Best Robotic Process Automation(RPA) Tools

With the various advancements in technology, the way of doing the work, and human interference has been drastically changed. One such advanced technology variant is RPA tools. In this article, we are going to explore all about RPA tools – What is RPA, how it works, what are its tools, where you can apply them, its benefits, and how it is different from automation.

What is RPA?

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is an advanced technology variant that uses software tools to automate tasks (manual or repetitive) and make the work quite easier. It is the process of automating business operations by using robots to reduce human interference. So, it mimics human actions to perform the steps sequentially to a meaningful activity by interacting with digital systems. However, the pre-defined rules and scripts make the RPA perform specific streamlined processes, and tasks with much efficiency, leading to reduced errors and enhanced productivity.

There are certain RPA tools/vendors like Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism, UiPath, Pega Systems, WorkFusion, NICE, Contextor, or Softomotive that are used widely in industries for various purposes. Even though all these tools are similar in their structure and functionality, yet you need to learn how to automate tasks for their proper work.

With the increasing trend for RPA in the market, RPA tools offer the essential potential to maximize the productivity of enterprises. It contributes to the overall market growth, as it records and monitors the steps to execute workflows. Also, it analyzes big data and reveals business insights. 

Also, it collaborates with other software or technologies like cyber security, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and virtual reality for automation to improve customer experience. So, whether a large organization or a small enterprise, the need for automation won’t be replaced.

What are RPA Tools?

Let’s Dive into the Details of Some of the Best RPA Tools on the Market

1. UiPath

UiPath is one of the leading Robotic Process Automation (RPA) tools. It has gained widespread adoption among organizations due to its user-friendly nature and seamless integration capabilities with a wide range of systems. UiPath boasts a comprehensive suite of features designed to meet your business automation requirements, which streamline their operations and automate laborious/manual, repetitive tasks like data extraction and process automation.

With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and pre-built connectors, this RPA tool enables users to automate tasks effortlessly, even without highly technical expertise.

Here are Some of the Key Advantages Offered by UiPath:

• Intuitive and User-Friendly Interface: UiPath’s drag-and-drop interface simplifies the automation process, allowing users to create automation workflows with ease. Its user-friendly design eliminates the need for intricate coding or advanced technical skills.
• Seamless Integration: UiPath excels in its ability to seamlessly integrate with a wide range of systems and applications. This ensures smooth communication between different software platforms, enabling efficient automation across various business processes.
• Comprehensive Automation Features: UiPath provides a comprehensive suite of features that cover desktop, data, and process automation. From extracting and manipulating data to automating complex workflows, UiPath equips businesses with the necessary tools to optimize their operations effectively.

Overall, UiPath offers a powerful and accessible RPA solution. Its user-friendly interface, extensive integration capabilities, and comprehensive feature set make it an ideal choice for businesses seeking to automate their manual, repetitive tasks and enhance overall efficiency.

2. Blue Prism

Blue Prism emerges as a standout RPA tool renowned for its exceptional security measures and scalability, making it a preferred choice for handling intricate business processes. Notably, Blue Prism’s strong emphasis on governance and security makes it particularly well-suited for financial services and government organizations.

Blue Prism offers a comprehensive array of features designed to streamline automation. Its visual process designer, robotic operating model, and centralized management and monitoring capabilities are among the highlights. By leveraging Blue Prism, businesses can automate processes across multiple systems, applications, and platforms, resulting in substantial operational efficiencies and cost savings.

Let’s Explore Some of the Key Advantages of Blue Prism:

• Unmatched Security Focus: Blue Prism places a paramount emphasis on governance and security, ensuring that sensitive business data remains protected. This commitment to security makes it an ideal choice for organizations in industries with rigorous compliance requirements, such as financial services and government sectors.
• Scalable Platform for Complex Business Processes: Blue Prism excels at handling complex business processes, providing a scalable and robust platform. This capability enables organizations to automate intricate workflows and manage high volumes of data efficiently.
• Diverse Range of Features: Blue Prism offers a rich set of features that enhance the automation experience. Its visual process designer empowers users to create automation workflows intuitively. The robotic operating model enables efficient collaboration between human workers and digital assistants. The centralized monitoring feature provides real-time visibility into automation performance, allowing for proactive management and optimization.

Overall, Blue Prism stands out as a highly secure and scalable RPA platform suitable for handling complex business processes. With its focus on governance and security, along with a range of valuable features, Blue Prism enables organizations to achieve substantial operational efficiencies and cost savings through automation.

