IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) vs Redwood Software - Finance Automation Edition comparison

IBM and Redwood Software are both solutions in the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) category. IBM is ranked #12 with an average rating of 8.5, while Redwood Software is ranked #14 with an average rating of 8.5. IBM holds a 3.1% mindshare in RPA, compared to Redwood Software’s 0.8% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 80% of Redwood Software users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 4, 2024

Redwood Software Finance Automation Edition and IBM Robotic Process Automation compete in automating finance processes. Redwood Software is favored for its affordability and customer support, whereas IBM RPA leads in feature comprehensiveness.

Features: Redwood Software is tailored for finance process automation, offering comprehensive integrations and customization options tailored for financial operations. It is recognized for specialized finance-focused functions. IBM RPA is notable for its extensive feature set, including machine learning capabilities, scalability, and versatility across various business areas, providing tools for broader applicability beyond finance.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Redwood Software offers straightforward deployment tailored for finance teams, with specialized customer service focusing on financial automation needs. IBM RPA involves a more complex deployment because of its extensive capabilities and is supported by professional support services aimed at handling a wider range of business functions.

Pricing and ROI: Redwood Software features competitive pricing with low setup costs and quick ROI focused on finance-specific tasks. IBM RPA requires a higher initial investment due to its expansive applicability and long-term ROI potential across multiple domains.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) vs. Redwood Software - Finance Automation Edition Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) vs. Redwood Software - Finance Automation Edition

July 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Automate

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) category, the mindshare of Automate is 1.9%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is 3.1%, up from 2.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Redwood Software - Finance Automation Edition is 0.8%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Featured Reviews

Anabel Marco

Account Director at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

Automates processes efficiently with cost-effective scaling and robust customer support

Web scraping is quite good since it offers a lot of possibilities. Another important feature for me is its compatibility with MBI, the Power that is ISEQUADO Centers. I appreciate the ability to scale and increase the number of bots or studios without additional expense. Automate's non-reliance on additional orchestrators makes it quite cost-effective.

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Saman Guruge

Senior Engineer at MIT ESP

We can connect to different databases and use inbuilt activities, but we can't include our own activities

We can use its inbuilt activities, and it's a complete package, but just like ElectroNeek, a limitation is that we have to depend on its inbuilt activities. We can't include our own activities or we can't introduce other activities. When it comes to deployment and scheduling bots, there are some conflicts. They are using Microsoft MQ to communicate with their bots, but it's not reliable. When we are scheduling time, if I need to schedule an interval of one minute, sometimes, the queue gets loaded with a lot of processes or bots, and they don't wait until the first one gets complete. So, that sort of disadvantage is there. I have found one bug in version 22 when sending or configuring mail. While using their orchestration environment, on IBM Server, you can configure an SMTP connection to send out the details you want. For example, when you create a user, they send out an email. That part didn't work, and I created a few tickets. The issue is that there's a typo in the endpoint API. They have probably corrected it in version 23.

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Amarjeet Kamble

Senior Manager at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

User-friendly and enables automation in finance, HR, and SDM

There is room for improvement, considering no tools having everything inside it is right. So the room for balancing improvement lies in automation enhancement with respect to the feature areas, considering dealing directly with Excel and reviewing it to do some additional stuff for it in the end system so that reading the right thing, picking up the values, and everything. Right now, you can do it with a little bit of custom scripting in addition to eight. But rather than custom scripting, if we can have a direct feature integrated inside this tool, it will be a major achievement. So, it already has that capability, as you can do custom scripting, and you can go ahead with creating your own. But the direct functions are not available. That's where we are lagging behind. However, importing the values or importing the service can be achieved. So, that is where I can see the room for improvement. In this particular area, the entire system can be improved.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Fortra's Automate has effectively replaced the workload of an entire employee, saving us significant time and money."

"The most valuable feature is the drag-and-drop interface, which is very Windows-like."

"Overall, the whole product is really nice and provides significant benefits."

"The pricing is excellent. I would give them perfect marks in that regard."

"I find it very user-friendly. Our IT department and other departments can seamlessly collaborate without requiring extensive training. As a business department, we particularly value this aspect, as our team doesn't consist of many IT users. However, we couldn't solely rely on a drag-and-drop approach to implement and utilize the solution within our departments."

"The most valuable features of Fortra's Automate include its FTP functionality and file manipulation capabilities."

"We have found the pricing to be very reasonable."

"I actually quite liked the no-coding functionality."

More Automate pros

"It's user-friendly; even non-technical people can program bots using drag-and-drop functionalities."

"The initial setup is very easy."

"If you have a business process, and once you have automated that process, you have a readily available workflow in place."

"The solution is very user-friendly."

"The solution is scalability."

"The most valuable feature is the ability to automate mundane tasks. This improves efficiency, reliability, etc. You can form critical operations which can be highly automated."

"It's integrated with all the other products within the Salesforce ecosystem."

"I like the integration with Watson and the possibility to have an intelligent reading of all the customers' documents."

More IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) pros

"Redwood has a great feature where it logs every transaction. So, at any point, we can see every step taken for each transaction. It creates an audit trail of the entire process execution. It is a really good feature. This eliminates the need for extra coding or report generation. The audit report is readily available within the tool itself."

"The out-of-the-box finance modules within the Redwood Finance framework help to speed up the process, versus designing and writing generic BOT code."

"So the best thing is ease of use."

Cons

"I would like to see some better web automation, a wizard like the one in the product WinAutomation would be very nice."

"The interface could be more user-friendly and easier to navigate."

"It would be an improvement if Automate had better stability tools, whether by recommending a certain amount of memory because it can be a memory hog at times."

"While this solution is continually improving, as it is now, the user interface could use improvement when I compare it to a product like UiPath."

"There is a lack of good development for artificial intelligence, such as machine learning."

"The workflow for variables could be better. The input and output of task-level variables could be made a little clearer in terms of passing those around from one task to another upon success, etc. Things like that could be a little easier potentially."

"Regarding customer support, I face challenges sometimes. They're not always available, and you may need to wait for assistance, but overall their support is acceptable."

"They do not encrypt passwords, so this is an issue with HIPAA compliance."

More Automate cons

"Extensibility is the key, especially in terms of the Recorders feature that we have. That should be browser independent. Enhance it because some people have Chrome, some have Internet Explorer, etc. Also, integration with PDFs: Not just the ability to read information from PDFs but the ability to write information from PDFs, make it secure, sign it, etc. Finally, if they can allow a token exchange inside the tool itself, that would help."

"IBM Robotic Process Automation should be more stable."

"There are certain limitations in the solution for screen reading."

"The time it takes for approvals, and risk analysis could be faster."

"The users should be allowed to create folders in Control Center."

"I would like to improve the efficiency of this solution and the Surface Level Agreement."

"Needs better integration with artificial intelligence or with machine-learning."

"We would like a decreased need for customer support."

More IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) cons

"Mapping the process steps to an existing R2R process quickly would be a definite step forward."

"would like to see AI integration for automation in future releases. Post-automation, I envision a generative AI model. If I could ask the bot questions like the number of invoices or their current status, it should be able to provide answers directly."

"The room for balancing improvement lies in automation enhancement with respect to the feature areas, considering dealing directly with Excel and reviewing it to do some additional stuff for it in the end system so that reading the right thing, picking up the values, and everything."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"From a distributor's side, one of the biggest selling points is its price point. Without going into any numbers, compared to UiPath, Automation Anywhere, and Blue Prism, we're significantly cheaper. The main difference is that other competitors usually charge you per process. However, in Automate's case, it's priced per bot. So, a bot can run multiple processes at the same time, but you are only priced for a single bot."

"I like the way this solution is priced because you can buy a license, or you can buy the software outright."

"Compared to other products, the pricing model for this solution is much more convenient, flexible, and adaptable to the Portuguese reality."

"The cost is a bit high for a small business like ours, but we manage with Fortra's Automate."

"I believe the price falls within a reasonable range, which significantly influenced our decision regarding the product. This aspect is crucial for any technological solution, especially in our country where enterprises might be hesitant to invest heavily in something untested or uncertain about its practicality and potential returns."

"Once you buy the software, you just pay for the support for backend help."

"It has gone up in price. The price of Fortra's Automate has increased since we first started using it. It does a lot but also costs a lot. It was a lot more affordable before Fortra owned the software."

"While solutions like UiPath and Blue Prism cost around $11,000-$12,000 for each license, this product costs around $7,000 and you can keep it forever."

More Automate pricing and cost advice

"IBM licensing is annual and based on Virtual Processor Cores (VPC). This provides flexibility as part of the containerization environment."

"The product has a yearly licensing fee."

"IBM RPA is cheaper than other tools."

"The product is reasonably priced compared to other tools."

"The pricing is reasonable."

"There is a free trial for one month, so you can use it to run your payloads or proof of concept. After that, you can pay for the license on a monthly or annual basis."

"The license is paid annually."

"The pricing is reasonable for this solution."

More IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) pricing and cost advice

"The licensing was purely based on the number of transactions being processed in production."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

12%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Performing Arts

Computer Software Company

18%

Financial Services Firm

13%

Insurance Company

Government

Manufacturing Company

18%

Performing Arts

10%

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about HelpSystems AutoMate?

We use it for specific cases, mainly secure file transfers, which are vital for us. And it works for us.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for HelpSystems AutoMate?

The main purpose is for automation. That has been the purpose why I have been using it so far.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortra Automate?

Regarding pricing, it is very friendly. I would not say that it is really cheap or very expensive, but it fits within...

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What do you like most about IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)?

Integrating the tool with SAP, EBS, or other ERPs is easy.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)?

To improve IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) for the next release, there should be more integration with external ...

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What is your primary use case for IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)?

My customers' main use cases for IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) are especially in the banking industry, particu...

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What do you like most about Redwood Business Process Automation - Finance Edition?

Redwood has a great feature where it logs every transaction. So, at any point, we can see every step taken for each t...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Redwood Business Process Automation - Finance Edition?

