Updated on August 20, 2021
SphereGen works with many customers automating processes with RPA. We maintain partnerships with Microsoft in Gold Development, Silver Cloud, and Mixed Reality and we are a certified UiPath Partner.
We are often asked to compare RPA products to determine which is a better fit for our customers, Microsoft Power Automate or UiPath. In answer to this, we have developed a grid comparing key features in RPA.
UiPath was founded in 2005, as “DeskOver,” a company that focused on software outsourcing, building automation libraries and software development kits. In 2012 it shifted toward RPA, building out a platform for the automations it made. This platform focused on training and orchestrating automation, i.e. software robots. Since 2013 the company has experienced near exponential growth. Valued at over $7 Billion, the company is now recognized as one of the leaders in the field of Robotic Process Automation.
Though Microsoft needs no introduction, its Power Automate offering is new, being introduced at Ignite 2019. Power Automate is actually a rebranding and extension of Microsoft Flow. Flow, a SaaS offering for automation, was first introduced in 2016 and was mainly used in the Microsoft ecosystem, i.e. automating routing of outlook email and responses. In 2019 Microsoft expanded flow with more external connectors, added AI features and in general built out an RPA product.
Power Automate is a solid product but its relative youth compared to UiPath is readily apparent. Though all RPA products strive to be accessible to anyone, UiPath is much more capable in this regard, through its macro-like recording capabilities and extensive pre-canned libraries. Power Automate still feels like more of a developer’s tool, something that is sure to drop away as new releases roll out.
The greatest area of separation can be found in UiPaths implementation of computer vision. When we talk about computer vision, this refers to the ability of the platform to programmatically classify new data within an application, website, etc. This enables the robot to components on and infers what they are. Older automation solutions were prone to errors when anything changed as they relied upon XY coordinates or pixel matching to, as an example, know where a button was. Should a screen become resized, or a program changes the shape or color of a button, the automation would likely fail. With computer vision, automation is much more robust.
Below is an RPA comparison of features/functions used in UiPath and Microsoft Automate.
*Please note that both Microsoft and UiPath have implemented costing changes in the last year. While pricing is relatively comparable, Power Automate costing as a whole tends to be more competitive.
*We are still evaluating the impact on these feature areas from the recent release of power automate desktop
Summary of RPA Comparison
Microsoft Power Automate is a powerful automation tool best used by those with technical experience (such as developers). Training is geared towards technically proficient users and does not cater to end business users. Depending on the users, this tool can work well. However, the use case should be flushed out before choosing Microsoft Power Automate. Additionally, the pricing is very competitive, making this a strong option in the business automation world.
UiPath is built to allow end business users to code and automate their own processes. While this requires training, it isn’t as heavily reliant on technical prowess. Their platform for automation is much more intuitive for users who are not technically oriented including business analysts, accountants, and financial professionals. For this reason, many of our implementations in the world of finance and healthcare have relied on UiPath’s suite of tools. UiPath has great training materials, allowing business professionals to advance at their own pace and troubleshoot without coding expertise.
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To find out more about what we do – https://www.spheregen.com/rpa/
SphereGen is both a Microsoft and UiPath Partner, with expertise in implementing successful business applications for our customers. We specialize in the custom development of web/mobile apps, RPA integrations, and Unity AR/VR applications. We hold Gold and Silver level certifications in Application Development, Application Integration, Azure Cloud, Mixed Reality, and RPA. Learn more about our work at https://www.spheregen.com