3. Automation Anywhere

Automation Anywhere stands as a leading RPA platform renowned for its ability to automate repetitive and manual tasks within organizations. With its comprehensive suite of features for desktop, data, and process automation, Automation Anywhere empowers businesses to streamline their operations effectively.

One of the standout aspects of Automation Anywhere lies in its intelligent RPA capabilities. It encompasses a range of valuable features such as cognitive automation and adaptive bots. These advanced features enable your company to automate tasks and processes that surpass the capabilities of traditional RPA tools, enhancing overall productivity.

Here are Some of the Key Advantages Offered by Automation Anywhere:

• Intelligent RPA Features: Automation Anywhere sets itself apart with its cognitive automation and adaptive bot capabilities. These features enable the software to learn and adapt to new situations, allowing for the automation of complex tasks that traditionally require human judgment or decision-making.
• Powerful Scripting Language and Pre-built Connectors: Automation Anywhere provides a powerful scripting language that allows users to create intricate automation workflows. Additionally, the platform offers a wide range of pre-built connectors, enabling seamless integration with various systems and applications.
• Advanced Analytics and Reporting Capabilities: Automation Anywhere offers advanced analytics and reporting features, providing valuable insights into automation performance and process optimization. This allows businesses to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions to enhance efficiency further.

Overall, Automation Anywhere is a leading RPA platform that offers intelligent automation capabilities and a comprehensive set of features for desktop, data, and process automation. With its cognitive automation, adaptive bots, powerful scripting language, pre-built connectors, and advanced analytics, Automation Anywhere empowers businesses to automate complex tasks and optimize their operations effectively.

4. WorkFusion

WorkFusion stands out as a comprehensive and robust RPA platform, offering a wide range of features and capabilities to automate tasks across multiple systems and platforms. With its visual process designer, machine learning algorithms, and powerful scripting language, WorkFusion empowers companies to enhance their operational efficiency.

One of the remarkable strengths of WorkFusion lies in its machine-learning capabilities. The platform leverages advanced ML algorithms to analyze and learn from data, enabling organizations to automate complex and data-intensive processes. This machine learning-driven approach sets WorkFusion apart and equips businesses with the tools to tackle sophisticated automation challenges.

Additionally, WorkFusion offers flexible deployment options, allowing organizations to choose between on-premise or cloud-based solutions based on their specific requirements and preferences.

Let’s Explore Some of the Key Advantages of WorkFusion:

• AI-powered RPA Platform with ML Algorithms: WorkFusion combines AI-powered automation with machine learning algorithms, delivering a powerful automation solution. By leveraging ML, the platform can analyze and process vast amounts of data, enabling businesses to automate intricate and data-driven processes effectively.
• Intuitive Interface: WorkFusion boasts an intuitive interface that simplifies the automation process. The user-friendly design allows users to create automation workflows and configure tasks with ease, even without extensive technical expertise.
• Advanced Analytics and Reporting Capabilities: WorkFusion provides advanced analytics and reporting features, empowering organizations to gain insights into automation performance and process optimization. These capabilities enable data-driven decision-making, helping businesses identify areas for improvement and drive continuous enhancements.

Overall, WorkFusion offers a comprehensive set of features and capabilities, including its visual process designer, ML algorithms, and powerful scripting language. Its AI-powered RPA platform, combined with an intuitive interface and advanced analytics, positions WorkFusion as a leading choice for organizations seeking to automate complex processes efficiently.

5. Inflectra Rapise

Inflectra Rapise is a test automation tool that simplifies functional and regression testing of web and desktop applications. It offers a powerful and flexible test scripting engine that allows users to create and execute automated tests without needing advanced programming skills. Rapise supports various technologies, including web browsers, desktop applications, and mobile devices.

One of Rapise’s standout features is its object recognition technology. This feature enables users to automate tests by interacting with the graphical user interface (GUI) elements of the application being tested. With Rapise, users can employ data-driven and keyword-driven testing approaches, making it effortless to create and manage extensive sets of test cases.

Here are Some of the Key Advantages of Inflectra Rapise:

• User-Friendly Interface: Rapise provides a user-friendly interface that simplifies the test automation process. Users can easily navigate and utilize the tool without requiring extensive technical expertise, enhancing productivity and efficiency.
• Support for Multiple Technologies: Rapise supports a wide range of technologies, making it suitable for testing various types of applications, including web browsers, desktop applications, and mobile devices. This versatility allows users to automate tests across different platforms, saving time and effort.
• Object Recognition Technology: Rapise’s object recognition technology enables users to interact with GUI elements for automation. This feature streamlines the testing process, as users can easily identify and automate actions on the application’s graphical interface.