The pricing is very client-specific. It's not a one-size-fits-all price. They don't have a single price for everyone....

See all answers

What needs improvement with Redwood Business Process Automation - Finance Edition?

Everything seems to be working well. However, I see value in integrating AI for automation. So, I would like to see A...

See all answers

Comparisons

UiPath Platform vs Automate

Compared 28% of the time

Microsoft Power Automate vs Automate

Compared 24% of the time

Blue Prism vs Automate

Compared 8% of the time

Automation Anywhere vs Automate

Compared 6% of the time

MOVEit vs Automate

Compared 5% of the time

More Automate Competitors

Microsoft Power Automate vs IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Compared 68% of the time

UiPath Platform vs IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Compared 12% of the time

Nintex RPA vs IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Compared 6% of the time

Automation Anywhere vs IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Compared 6% of the time

Blue Prism vs IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Compared 4% of the time

More IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Competitors

BlackLine vs Redwood Software - Finance Automation Edition

Compared 21% of the time

UiPath Platform vs Redwood Software - Finance Automation Edition

Compared 14% of the time

SAP Intelligent RPA vs Redwood Software - Finance Automation Edition

Compared 14% of the time

Automation Anywhere vs Redwood Software - Finance Automation Edition

Compared 12% of the time

Blue Prism Cloud vs Redwood Software - Finance Automation Edition

Compared 9% of the time

More Redwood Software - Finance Automation Edition Competitors

Product Reports

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Automate

August 2025

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Buyer's Guide

IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

August 2025

IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) report

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Buyer's Guide

Redwood Software - Finance Automation Edition

August 2025

Redwood Software - Finance Automation Edition report

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Also Known As

HelpSystems Automate, Automate

IBM RPA

Redwood Business Process Automation - Finance Edition, Redwood Robotics, Redwood Finance Automation

Overview

Automate offers a user-friendly solution with a drag-and-drop interface for efficient task automation and integration with major platforms like SAP and Azure, making it ideal for quick deployment with minimal coding and training.

Automate provides powerful features for businesses seeking efficient automation, offering compatibility with databases, email integration, and cloud platforms. Its simple interface supports both beginners and experienced users, simplifying tasks like invoice processing, HR automation, and data transformation. Cost-effective pricing and flexible licensing enhance its appeal while integration capabilities and scheduling tools ensure smooth workflow automation.

What are Automate's Key Features?

Drag-and-Drop Interface: Simplifies automation with intuitive design.
Integration Capabilities: Connects with platforms like SAP and Azure for seamless data flow.
Database and FTP Triggers: Enhances automation potential through direct data interaction.
Efficient Scheduling: Automates tasks with precise timing and control.
Web Scraping: Automates data extraction for quick analysis and reporting.

What Benefits and ROI Should Users Expect?

Rapid Deployment: Minimizes coding efforts for quick implementation.
Cost-Effectiveness: Offers flexible pricing models to suit budget constraints.
Operational Efficiency: Reduces manual workloads and enhances productivity.
Comprehensive Integration: Facilitates improved data management across systems.
Scalability: Adapts to growing business needs with ease.

In industries such as healthcare, banking, and logistics, Automate is used for tasks like invoice payment automation, data transformation, and task automation. This leads to streamlined processes and reduced manual workload, illustrating its value in enhancing operational efficiency through diversified workflows.

Fortra

IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a technology that encompasses the use of smart robots in any process requiring efficiency, consistency and speed, with no risk of mistakes. In a nutshell, RPA simulates a human user working.

Today, it is possible to automate processes through the use of digital robots, or bots, which execute pre-programed, repetitive tasks in a safe and mistake free manner. There are literally thousands of opportunities for Robotic Process Automation to make an impact on your organization today, including: automatic invoice emission, system integration, information reconciliation, report generation, intelligent email management to lead generation, and many others.

IBM

The volume of repetitive, manual tasks across finance is overwhelming – every day or at the end of every month, quarter or year. Redwood’s finance automation reduces that unnecessary and time-consuming manual effort. We know because our customers tell us that our finance automation solution helps them achieve a much higher degree of back-office process automation compared with alternatives.

Redwood Software

Sample Customers

Aldergrove Financial Group, Preferred Health Professionals, Mindbeam Technologies, First Credit Union in British Columbia, Vestcom International, Prime Liberty Benefits, University of Tampa, CNLBancshares, World Precision Instruments, BJ's Restaurants, Globe Pequot Press, Accudata Technologies, Norton Healthcare, Pacific Toxicology Laboratories

The Hanover Insurance Group

ArcelorMittal, Alliant Energy, Allianz, Arla, Bacardi, CPS Energy, DSM, Faurecia, Genetech, Jabil, Jumbo,

Buyer's Guide

IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) vs. Redwood Software - Finance Automation Edition

July 2025

Free Report: IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) vs. Redwood Software - Finance Automation Edition

Find out what your peers are saying about IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) vs. Redwood Software - Finance Automation Edition and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.

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