Intelligent process automation (IPA) tools are revolutionizing how businesses streamline operations and drive efficiency. By combining robotic process automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and other leading edge technologies, IPA platforms can automate a wide range of repetitive, manual processes.
Key Takeaways:
- IPA tools combine RPA, AI, ML and other innovations to automate repetitive, manual processes to drive efficiency.
- Key capabilities of top IPA platforms include process discovery and documentation, seamless integration, easy business logic configuration, monitoring, and advanced analytics.
- When selecting an IPA software, key criteria to consider are current tech stack, skills and staffing, budget, compliance needs, and scalability goals.
- Leading options featured include UiPath, Automation Anywhere, Pega Platform, Microsoft Power Automate, SAP Intelligent RPA, WorkFusion, and more.
- Choosing an IPA tool should align with specific organizational priorities around existing infrastructure, headcount, costs, regulations, and growth.
- Implementing IPA can deliver 200-300% ROI in under 6 months by optimizing operations, boosting productivity, enabling higher value work, and enhancing customer experience.
Why Businesses Need IPA Platforms?
In today’s highly competitive and fast paced business landscape, organizations must find ways to accelerate growth while reducing costs. IPA enables companies to:
- Save substantial time and money by automating tedious, error prone manual work
- Refocus talent on higher value strategic tasks rather than mundane activities
- Gain business insights from automated data collection and analysis
- Improve customer experiences through faster response times and greater accuracy
- Remain adaptable in a volatile economic environment
The Key Capabilities of IPA Tools
Leading IPA platforms share several core functions:
Process Discovery and Documentation
IPA solutions start by mapping out existing processes to identify automation opportunities. This visibility ensures companies choose the right processes to automate.
Integration with Existing Systems
Seamlessly connecting IPA bots with current business applications is essential for smooth automation.
Business Logic Configuration
Translating the rules that govern processes into automated workflows is made simple through easy to use GUIs.
Automation Execution and Monitoring
Once configured, bots can run processes automatically while built-in monitoring tools track their progress.
Analytics and Insights
Advanced analytics provide transparency into process performance, identifying potential issues and optimization opportunities.
Factors to Consider When Selecting an IPA Software
Finding the right automation platform for your company depends on several factors:
- Current tech stack: Seek tools that integrate easily with existing infrastructure
- Skills and headcount: Opt for low code if current staffing is limited
- Budget: Get pricing transparency around any hidden costs
- Compliance needs: Ensure auditing, access controls and other guardrails are included
- Scalability goals: Choose enterprise ready solutions to support expansion
The Top 14 Intelligent Process Automation Software
With those key criteria in mind, here are 14 of the top IPA tools on the market:
1. UiPath
| Tool Type | RPA with IPA Capabilities |
| Key Features | End-to-end hyperautomation Broad app and data connections Advanced analytics On-premise and cloud options |
| Ideal For | Enterprises aiming to scale automation across the business |
| UiPath Website |
UiPath is one of the leading RPA vendors that provides full scale intelligent process automation. Its end-to-end platform makes it easy to identify, build, manage, run, engage, measure and govern automations across departments.
Advanced integration capabilities connect UiPath’s software robots with hundreds of apps and data sources. And its robust analytics offer detailed automation insights to help companies optimize operations.
2. Automation Anywhere
| Tool Type | RPA with IPA Capabilities |
| Key Features | IQ Bot Integrated biometrics Over 1,100 built-in commands Cloud native and on-prem options |
| Ideal For | Enterprises looking to incorporate more AI into automations |
| Automation Anywhere Website |
Automation Anywhere provides a leading cloud native, AI powered RPA platform tailored to automating complex business processes. Its IQ Bot adds powerful AI capabilities like natural language processing, enabling end-to-end hyperautomation.
The solution also features integrated biometrics, advanced analytics, and over 1,100 built-in commands to speed up automation development. And it offers flexible cloud and on-premise deployment options.
