{"id":628,"date":"2022-05-13T14:34:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-13T20:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/processprimer.com\/?p=628"},"modified":"2026-08-05T17:28:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T23:28:38","slug":"business-process-management-and-robotic-process-automation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/processprimer.com\/blog\/business-process-management-and-robotic-process-automation\/","title":{"rendered":"Business Process Management and Robotic Process Automation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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We’re hearing a lot about Business Process Management and Robotic Process Automation these days. So what are they and what’s the difference?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business Process Management<\/strong> (BPM) is a holistic view of process management for your business. It covers the planning, organization and management of an organization’s processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robotic Process Automation<\/strong> (RPA) looks to automate repetitive processes and tasks within an organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But wait…aren’t there tools for BPM and<\/strong> RPA? Are these the same thing? And, do I need them? What are the benefits and drawbacks of one vs. the other and what’s right for my organization?

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Let’s explore a bit further…

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BPM tool selection<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are tools available for both BPM and for RPA and, although there may be many similarities and crossover between the two, they are not the same thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business Process Management is not a tool, more so, it’s a practice<\/mark>. BPM-specific tools and solutions generally look to cover organization process management holistically. These tools aim to consolidate process execution activities within one solution, offering low-code-to-no-code form design, integration with other systems and databases and ease of use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to process efficiency and consistency, a proper BPM tool solution will also offer ease of use, business user support, automation capabilities, reporting and predictive analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Process Director from BP Logix<\/strong><\/a> for an industry-leading example of what a great BPM solution can do for your organization! This is truly a full process management suite for any organization’s process solution needs. Thinking of a lighter-weight solution? Check out Orchestly<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When evaluating BPM tools, consider things such as ease of use (low code or no code), integration with other applications and scalability, ROI, reporting capabilities and cost.

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RPA tool selection<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robotic Process Automation tools look to automate tasks which can be automated. The best candidates for automation are generally considered tasks that are repetitive with structured criteria and low variation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repetitive tasks<\/em>: human or application-based and repeatable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Structured criteria<\/em>: the more consistent the information the better (standardized information, same field locations, same format).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Low variation<\/em>: minimal to no variations in the process due to exceptions or complex decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out UiPath’s Robotic Process Automation<\/strong><\/a> solutions. I’ve gone through their business analyst and implementation manager programs and I must say they have put together a fine approach to RPA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When evaluating RPA tools, interestingly, consider the same things as you would in your evaluation of BPM tools: ease of use (low code or no code), integration with other applications and scalability, ROI, reporting capabilities and cost.

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Benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any BPM or RPA solution should pay for itself. The financial ROI should be predicted in advance and measurable after implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other non-monetary benefits include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n