Robotic process automation-as-a-service (RPAaaS)
Robotic process automation-as-a-service (RPAaaS) is a form of outsourcing where a service provider deploys a cloud-based software robot that uses automation, machine learning (ML), and computer vision to help clients accomplish repetitive and high-volume tasks. Often, these tasks are trigger-driven and rule-based. The RPAaaS software is responsible for all automation tasks without much involvement on the clients’ part.
Most businesses use RPA-as-a-service to scale their operations. With it, they can increase their revenue without the proportional increase in cost.
Benefits of Using RPA-as-a-Service
Robotic process automation (RPA) is useful and offers tons of benefits. However, many organizations are now looking at RPA-as-a-service as a more practical option, as it does not require investing in hardware like RPA. That is not surprising given the 17% growth in worldwide use of cloud services.
The advantages that RPA-as-a-service provides include:
1. Short Time to Deployment
Organizations can benefit from faster deployment of business processes with RPA-as-a-service. Since the technology is already in place and has been thoroughly tested, users can automate immediately without downtime.
2. No Technology Lock-In
RPA rapidly evolves, which requires upgrades. RPA-as-a-service allows clients to maintain business as usual, as their provider can take care of all updates. In the latter’s case, the RPA-as-a-service provider invests in the expensive technology so clients can continue to enjoy RPA’s benefits with minimal costs.
3. Access to RPA Capability
Most RPA-as-a-service platforms were developed to allow clients to automate processes despite the lack of RPA systems.
4. Cost Savings
RPA-as-a-service use allows organizations to enjoy the benefits of using a straightforward and high-impact solution at low costs. Most RPA-as-a-service offerings can provide enterprise-grade security, data privacy, and premium upgrades by using software applications that users can easily manage in-house. Users also benefit from the flexibility to scale operations without making additional investments.
5. Access to an Extensive Knowledge Base
One of the main reasons why most organizations shift to outsourced solutions is the ability to access rapidly evolving knowledge bases. That allows them to address operational issues without the need for much research. Users also enjoy access to a wide array of vendor-owned tools to improve their processes.
What Are Notable Examples of RPA-as-a-Service Offerings?
With the increasing popularity of RPA, its use is no longer limited to big corporations. Even small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are adopting it. Here are some of the RPA-as-a-service offerings available in the market today.
Automate
Developed by HelpSystems, Automate is an RPA platform that allows businesses to enjoy the benefits of automation. It allows users to build bots using the developer’s prebuilt automation actions, thus doing away with the need for coding.
UiPath
UiPath is a highly useful RPA tool that can automate desktop and web applications. Enterprises can use it to deploy robotic workforces. It runs on the cloud and virtual terminals. It also has a scraping solution that allows it to work with various programming languages. It also does not require users to convert unstructured into structured data. UiPath is best for organizations with little to no coding capability since it can handle processes no matter how complex they are.
Automation Anywhere
For a tool that provides core capabilities, Automation Anywhere is ideal for medium-sized and large enterprises looking for on-premise and cloud services. It comes with scriptless automation features. As such, it allows users to run programming languages automatically. It also provides encryption and authentication services, along with real-time reporting and analytics functionality. In addition, it effectively distributes tasks among multiple computers.
Blue Prism
For organizations that prefer to do programming in-house, Blue Prism is perfect, as it provides all essential core capabilities. It can be deployed in a multiplatform environment or network that uses multiple operating systems (OSs) with all the necessary security.
Many organizations prefer Blue Prism because it is platform-independent, executes tasks at high speed, and can be implemented within 4–6 weeks. It comes with a flowchart with elements that designers can simply drag and drop to mimic and automate their processes.
Verint
As an RPA-as-a-service tool, Verint is capable of automating all repetitive and time-consuming tasks. It provides software robots that can altogether remove the need for manual processing. It works best at eliminating human error while increasing processing quality.
RPA-as-a-service will continue to gain popularity in the coming years, as most business operations start switching to the cloud. With this in mind, costs are bound to decrease further, as more vendors offer software that enterprises, regardless of size, can use.
Most common use cases where organizations can use RPA
Hi Shibu, a new concept within the RPAaaS, besides being available from the cloud, is pay for what you use.
Still most platforms provide the 24x7 availability of agents which for SMB are too expensive. AutomationEdge, which is considered a contender in the 2021 PEAK analysis from Everest, has an option to pay by chunks of minutes and/or chunks of operations, in case of IT automation, per month.
Hi @Willem De Jongh
Appreciate your response, will it be possible to share some use cases where in pay by use options have been implemented.
Hi @Shibu Babuchandran.
I am not authorized to share any information. But the case is that it would be very similar to hiring a prepaid part-time worker for a certain amount of minutes/hours per month/year. When consumed, you wait until the next cycle or purchase more time.
Hi @Willem De Jongh , That's great information, yes pay as use is the future which will cut down the operational cost .