Overall, Inflectra Rapise is a user-friendly test automation tool that supports multiple technologies and offers object recognition capabilities. With its powerful scripting engine and simplified test creation, Rapise empowers users to automate tests effectively, even without advanced programming skills.

6. NICE

NICE is a highly scalable RPA platform that helps companies automate tasks and processes across various systems and applications, like ERP and CRM. It offers advanced analytics and reporting capabilities, providing valuable insights into automation performance.

One of the standout features of NICE is its user-friendly interface, making it easy for users to automate tasks without needing extensive technical knowledge. The platform also comes with pre-built connectors, simplifying the automation process even further.

NICE seamlessly integrates with other NICE products, such as NICE Engage and NICE Perform, allowing companies to automate processes within their existing IT infrastructure.

Here are the Key Advantages of NICE:

• Automation Across Systems and Applications: NICE enables companies to automate tasks and processes across different systems and applications, improving efficiency and reducing manual effort.
• Seamless Integration with Other NICE Products: NICE integrates smoothly with other NICE products, creating a comprehensive automation solution. This integration allows companies to leverage their existing IT infrastructure and maximize automation capabilities.
• Highly Scalable RPA Platform: NICE is designed to scale as your company grows. It can handle increasing volumes of automation tasks and adapt to evolving business needs.

Overall, NICE is a highly scalable RPA platform that simplifies task and process automation across various systems and applications. With its user-friendly interface, pre-built connectors, and seamless integration with other NICE products, NICE empowers companies to streamline operations and achieve greater efficiency.

7. PEGA Systems

Pega Robotic Automation is a user-friendly RPA tool that can easily integrate into your existing systems. This feature-rich platform automatically identifies and prioritizes processes suitable for automation. With intelligent automation powered by machine learning algorithms, it enhances accuracy, speed, and decision-making capabilities.

Pega Robotic Automation ensures strong security at various levels, including encryption. It seamlessly integrates with a range of systems and tools, including legacy systems and cloud-based solutions.

Here are the Key Advantages of Pega Robotic Automation:

• Low-Code RPA Tool: Pega Robotic Automation employs a low-code approach, making it easy to use and configure without extensive programming knowledge. This simplifies the automation process and reduces the learning curve.
• Integration with Legacy Systems and Cloud-Based Solutions: Pega Robotic Automation seamlessly integrates with both legacy systems and modern cloud-based solutions. This flexibility allows you to automate processes across different platforms, ensuring smooth operations.
• Robust Security at Multiple Levels: Pega Robotic Automation prioritizes security and provides robust measures at various levels. Encryption and other security features ensure the protection of sensitive data and compliance with security standards.

Overall, Pega Robotic Automation is a user-friendly RPA tool that integrates smoothly into existing systems. With its low-code approach, integration capabilities, and strong security measures, Pega Robotic Automation empowers businesses to automate processes efficiently and securely.

What to Look For While Shopping For RPA Software

Before you start using RPA, you need to know all about RPA tools/software, and where it is used mostly. Then you need to get extensive expertise in RPA tools and understand the workflow and the particular task you have to automate.

Here are a few things that have to be taken into account while selecting and using the RPA software.

• Speed – The design of the software you want to use should be tested for new processes to optimize the bots to make it work quickly and precisely.
• Platform Independent – Usually, the daily tasks of most organizations are performed beyond their desktop via Virtual or Citrix devices. So, the tool you want to choose should support various applications without sticking to a specific platform.
• Simple & Secure – Ensure that your RPA tool protects the data securely, irrespective of the automation workflow. Industries should choose products that are simple and easy to learn and implement.
• Ease of Use & Control – Select a user-friendly tool that enhances user satisfaction and overall efficiency. Additionally, they require minimum training and offer better control over the operation.
• Intelligence – The intelligence of the RPA tools/software can easily support or handle simple task-based activities and thereby perform data manipulations.
• Scalability – Check how rapidly and effortlessly the RPA tools/software you want to choose are responding to your business requirements, or changes and manage centrally to automate the task properly.
• Enterprise-Class – The software you purchase should satisfy the requirements of the company, providing reliability, and scalability. The built-in monitoring and support systems of the tool/software monitor the systems and have to perform any automation task as required perfectly.
• Total Cost – The overall cost of RPA tools/software can be calculated including the vendor license fees, initial setup, and maintenance costs. So, consider the overall costs before selecting the RPA tools for the job done at once.
• Quick Deployment – Choose the RPA tools that interact with applications using the business rules, screens, and validation through a virtual desktop.
• Support & Maintenance – The RPA tools or software you want to purchase and utilize should offer good maintenance and support to resolve any queries and for further assistance on its functionality.

