Robotic process automation (RPA) is transforming how organizations operate by automating repetitive, rules-based digital tasks. As interest grows, the number of RPA software vendors continues to expand as well.
How do you determine which solution is the right fit? The key is carefully evaluating vendors based on factors like functionality, ease of use, pricing, and vendor experience.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare the RPA vendor landscape to help you find an automation provider tailored to your needs.
Types of RPA Tools
We typically categorize RPA tools into four main types:
Basic RPA: Pre-built bots that follow programmed rules and steps for digital tasks. These are the most common.
Intelligent RPA: Incorporates AI technologies like computer vision, NLP, and machine learning to handle more complex unstructured data. For example, processing handwritten forms.
Self-learning RPA: Observes employees at work to learn new processes before automating them. Still an emerging capability.
Unattended vs. attended: Unattended bots run autonomously while attended bots are meant to work alongside employees.
Understanding these different classes will help pinpoint what functionality you need.
The RPA Vendor Landscape
The vendor landscape keeps expanding but we can break it down into these main segments:
Established Tech Vendors like Pega and Kofax first offered digital transformation services before adding RPA to their stacks more recently.
1st Wave RPA Specialists like UIPath and Blue Prism focus specifically on RPA and have significant enterprise reach at this point.
2nd Wave Specialists like WorkFusion combine advanced RPA capabilities like AI and machine learning alongside industry specialization.
Emerging Players provide innovative new RPA approaches or cater to specific niches, like offering no-code solutions.
BPO Providers like Infosys automate processes they manage for clients using a mix of their own and 3rd-party automation software.
Understanding the origins and focus for vendors will dictate strengths around functionality, service capabilities, and vertical expertise.
Now let‘s see how you can use these vendor categories to build out your shortlist.
Creating an RPA Shortlist
With all the options out there, the first step is narrowing down the long tail of vendors to a manageable shortlist.
Start by finding providers already in your existing tech stack or preferred vendors list. Leverage pre-negotiated contracts and pricing wherever possible.
Next identify a few leading RPA specialists in the 1st or 2nd wave categories. For example, WorkFusion offers exceptionally robust AI capabilities purpose-built for financial services.
Finally, depending on internal bandwidth, consider BPO providers that essentially provide RPA-as-a-service. The right partner can take care of everything from vendor selection to implementation and maintenance.
Once you‘ve built an initial list based on vendor categories, it‘s time to evaluate partners side-by-side.
Comparing RPA Vendors
Choosing RPA software ultimately comes down to assessing solutions against critical selection criteria. These span factors like:
Ease of use: Both for citizen developers creating automations and general employees leveraging attended bots. Prioritize an intuitive interface.
Pricing model: Upfront costs, licensing model (per bot, per process, etc.), and maintenance fees all factor into TCO.
Technical fit: Server requirements, security protocols, integrations, and roadmap alignment are just some of the technical considerations.
Vendor experience: Look for experience both in your specific industry and in successfully handling deployments comparable to your project scope.
Service capabilities: Level of training, support, and consulting services on offer to smooth your implementation.
Existing relationships: Vendors you already have procurement relationships forged with can help accelerate buying and shorten time-to-deployment.
By ranking solutions against your most important criteria, you‘ll revealing the providers most aligned to your needs.
For a complete RPA vendor evaluation framework you can tailor to your priorities and use to objectively score solutions, download our full RPA Vendor Selection Guide here.
Turning to RPA Implementation Partners
Even with the right software, RPA projects carry risk. Having seasoned consultants guide your deployment and share industry best practices can help maximize ROI.
RPA specialists like Accenture and Infosys as well as general management powerhouses like McKinsey and BCG offer RPA capabilities and hard-won lessons implementing the tech globally.
Depending on goals and use cases, third-party consultants may provide more practical automation and change management expertise compared to a software vendor alone. Our complete guide comparing 150+ RPA consultants is available here.
Tips for RPA Success
RPA promises transformative potential for streamlining operations and cutting costs. But realizing results depends heavily on planning and partnership selection. Keep these best practices in mind:
Take a process-first perspective – before automating with bots, map out processes end-to-end and optimize flow.
Consider total cost – factor both implementation and ongoing licensing expenses when calculating ROI.
Leverage consultants strategically – you don‘t have to go it alone. Implementation partners can pay dividends.
Those were my top tips! To recap, taking time to create an RPA shortlist, evaluate partners against your key buying criteria, and involve specialists to execute deployments will set your automation initiatives up for success.
To access the latest RPA vendor datasheets and our automated vendor matching tool, visit the comprehensive RPA vendor list here.
