Implement a Successful Rule-Based System for Process Automation in Your Company

rule based system process

Key takeaways

  • Rule-based systems are also known as production or expert systems, as they are the simplest form of artificial intelligence. 
  • These systems are designed to mimic human reasoning at an expert level for solving intensive problems. 
  • Rule-based systems are simple models where the problems are defined in simple if-then statements. 
  • A set of facts, set of rules, and termination rules are the main elements of the rule based systems.
  • In certain industries, rule-based process automation is used to decide how to perform certain operations.
  • Rule based systems can be trained, so they can learn from experience and improve their decisions over time. 

What is the Definition of Rule-based System?

A rule based system can be defined as a basic form of AI model that uses a set of prewritten rules to make decisions and solve problems. Developers create rules based on human expert knowledge, which enables the system to process input data and produce desired results. The nuances of semantics and diction in human interaction are difficult for computers to process information. A rules based system uses the rules as knowledge coded in the system. This blog explores rules based systems in detail and rule based systems for automation. 

Table of Contents

Characteristics of Rule-based System

Rule-based systems are used to solve problems, make decisions, and make predictions and recommendations. They also control actions that have been defined by their rules. Rule-based systems have been around for a long time but they are only now starting to see increased interest from the mainstream business world due to their ability to help businesses automate repetitive tasks or processes so that they can focus on more strategic activities such as innovation and growth.

A rule-based system is created using a simple set of assertions and rules that specify how to act on a defined condition.

These rules are generally defined as if-then statements (IF-THEN rules):

IF P THEN Q, and this is equivalent to P⇒Q.

These IF-THEN rules are facts that act as interpreters and control how the rules are applied. The idea of an expert system is to use this knowledge and encode it into a set of rules. When they are exposed to the same data set, the expert system should perform in the same manner. 

Therefore, the rules-based systems are simple models where the problem can be defined in simple if-then statements. This knowledge can be applied to the problem area. If the area is larger with a high number of rules, then the rule-based system becomes inefficient. 

Elements of a Rules-based System Approach

Any rules-based system comprises the following simple elements:

  • A set of facts. These facts act as the starting point of a system and are the actual assertions created. 
  • A set of rules. These rules comprise all the actions that need to be taken for a problem. These rules specify the system on how to act on a set of assertions. The rules relate the actions of the IF parts to the THEN part. The system should comprise only the relevant tools, as any irrelevant rules affect the performance efficiency of the system. 
  • A termination rule. This condition is set to determine if the solution has been identified or not. This is an important criterion to be set in a rule-based system without which the loop exists infinitely.  

Rules are written as logical expressions, which means they’re only evaluated when they’re executed.

For example, if you want your rule to look for items with certain properties (like cost), you would write something like “If P = $100 and Q = $100, then R = $200.”

This is called an if-then statement because the condition must be true before proceeding with any action; nothing happens if it’s not true!

The problem with using simple IF THEN ELSE statements like these is that if multiple conditions are being checked against each other (such as checking whether both P/Q values equal 100), then there could be an endless loop that will never end until someone breaks out of it somehow!

To avoid this problem, you can use nested loops. Instead of executing all three branches separately within their own blocks, you will execute them all together inside one big block called CORE.  No matter how many times you run through your program code, everything still works perfectly fine because all those nested IF THEN ELSE statements have been put together into one giant block instead.

An Example of a Rules-based Process Automation

Rule-based process automation is used in many industries to decide how to perform certain operations. For example, a car manufacturer might have a rule that says: “If a car has been manufactured by Ford Motor Company and was produced in the year 1998, then it must be sold at $15,000.” This means that if you’re looking at a vehicle from Ford with an engine made by General Motors (GM), your insurance company will not cover this vehicle because it isn’t eligible for warranty coverage.

Another type of rule-based system is called a decision tree. They are easier than other types because they can be programmed into computers with relatively little programming effort. The most common type of decision tree is called CART (Continuous Automatic Reassessment Tree). It uses statistical techniques such as QSARs (Quality Screening Assessment Reports) or predictive models based on neural networks that predict future outcomes based on data collected from historical records such as medical test results or financial statements regarding sales figures, etc.

Structure of a Rule-based Approach

The structure of a rules-based system is as follows:

  • Knowledge base – This contains the domain knowledge represented as IF-THEN rules. 
  • Database – Contains predicate facts that match the IF rules in the knowledge base.
  • Inference engine – This engine contains all the processes that deduce information from the knowledge base based on the user’s requests. They carry out the reasoning and reach a solution as an expert system should. 
  • Explanation subsystem – Analyze the reasoning performed by the system and explain it to the user. This gives users the possibility to question the system about the way the solution has been identified the conclusion has been reached and how the facts have been used. 
  • User interface – This is the communication between the user and the expert system. The user interface is the natural language processing system or the graphical interface with menus that the system uses to communicate with the user. 
  • Knowledge engineer – This is generally a computer scientist with AI knowledge and an expert in the field where they put the rules in the form to be entered into the knowledge base. 
  • Knowledge acquisition subsystem – This system is responsible for identifying any inconsistencies in the information in the knowledge base and providing constant updates. 