How are RPA Works?

The first question that arises on how it works is whether the RPA uses any physical robots or if there are actual robots present to automate tasks. Well, RPA doesn’t replace humans with actual robots, yet the software configures automation workflows to automate business operations. So, the RPA tools are generally implemented via software, and here are the guidelines that let you know how to get started with RPA.

• Before you start using the RPA tools, you need to learn about the RPA along with various RPA applications.
• Choose the process you want to automate and retrospect about the process dependencies.
• Yet ensure that your business or purpose of using these tools won’t suffer loss even while busy automating the task.
• One should have extensive hands-on experience in RPA tools before implementing them in their business.

Moving ahead to know the VARIOUS APPLICATIONS of RPA tools.

Most multinational companies, including Accenture, Deloitte, Capgemini, IBM, Cognizant, TCS, or Tech Mahindra use Robotic Process Automation (RPA Tools) to perform their day-to-day tasks for their accurate and reliable outputs with high productivity rates. This will reduce the pressure on human workers and ease your work reliably. 

Here are the top applications of RPA that help you to know where to use these tools properly…

• Human Resources
• Customer Services
• Supply Chain Management
• Accounting
• Financial Services
• Healthcare

How is Automation Different From Robotic Process Automation (RPA)?

Automation exists several years ago before RPA came into the discussion. Automation is a new technology that is invented to resolve existing manual problems in the workspace by using human involvement. While RPA software automates the tasks without human involvement by using the interface of existing technology.

Also, the RPA can adapt to various situations upon successful programming in existing applications, they can perform several things like manipulate, trigger responses, and communicate with various other systems simultaneously.

Here is a reference table that lets you know the key difference between automation from RPA – Automation Vs RPA.

What are the Benefits of Using RPA Tools?

Here are a few advantages of RPA tools over automated tools that help industries to automate their tasks and perform them perfectly.

• Don’t need any prior programming knowledge
• Can automate multiple processes simultaneously.
• Cost-cutting technology (reduces manual workforce) and improves resource optimization.
• Function with high precision and uniformity, making it less prone to errors.
• Easily tracks the defects and supports error-free auditing in the regular compliance process to prevent worrying about automation’s security.
• Compared to manual working, this software executes the task much faster and thereby enhances the productivity rate.
• Reliable software that offers consistent results for all repetitive tasks, as the bots can work efficiently without any break, even if performed several times.
• Since it works without human intervention, no training period is needed for its functionality.
• It becomes easy to scale and deploy the automation process
• Anyone with a mediocre level of programming knowledge can operate this RPA software, as it needs less/no coding.

Besides the amazing benefits of this most disruptive technology, this RPA is surrounded by A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS. And here are some of the MYTHS about RPA.

• Replace Humans: In general, these RPA tools are used to automate most business processes, raising a common myth in all human minds – Will these robots replicate humans and reduce the workforce? Till now, these technologies aren’t completely independent to perform the tasks on their own, they do require some human assistance for the efficient usage of technology and its proper functioning. Even though the manual workforce is reduced, it won’t replace the overall workforce.
• RPA Tools are Accurate: We all are aware that the robots operate as per the instructions provided to them. If there is any flaw in the framework, then they perform that mistake until someone finds and stops them. To prevent these blunders, properly optimize the process, and monitor the bots perfectly at the early stages of automation.
• RPA is Used in Large Industries: The most common myth is that RPA is only used by large scaling productive industries but won’t work in small-scale industries. However, it is not correct, the RPA tools are applicable in almost all types of industries that are repetitive, and high-volume business activity.

Where Robotic Process Automation Can Be Used/Applied?

Below are the areas which have the top opportunities to automate the workflows with robotics.

• Data Management
• Data Extraction
• Maintaining Customer Data
• Invoice Processing
• Financial Reporting & Close
• Preparing Reports about Market
• Process Portal Queries & Prices
• Delivery Reconciliation

Conclusion

We hope the article provides the essential information required to purchase and use the RPA tools to automate your tasks. Feel free to share your queries regarding the RPA tools with us in the comments section below. We will respond promptly to resolve them and help you select your ideal RPA tool for your business.