IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) vs SAP Intelligent RPA comparison

IBM and SAP are both solutions in the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) category. IBM is ranked #10 with an average rating of 7.8, while SAP is ranked #9 with an average rating of 8.0. IBM holds a 2.8% mindshare in RPA, compared to SAP’s 1.8% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 87% of SAP users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 4, 2024

IBM Robotic Process Automation and SAP Intelligent RPA compete in the automation software category. IBM RPA seems to have the upper hand due to its strong analytics and integration with IBM Watson, whereas SAP excels in adaptability and flexibility.

Features: IBM RPA is known for its ease of use, integrating seamlessly with IBM Watson, and providing robust analytics and hybrid cloud integration. SAP Intelligent RPA is flexible, handling both attended and unattended tasks, offering smooth integration with CRMs, databases, and APIs.

Room for Improvement: IBM RPA can improve by enhancing its machine learning capabilities, browser compatibility, and Microsoft systems integration. SAP Intelligent RPA needs better SAP GUI stability, improved data extraction processes, and more flexible error messaging and Outlook integration.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM RPA supports versatile deployment in hybrid cloud environments, with generally positive customer support though it can vary in quality. SAP Intelligent RPA is flexible in both cloud and on-premises deployments but needs better technical support and resource accessibility.

Pricing and ROI: IBM RPA has higher pricing with annual licensing but offers significant ROI, with returns often in less than a year. SAP Intelligent RPA's SaaS model is adaptable to various business needs, providing cost-effective solutions over time with a similar ROI period.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) vs. SAP Intelligent RPA Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) vs. SAP Intelligent RPA

April 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 May 2025, in the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) category, the mindshare of Automate is 1.6%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is 2.8%, up from 2.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SAP Intelligent RPA is 1.8%, up from 0.7% 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

Can automate several processes with only one bot and is easy to implement, administer, and use

We have tried other RPA solutions like UiPath or Automation Anywhere. They are fantastic products but complex, and it's hard to understand everything. It would be best if you had a skilled developer or several. Automate is easy to implement, administer, and use. It's appropriate for us because our cases are simple and easy to automate. We don't need complicated tools with many features; We prefer to get a significant ROI quickly. We can automate several processes with only one bot, so it's much cheaper than other products where you need to buy additional licenses. We need a good value for our automation. The other solutions might be more robust, but Automate is perfect for us because we're not a large enterprise.

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GeorgeTzifas

Chief Operating Officer at Anyrobotics RPA Experts

Provides smart AI tools and easy to use

I would like to have more flexibility in connecting the platform with third-party systems. It is easy to connect IBM RPA with other IBM products, but it is complicated when connecting to non-IBM systems. So, I would like IBM RPA to be even more flexible in connecting to third-party systems.

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Keerthana Jayathran

SAP BTP Developer at Wipro Limited

Offers integration of the document extraction service into SAP ALC, enabling the direct upload and extraction of details

I found that SAP Intelligent RPA can be somewhat unstable when using SAP GUI. When we upgraded from SAP GUI version 7.50 to version 7.70, we had to update our SAP Intelligent RPA screens even though the screens were the same. This was difficult and time-consuming. The one I would like to see is in context with the screens, if they are using the same SAP UI, and if it updates, it should not be changed. At least it should be able to identify the screen. There should be more of an error, like a proper error feature, in future releases. Sometimes, we don't understand why that automation is not learning what, like, where it is stuck, what the reason is, or what the criteria we are missing to add. A proper error message would be helpful.

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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 ability to connect to websites and pull data is the solution's most valuable feature."

"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."

"Web scraping is quite good since it offers a lot of possibilities."

"The most valuable features for my client are timing and scheduling."

"This product is quite easy to install, learn, and use, with our new employees being able to start using it in projects for clients after only two weeks of internal training."

"Fortra's Automate performs the job effectively and has the capability to alert us of any issues."

More Automate pros

"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."

"I think simplicity is key. One of the things that we've noticed is how our developers have been able to quickly adopt the platform; but not only the developers or the techy people, also the business."

"The initial setup is very easy."

"IBM Robotic Process Automation has greatly improved the organization by improving the speed of performance, as the speed of the robot is estimated to be 20 times faster than the human being."

"It is easy to use. We have enabled our resources who don't have a background in automation to be certified and trained, then implement this product within a very short period of time, as it is very user-friendly."

"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 feature I found most valuable is the TCO."

More IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) pros

"It is a stable solution...It is a scalable solution."

"Contextor is a good solution for a Citrix environment. It's the first with this tool. Other tools provide the same functionality, but not with the Citrix environment."

"Scalability is fine. It is pretty nice."

"The most valuable feature of SAP Contextor is that everyone is in one place in the program that I need."

"Most of the details are already in the help portal and SAP notes are available. It is well documented as part of the product support."

"It is remarkably easy to configure and code, and it doesn't require an extensive technical background or coding expertise."

"The initial setup of SAP Contextor is easy."

"The standout features of SAP Intelligent RPA are its flexibility and integration capabilities."

Cons

"The intelligent automation feature could be improved. It's interesting because it's simple, but the automation quality isn't always good. It's easy to use, but sometimes you need to make a slight improvement to the automation, and that's not so easy."

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

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

"I would prefer not having to log in to update a ticket; being able to respond via email would be beneficial."

"I find that most important features are strong, however, 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."

"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."

More Automate cons

"The product must be promoted more."