3. Pega Platform
| Tool Type | Low code application development |
| Key Features | Robotic automation AI and decisioning Omnichannel access |
| Ideal For | Companies wanting deeper automation embedded into apps |
| Pega Website |
Pega provides a unified low code platform to build enterprise applications with automation and AI baked in. Its robotic automation capability lets you easily automate tasks within apps, while powerful AI optimizes decisions.
It also enables organizations to give customers omnichannel access to automated processes through self service portals. And with flexible cloud deployment, it’s fast to implement and scale.
4. Microsoft Power Automate
| Tool Type | Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) |
| Key Features | 450+ app and service connectors Robotic process automation Natural language UI for no code |
| Ideal For | Businesses wanting easy integration with Microsoft apps |
| Microsoft Power Automate Website |
Microsoft Power Automate makes it simple to connect apps, automate workflows, and transform business processes. It offers over 450 built-in connectors so that bots can easily interact with Microsoft software as well as common apps like Salesforce.
Users can build flows via an intuitive, no code interface. And AI driven robotic process automation handles repetitive tasks without constant oversight.
5. SAP Intelligent RPA
| Tool Type | RPA with IPA capabilities |
| Key Features | 2,000+ bots available End-to-end lifecycle automation Common data model |
| Ideal For | SAP customers |
| SAP Website |
For companies running SAP, Intelligent RPA provides pre-built automation specifically tailored to common SAP tasks. Its digital bots can handle over 2,000 processes like invoice processing, HR onboarding, material master renewals, and more.
It also centralizes and governs automation development/deployment, connects easily with SAP apps, and leverages a common data model for smooth data handoffs during workflows.
6. WorkFusion
| Tool Type | RPA with IPA Capabilities |
| Key Features | Built-in NLP and ML Finance focused bots Detailed analytics dashboard |
| Ideal For | Financial institutions |
| WorkFusion Website |
WorkFusion aims its Intelligent Automation platform squarely at the finance industry with preconfigured bots for many banking, insurance and lending processes. These out-of-the-box automations get projects moving faster.
The platform also enables users to easily build smart bots enhanced with AI technologies like natural language processing and machine learning. And it provides transparency into automation metrics to identify areas for optimization.
7. Kryon RPA
| Tool Type | Attended RPA |
| Key Features | Full cycle automation Built-in optical character recognition Centralized audit logs |
| Ideal For | Continuous attended automation |
| Kryon Website |
Kryon specializes in attended RPA that keeps humans in the loop to train bots. Its console combines RPA with integrated OCR, screen and app integration, and other tools to speed the automation of manual processes.
It provides full cycle automation development without needing IT involvement. And centralized logs give transparency into who changed what, when.
8. NICE RPA
| Tool Type | Attended RPA |
| Key Features | Automated workflow analytics Real time guidance for bots Skills routing |
| Ideal For | Boosting CSR efficiency |
| NICE RPA Website |
NICE’s attended automation is purpose built to make customer service reps more productive. For example, its skills based routing automatically brings complex issues to more experienced agents via bots working behind the scenes.
It also provides reps with real time bot guidance to resolve customer inquiries faster. And its digital coach gives managers analytics to optimize staffing, forecasting and workflows.
9. Catalytic Automation Platform
| Tool Type | No-code automation |
| Key Features | AI, RPA, and workflows Built for extensibility Automated governance controls |
| Ideal | Fast automation across functions |
| Catalytic Website |
Catalytic provides no code automation and AI to streamline workflows company wide. One platform centralizes cross department processes like approvals, eSignatures, data collection, and more.
It was designed for enterprise scalability and optimization with versions control. Compliance guardrails also auto apply to enforce regulations, standards, and internal governance policies.
10. Another Monday
| Tool Type | Process mining |
| Key Features | End-to-end process analytics Data integration and discovery Interactive process modeling |
| Ideal For | Companies with complex processes or limited visibility |
| Another Monday Website |
Another Monday offers enterprise process mining software for in-depth analysis, monitoring and improvement. It auto discovers processes from system logs, IoT sensors in predictive maintenance, meeting meta data, and more.