How Does A Rule-based System Work?

A rule-based system is based on a set of rules that are applied to the data. The result is a decision that can be used to make predictions or control an outcome.

Rule-based systems can be trained, so they learn from experience and improve their decisions over time. This method allows them to make better decisions than other methods like neural networks or fuzzy logic because it’s built around strong foundations (rules).

Types of Rule-based Systems

Rule-based systems are the simplest form of AI. Different types of systems are used for different applications. 

1. Predictive Systems

Predictive systems are generally based on an existing rule-based system and add to it by using statistical methods to predict future events. Predictive systems can be used to forecast sales or inventory numbers, or they can be used in applications such as credit scoring.

2. Expert Systems

An expert system is a software system designed to perform tasks based on the application of knowledge to a specific problem. The design and implementation of expert systems are highly complex, requiring that the system be able to represent, store, and process large amounts of domain-specific data.

3. Human Expert Interaction

Human expert interaction (HEX) refers to systems that employ human experts in their development and operation. HEX systems require human expertise to operate effectively; however, they do not require as much detailed knowledge about the subject matter as other types of rule-based systems.

4. Knowledge bases

Knowledge bases are similar to rule-based systems except that they use databases instead of rules. Knowledge bases may be used for classification or pattern recognition tasks where rules could not handle the problem adequately.

Pros and Cons of Rule-Based Systems

  • Rule-based systems can be very useful for automating a process that requires decisions. They are good at making decisions as they are not time-sensitive.
  • Rule-based systems can be complex and sometimes difficult to update as the rules can be hard to understand, test, and debug.
  • Rule-based systems are more flexible than fuzzy logic systems. They have a lot of rules but are more flexible than fuzzy logic systems.
  • Rule-based systems tend to be more expensive than fuzzy logic systems as they require extensive training and more maintenance.
  • Rule-based systems are intuitive and precise, sometimes more difficult to design and train than fuzzy logic systems.
  • Rule-based systems are flexible, and therefore, it’s possible to include multiple rules, which allows the same inputs to result in different behaviors at different times. This is crucial for automating and decision-making based on multiple factors. 

A well-designed rule-based system has its advantages and disadvantages, but there are ways around these problems that will allow you to make a good decision with limited information – if you don’t have all the information you need, make an educated guess or let the computer do it for you!

End-to-end workflow automation

Build fully-customizable, no code process workflows in a jiffy.

Why Do You Need a Rule-Based System?

Rule-based systems are used for complex decision-making. They are used for repetitive tasks, and they are also used for decision-making in real-time, the future and present.

Rule-based systems use rules that define the conditions under which a given action should be taken by an agent (i.e., an artificial intelligence program). These conditions can be based on events that have happened during previous iterations of the same task, or they could also be based on predictions about future events based on past behavior patterns observed during training sessions with humans. This is why you need a tool like Cflow. 

Cflow is a workflow automation and a no-code platform with an intuitive rule-based embedded system that can help you enhance your business performance and help you make informed decisions.

Cflow’s proprietary rules engine enables users to create complex tasks using simple, intuitive commands. The system can be used in a variety of ways, including:

  • Task automation: Automate repetitive tasks with Cflow’s task automation feature. This allows users to create tasks that run at specific times or intervals, based on rules that are defined by the user.
  • Workflow management: Manage your workflows with Cflow’s workflow management feature. This allows users to define workflows through simple, intuitive commands, and then automatically execute them when conditions are met.
  • Business intelligence: Leverage Cflow’s business intelligence features to gain insight into your data. The platform provides insight into all aspects of your business, including financials and sales statistics for each department or area of the company.

Cflow is the ideal solution for companies that want to automate the workflows of their business processes to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, rule-based systems are useful when we want to create a system that can make a predictions or solve problems more efficiently. They are also helpful for solving complex problems like machine learning or artificial intelligence. Rules-based and rule-based systems are a fundamental part of the business. They help businesses to be more efficient and effective in the way they operate. Businesses need rules-based systems to manage their operations, make decisions, and run the day-to-day business processes.

What should you do next?

Thanks for reading till the end. Here are 3 ways we can help you automate your business:

Do better workflow automation with Cflow

Create workflows with multiple steps, parallel reviewals. auto approvals, public forms, etc. to save time and cost.

Talk to a workflow expert

Get a 30-min. free consultation with our Workflow expert to optimize your daily tasks.

Get smarter with our workflow resources

Explore our workflow automation blogs, ebooks, and other resources to master workflow automation.

What would you like to do next?​

Automate your workflows with our Cflow experts.​

Get Your Workflows Automated for Free!

    By submitting this form, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.


    • Platform
    • Resources