What are the differences between RPA and BPM?

Robotic Process Automation (RPA):

A technology which helps in the automation of routine, monotonous, and time-consuming tasks is known as Robotic Process Automation (RPA). It allows anyone to configure a “Robot” or computer software to integrate human actions within the digital systems for business process execution. RPA robots manipulate the applications and capture the data as humans do. The software robots also communicate and interpret with other systems to perform vast repetitive tasks. Robotic Process Automation enables non-technical professionals to configure the robots for solving automation challenges.

Benefits of RPA:

Below are some of the benefits of Robotic Process Automation (RPA):

• Significant process improvements
• Improves productivity
• Improves customer service
• Improves quality
• Reduces operating cost
• Improves compliance

Business Process Management (BPM):

A strategic approach to reshape the business process of an existing organization to achieve more productivity and optimal efficiency is known as Business Process Management (BPM). The BPM software is referred to as a backbone of the organization’s projects. It also provides various tools to improve the performance of business processes. The components in BPM software include workflow engines, business analytics, web forms, business rules, and collaboration tools. The improvement in the BPM process impacts on customers and employees in the transformational returns.

Benefits of BPM:

Below are some of the benefits of Business Process Management (BPM):

• Ensures regulatory compliance
• Reduce inefficiencies
• Simplify the operations
• Increase accountability
• Improves business agility
• Drives competitive advantages

RPA and BPM as a Combined Approach:

Both RPA and BPM are distinctly correct in their way. To enable a digital transformation, they provide a powerful platform in the deployment process. Both have a similar goal of increasing productivity and efficiency. RPA helps to boost the profits with BPM conventional system. Organizations do not have resources and time to integrate the complete automation process. They also don’t need human involvement. Both Robotic Automation Process and Business Process Management has significant process automation throughout the technical approach where one alone cannot be achieved.

Key Differences between Robotic Automation Process (RPA) and Business Process Management (BPM):

Parameter	Robotic Automation Process	Business Process Management
Automation focus	Minimizing the repetitive and manual tasks which do not need any complex decision making	Eliminating the connect systems and bottlenecks through a re-engineering process flow to increase productivity.
Business Impact	The returns can be realized with effective cost, but the implementations are always an underlying process.	It is the more transformational method in which wide gains can be achieved through agility, productivity, efficiency, cost reduction, and compliance.
Technology	RPA uses software technology where the “software bots” helps in configure monotonous and routine tasks.	BPM uses holistic technology where it encompasses workflow engine and business analytics for maximum efficiency.
Deployment Effort	It works across the execution of applications without any code and extensive RPA training.	BPM needs a dedicated technical resource on depth integration.

RPA and BPM in Network Access Request:

Nowadays, the IT department has been playing vital in an organization’s growth by reducing manual and repetitive tasks. In any automated network access, the employee has been removed from the software applications. The IT department reviews the complete request after the approval of the supervisor. In the network access process, an employee sends the request for the removal of specific software applications. After that, the supervisor approves the request and then review it. In this entire environment, the BPM automated the process. The cloud involves many applications like multiple loggings, request marketing, and various logouts. The tasks to be performed may not have significant time, and it also distracts valuable actions to complete. While the IT department monitors a request to gain access, then the actual tasks will not be important. Adding a bot in the Robotic Process Automation leads to tasks, and further, the employees will change their roles depending on their priority. It leads to the benefits of the organization’s IT professionals in decision making.

RPA and BPM in Digital Transformation:

In digital transformation, both RPA and BPM technologies are deployed separately. But, they will be implemented statistically if the users get benefits. Both these technologies are a complement to each other for forming a powerful organization to achieve automation goals. In future, RPA will incorporate BPM traditional systems across digital transformation toolkit.

RPA and BPM in Tackling Repetitive Work:

IT professionals who are moving across an application to a specific task can switch into multiple systems to complete a particular automation task. In general, the employee working application can integrate with API to reduce the manual work of an employee. The manual work includes searching data, data entry, copy and pasting.

RPA technology fulfils the BPM gaps with good efficiency from an existing system for the monotonous actions that need to be performed. The solutions like repetitive tasks and offloading time-consuming enable better talent focus on productive work. Automation Anywhere can reduce efforts and increase the quality of the outcomes. In today’s technological world, customer collaboration and repetitiveness play an essential role in the customer-centric enterprise. RPA and BPM both are used to improve the strategy and larger automation.  

Both RPA and BPM help the user to choose the right technology in the automation project. RPA is used when there is no requirement of integration and frequent changes. BPM is used when there is a requirement of third-party integration. Both these technologies support digital transformation and automate the whole business process. When compared to RPA, Business Process Management (BPM) can automate the end-to-end processes of the business. It identifies the administrative duties and does modifications in the workflows, whereas RPM is used when the organizations have data living across the systems. It is also used routine tasks involved in decision making and complex reasoning.

What is meant by Workflow Management?

Workflow management involves individual tasks by overseeing a process from one step to others. A conveyor belt would be the best example of workflow management. Suppose, a car part is placed in a conveyer belt and on various points the belt tweaks, and sometimes it needs to be fixed. At that time, the parts get to the conveyor end. Many users contribute and expertise the product to allow the workflow.

The workflow concept optimizes business processes with automation. The optimization process includes coordination, planning, and mapping for the business structure. Workflow management focuses on the work’s structure and the way the teams work together in the completion of work. It uses software tools to automate the work. It concerns people tasks, including IT systems integration and workflow in an organization. Nowadays, workflow management enables in automating the process and increases productivity.         

While searching for workflow management, one must follow the guidelines shown below:

• Should enable the people in the automation of repetitive processes.
• Follow Up the uncompleted tasks.
• Provide workflow images to perform metrics.

Conclusion:

The above article gives you the differences between RPA and BPM. Both technologies are unique in their features, and both help the organizations in achieving the automation goals. The organizations choose these technologies based on their requirements. One must be sophisticated to the business workflow at any time of automation. Hope these differences will help you choose better technology. Still, you have any queries regarding the differences between RPA and BPM; please comment in the below section.

Author Bio

I’m Anji Velagana; a B.Tech (ECE) graduate and pursuing an MA in Journalism & Mass Communication. I’m working as a Freelance Content Writer at KBS Institute. I have 2 years of experience in the content writing field. Contact me on anjivelagana@gmail.com and LinkedIn.