Powerful analytics provide process insights to identify bottlenecks, compliance risks, automation opportunities and other improvement areas without disrupting operations.
11. Bot360
| Tool Type | Unified Automation |
| Key Features | 30+ automation tools Centralized control Built-in connectors marketplace |
| Ideal For | Consolidating siloed automations |
| Bot360 Website |
Bot360 provides a unified automation platform covering RPA, test automation, web automation, analytics, and more over 30 tools under one roof. This eliminates tool sprawl across departments.
Its orchestration console gives IT control to manage, govern and track all bots enterprise wide while ensuring optimal workload balancing. And anyone can discover/share connectors via its online marketplace.
12. Electra Cloud
| Tool Type | Integration Platform as a Service |
| Key Features | 500+ prebuilt bots Hyperautomation Analytics dashboard |
| Ideal For | Fast time-to-value |
| Electra Cloud Website |
Electra Cloud accelerates enterprise automation with over 500 out-of-the-box bots for common apps like Oracle, SAP, Salesforce. Users can customize configurations without coding to automate more niche tasks.
It combines iPaaS and hyperautomation with data integration, allowing different tools to share data pipelines. Centralized analytics give executives visibility into automation efficiencies across business units.
13. ProcessMaker
| Tool Type | Low code automation |
| Key Features | Integration with popular software Built-in forms and workflow designer AI to simplify development |
| Ideal For | Streamlining workflow approvals |
| ProcessMaker Website |
ProcessMaker enables line of business users to automate approvals, onboarding, IT ticketing and other cross functional workflows via its easy low code platform. It connects to existing systems while AI recommendations aid process mapping. Users also gain visibility into bottlenecks or SLA violations.
14. Servicetrace XcelerBot
| Tool Type | Attended RPA |
| Key Features | Skills based routing Agent guidance system Real-time coaching for improvement |
| Ideal For | Optimizing contact center efficiency |
| Servicetrace Website |
XcelerBot augments human agents through AI powered robotic automation to boost productivity within contact centers. Its skills engine routes the right inquiries to the optimal agents. And it provides reps real time guidance, knowledge and suggestions during customer interactions to drive first call resolution.
Conclusion
Intelligent process automation delivers game changing technologies to optimize operations. And choosing among the various feature rich tools on the market comes down to aligning specific organizational priorities and objectives with vendor capabilities.
Following a needs based selection approach ensures companies realize maximum value. Because in today’s highly competitive business climate, leveraging AI driven automation and analytics is becoming an imperative to outperform rivals. Prioritizing these criteria helps companies select automation technology poised to deliver ongoing value at scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between RPA and IPA?
RPA focuses strictly on robotic process automation while IPA incorporates artificial intelligence, machine learning, analytics and other innovations to drive more advanced, intelligent automation.
Is IPA better than BPM software?
IPA complements BPM, providing the modern technologies to automate processes modeled within BPM programs. Together they optimize end-to-end process lifecycles.
Can IPA fully automate entire jobs?
In some cases yes, but the focus should be automating tasks rather than whole jobs. This avoids layoffs and allows staff to uplevel skills.
How long does IPA implementation take?
Simple standalone automations can deploy in weeks. But allow several months for full scale solutions covering multiple processes, apps and systems.
What ROI can companies expect from IPA tools?
Average ROI falls between 200 – 300%, with break even in less than 6 months. Key benefits exceed cost savings and include boosted productivity, higher value work, improved data quality/insights and better CX.
What automation tools can IPA integrate with?
Leading IPA platforms provide pre-built connectors or custom integration capabilities with other enterprise systems like CRM software, ERP platforms, business intelligence tools, legacy applications, and more. This allows IPA bots to seamlessly interact with surrounding infrastructure.
How does IPA handle exceptions during process execution?
Sophisticated IPA tools have the ability to automatically flag process exceptions or bottlenecks. Some reroute issues to human workers, while others resolve problems using built-in AI. The highest capability platforms do both, along with providing visibility through process analytics. This ensures optimal outcomes.
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