Strict Rule-Based Logic - Contextual LLM Reasoning
- Breaks on UI Layout Changes - Dynamic Self-Healing Paths
- Requires Fixed Input Formats - Handles Messy, Unstructured Data
By pairing RPA with Large Language Models (LLMs), automation systems step up to
become autonomous agents. These intelligent systems can understand contextual
nuance, self-heal their own code execution paths if a UI elements shifts, and
independently make complex data decisions. This enables end-to-end automation
across unpredictable enterprise environments.
Topic 7: Applications of RPA in Banking &
Insurance Industry
RPA in Banking Functions and Compliance Audits
Financial institutions deploy RPA to improve data accuracy, streamline customer
onboarding, and ensure strict regulatory compliance:
• Automated Fraud Tracking Operations: Bots continuously review account
activity logs to monitor transaction behavior. If a bot flags suspicious activity, it
automatically pauses the card and alerts the risk team, containing threats before
they escalate.
• Streamlining Customer Onboarding and KYC Audits: Opening a bank account
requires verifying identity documents against global compliance registries. RPA
bots extract customer details from application forms, run automated
background checks, and update internal core databases in minutes, cutting
down manual data entry.
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• Financial Data Reconciliation: At the end of every business cycle, accounting
systems must match internal ledgers against external transactional balances.
RPA bots handle these data transposition tasks automatically, matching records
across disparate files and generating audit reports to meet compliance
standards.
Transforming the Insurance Landscape
Insurance providers use RPA to eliminate paper-based delays and automate standard
customer notification pipelines:
• Automating Claims Processing: Insurance claims typically require slow,
manual data entry. RPA bots use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to extract
claim data from digital PDF forms, verify it against active customer records, and
auto-approve standard requests based on preset rules, routing complex files to
human adjusters.
• Policy Renewal Updates and Lapse Notifications: Missing policy payments
can accidentally void coverage. RPA bots automatically monitor payment
schedules, updating account histories and instantly triggering email or SMS
alerts to customers when an account risks a coverage lapse.
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