"The scalability of the solution can be challenging."

"We are looking to see how it can connect with various interfaces seamlessly, through APIs."

"We would like more focus on understanding AI and how it can be used to manage exception handling."

"IBM’s support should improve response time."

"We're based in Thailand, but the documentation is not in Thai, which makes it difficult for us. If they could translate all of their documentation into our language, we'd be very grateful."

"The product's document readers must be improved to capture the data well."

"IBM should provide specific solutions for specific problems, like templates for invoicing processes, or general templates for creating efficient processes."

More IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) cons

"I would like to see a better capacity for unstructured data, for example, PDF, or text within images."

"SAP Contextor could improve by automating some processes."

"One way SAP Intelligent RPA could improve is by integrating built-in DI services for document processing."

"I found that the SAP scripting of a program is easier than SAP Contextor."

"There should be more of an error, like a proper error feature, in future releases. Sometimes, we don't understand why that automation is not learning what, like, where it is stuck, or what is the reason like, or what is the criteria we are missing to add. So a proper error message would be helpful."

"The tool's licensing has been kind of a challenge...At the moment, the tool does not offer different licensing models to users."

"The initial setup is of medium complexity. It is neither too hard nor too simple. You need some background in SAP and an understanding of it."

"For potential features or improvements, one aspect I would suggest enhancing is the flexibility of the extraction process."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"From a distributor's perspective, one of the biggest selling points of Automate is its price point."

"It comes with a package that costs approximately $20,000 USD per year."

"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."

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

"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."

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

"The pricing is quite reasonable. We can run the process with one bot. The limitation is at the server level because they have some resources, and sometimes that is enough. It isn't too expensive, so you can get a good return off of one, and you can also have a pack of five bots that is quite competitive."

More Automate pricing and cost advice

"The pricing is reasonable for this solution."

"The license is paid annually."

"The pricing is reasonable."

"IBM RPA is cheaper than other tools."

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

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

"I rate the pricing ten out of ten. So, the pricing is very good for me."

"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."

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

"The pricing is not that expensive. It is manageable."

"This is not a tool or software with a license as others are. The SaaS model is based on the usage of the tool."

"It all comes with a bundle right now. Having advanced features, it is competitively priced."

"The initial cost might seem higher, but over time, with continued use over five or ten years, the cost tends to decrease, making it a more economical choice."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

15%

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

Healthcare Company

Computer Software Company

19%

Financial Services Firm

18%

Government

Insurance Company

Computer Software Company

14%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Energy/Utilities Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

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.

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What is your primary use case for HelpSystems AutoMate?

I am a consultant and I am making a lot of processes in human resources, payroll, certifications, trainings, web scra...

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

The pricing is quite good compared to its competitors. Competitors are often more expensive than Automate. I would ra...

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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.

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

The pricing of IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) could be improved.

See all answers

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

We usually use IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) ( /products/ibm-robotic-process-automation-rpa-reviews ) to autom...

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What do you like most about SAP Contextor?

The standout features of SAP Intelligent RPA are its flexibility and integration capabilities.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SAP Contextor?

The pricing for SAP Intelligent RPA operates on a model that considers power usage and transactions per job. It is ad...

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What needs improvement with SAP Contextor?

The tool's licensing has been kind of a challenge. If the tool can bring up a usage-based licensing model, it would b...

See all answers

Comparisons

Microsoft Power Automate vs Automate

Compared 38% of the time

UiPath Platform vs Automate

Compared 35% of the time

Automation Anywhere vs Automate

Compared 8% of the time

Blue Prism vs Automate

Compared 7% of the time

VisualCron vs Automate

Compared 6% of the time

More Automate Competitors

Microsoft Power Automate vs IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Compared 71% of the time

Automation Anywhere vs IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Compared 10% of the time

UiPath Platform vs IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Compared 9% of the time

Blue Prism vs IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Compared 7% of the time

Nintex RPA vs IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Compared 2% of the time

More IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Competitors

UiPath Platform vs SAP Intelligent RPA

Compared 35% of the time

Automation Anywhere vs SAP Intelligent RPA

Compared 19% of the time

Microsoft Power Automate vs SAP Intelligent RPA

Compared 13% of the time

SAP Build Process Automation vs SAP Intelligent RPA

Compared 10% of the time

Blue Prism Cloud vs SAP Intelligent RPA

Compared 10% of the time

More SAP Intelligent RPA Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Automate

May 2025

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Buyer's Guide

IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

May 2025

IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) report

Download IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) product report

Buyer's Guide

SAP Intelligent RPA

April 2025

Download SAP Intelligent RPA product report

Also Known As

HelpSystems Automate, Automate

IBM RPA

SAP Contextor, Contextor

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

SAP Intelligent Robotic Process Automation lets you automate enterprise business processes. Design process automations within the Cloud Studio by creating end-to-end workflows. Generate packages from these automations into the Cloud Factory powered by SAP BTP to configure and execute these packages with Agents. Agents running on workstations can work as a digital assistant (attended automation) or as a digital worker (unattended automation).

SAP Intelligent RPA enables business users and technologists to become citizen developers. With powerful yet intuitive low-code and no-code capabilities, the solution supports you in driving automation by tapping into the expertise of citizen developers.

SAP

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

BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, Kabel Deutschland, Orange, Carrefour

Buyer's Guide

IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) vs. SAP Intelligent RPA

April 2025

Free Report: IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) vs. SAP Intelligent RPA

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