RPA vs BPA: Differences You Must Know
There were times when everything inside and outside of a business used to be “manual”. Organizations had to face a sea of challenges because of this approach. The most common issue that they faced was decreased efficiency but increased costs. There were very few ways to guarantee accuracy in various operations. This essentially led them to tackle consistent dissatisfaction from the customer side. But, fortunately, this has now become a “thing of the past”.
You can say that, for businesses, water is under the bridge now. The introduction of automation has completely changed everything for good. When it comes to “automation technologies”, there are two prime choices: Robotic Process Automation and Business Process Automation. Both these differ significantly in their scope and integration. If you are taking a step toward automating your workplace, it’s critical to understand the differences between these two.
This guide will explain the top differences between Robotic Process Automation and Business Process Automation.
RPA vs BPA: Top Benefits and Drawbacks
The primary difference between these automation tools is in the “automation level” they provide. You see, Robotic Process Automation is a more focused approach, while Business Process Automation is broader. Where RPA brings efficiency, it may come with limited functionality. Where BPA ensures strategic transformations, it might require you to break the bank. You cannot say that one is completely beneficial and the other one is totally disadvantageous.
Below are the common benefits and drawbacks of RPA and BPA:
1. What is Robotic Process Automation?
It’s the automation process where “software bots” are used to automate various tasks in a workplace. These are basically highly trained bots that work by mimicking how humans interact with various digital systems. You can employ these RPA bots for a range of operations. These can be high-volume tasks, repetitive processes, or role-based assignments.
There’s always a specific script that a bot is programmed to follow. For instance, this script might ask it to log into an application, move files, copy data, and then paste it. It’s essentially an assistant who does all the boring work for you. It would free you for more important and complex procedures that require your unhindered attention.
2. Benefits of RPA
You will need a number of employees just to work on the repetitive tasks. The same operations that these bots can do more efficiently for you. That, too, in much lower prices. In fact, implementing this technology can cut a process’s cost by 25% to 40%. Other benefits of Robotic Process Automation are:
- Increased productivity
- Improved accuracy
- Better scalability
- Faster return on investment
- Greater compliance
You need a trustworthy RPA system like Kofax Kapow to ensure all of the above advantages. You can reach out to professionals Kofax provider to get started.
3. Drawbacks of RPA
With all the benefits that Robotic Process Automation provides you with, you may expect some cons. For one, RPA bots might not be able to handle complex operations in your office on their own. Then, a simple change in the application’s user interface may cause a break in the automation. Some other drawbacks include:
- Integration challenges with legacy systems
- Ongoing maintenance
- Fragility of bots
- Scalability hurdles
- Limited functionality
There might also be some security concerns if you are using an unreliable RPA tool. Therefore, it’s a must to use a trustworthy RPA solution.
4. What is Business Process Automation?
While RPA is a more focused technology, Business Process Automation involves an end-to-end automation of different operations in an office. Where Robotic Process Automation focuses on specific repetitive tasks only, BPA is about automating an entire process. This is what makes this technology more complex compared with RPA.
The complication stems from the fact that it relies on a range of technologies to work. These can be workflow management systems and integration platforms. BPA also depends on artificial intelligence to deliver its outcomes. The basic objective of this automation technology is to transform how a business works.
5. Benefits of BPA
A company can reap numerous benefits by implementing Business Process Automation in its workplace. For one, it will experience enhanced efficiency and productivity in multiple processes. You may also enjoy perks in terms of operational costs. Here are some other advantages of BPA:
- Increased visibility
- Enhanced transparency
- Standardized operations
- Faster time-to-market
- Higher employee satisfaction
This automation tool also offers better scalability. In other words, you don’t have to worry about increasing manual tasks in your organization with progress.
6. Drawbacks of BPA
When you compare Business Process Automation with Robotic Process Automation, there are some significant disadvantages. It’s, of course, more expensive to implement and use this technology. Then the implementation process itself takes too long. You might also have to face the following drawbacks:
- More resource-intensive
- Dependence on IT support
- Difficult to modify
- Wrong processes automation risk
- Complex integration
It’s also not a suitable approach for businesses that want to see “quick results”. You might not be able to experience transformation in months or even, in some cases, years.
Which Automation Technology Should You Use?
Robotic Process Automation is definitely the right choice for you if you want to automate repetitive tasks only. It would also be the best solution for role-based assignments. You won’t need to go extravagant to incorporate this technology into your workplace. Get in touch with a reliable service provider now to get started with RPA.
