In the age of instant digital connectivity, rapid innovation, and ever-increasing demand, business success isn’t relegated to simply the quality of goods or services that are provided, but the overall efficiency of the entire enterprise. The emergence of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) began a revolution in operational efficiency, playing a pivotal role in improving process quality, speed, and productivity. Initially adopted exclusively by large enterprises due to high licensing costs, RPA has become an indispensable tool as the technology has become more accessible. Now, automation is a universal necessity, redefining tasks across industries and enabling businesses of all sizes to thrive.
With that in mind, it comes as no surprise that today’s business leaders are embracing automation not just for process optimisation but as a strategic asset. A recent PWC survey reveals that as many as 53% of CFOs say they plan to accelerate digital transformation using data analytics, AI, automation, and cloud solutions.
UiPath, a dominant player in the global RPA market which is projected to reach $25.56 billion by 2027, leads this transformative wave. In this article, we’ll explore some of the features and benefits that make UiPath a strategic business automation tool of choice.
What is UiPath?
Headquartered in Romania, UiPath is a global software company that provides a robust, secure, low-code RPA platform for end-to-end automation. The platform enables users with limited technical expertise to create software robots or ‘bots’ capable of seamless interaction with their existing IT infrastructure, encompassing legacy applications, databases, and cloud-based services.
Some of UiPath’s core strengths include its intuitive workflow dashboard, recording functionalities, and visual programming tools. Integration is further streamlined through access to third-party APIs, which enables users to weave a network of automated workflows spanning multiple systems effortlessly. The platform’s user-friendly visual editor empowers individuals without coding experience to construct intricate automated workflows, using a simplified drag-and-drop approach to create unique automations with ease.
Beyond basic automation, UiPath extends its capabilities to include machine learning and artificial intelligence tools, empowering users to create sophisticated automation by incorporating various models for natural language processing (NLP), intelligent document processing (IDP), and more.
What makes UiPath a Leading RPA Tool?
In light of the growing trend towards automation, it’s no surprise that the RPA sector is among the most robust and competitive markets. In fact, market growth is projected to continue multiplying for the foreseeable future, expanding at an astounding CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 38.2% to approach $31 billion by 2030.
Within this explosive market, UiPath has undeniably established itself as a premier RPA tool, starting with its historic U.S. software IPO in 2021 (with UiPath stock reaching 68 USD by the close of its first trading day) as well as being named Leader in the 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Robotic Process Automation. But what is it exactly that sets UiPath apart from its competitors?
Here are 3 key differentiators that set UiPath apart:
- Ease-of-Use.The simplicity of the UiPath interface is among the most significant characteristics that define the platform. Using its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, users with little to no technical levels are capable of creating sophisticated animation. At the same time, the platform enables developers to employ code to further customise and refine automations for specific use cases.
- Continuous Innovation. UiPath presently offers the most comprehensive RPA platform on the market, catering to the entire automation lifecycle, from discovery to measurement. Recent UiPath enhancements include cloud RPA (SaaS) robots, API automation, point-and-click configuration of Machine Learning models, DevOps lifecycle control, and integration of UiPath Apps with RPA. Additionally, on UiPath’s near-term roadmap is the upcoming Studio Web, a web-based design environment that enables users to create automations in the cloud.
- Customer Satisfaction and Community Support. UiPath excels in customer satisfaction, earning high ratings on platforms like G2 and Gartner’s Peer Insights. With a commitment to customer success through learning resources, online training, and an active developer community, UiPath stands out in providing continuous support, frequent updates, and crowdsourced knowledge sharing.
The Top 6 Key Advantages UiPath Offers
As a leader in business process automation, UiPath is widely considered to be the most robust RPA tool on the market today – and for good reason. Let’s take a closer look at the top 6 advantages that UiPath has to offer.
- Interaction and Collaboration: UiPath breaks away from traditional automation limitations by enabling interaction and collaboration between digital and human workforces. This inclusive approach caters to business processes requiring human intervention to implement approvals or inputs, expanding the scope of automations in a cost-effective manner.
- Interconnectivity: UiPath’s platform excels in seamless interconnectivity with major enterprise products and applications. Featuring open APIs, integration with third-party analytics, and the ability to invoke code, UiPath enhances business process management by fostering compatibility with diverse systems.
- Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics: UiPath stands out with its Machine Learning (ML) models that are cost-effective, customisable, and adaptable to organisational needs. Offering out-of-the-box, drag-and-drop ML models, UiPath simplifies the implementation and maintenance of predictive analytics, providing a highly scalable solution for a wide range of businesses.
- Task Capture for Process Discovery: UiPath’s Task Capture tool transforms process documentation, automating the tedious and error-prone manual effort. Overall, task capture accelerates automation development and process improvements, resulting in fewer errors, lower costs, and reduced time spent on document-related tasks compared to manual processing.
- Process Document Understanding: UiPath Document Understanding merges RPA and AI to streamline end-to-end document processing. Capable of extracting and interpreting data from various documents, this tool handles diverse formats and recognises objects like tables, handwriting, and signatures, offering a comprehensive solution for document-related tasks.
- Test Automation with Test Suite: Generally, traditional manual testing is a traditionally tedious, time-consuming task, often requiring numerous tools and steps to complete. By contrast, UiPath’s Test Suite solves the inefficiencies of manual testing, providing an integrated bundle of continuous delivery automation testing tools. By combining RPA technology with best-in-class testing practices, Test Suite enhances speed, coverage, and effectiveness in ensuring the quality of RPA and application deployments.
What Businesses can Benefit from UiPath?
The pace at which the business landscape moves continues to accelerate year after year, meaning that increasing efficiency and productivity while reducing time to market and overall costs is crucial. Within this context, it’s clear that automation – and tools that enable its implementation – are not merely elective technology; but strategic necessities for success.
As a market-leading RPA tool, UiPath is a sound solution for businesses across industries aiming to leverage automation to streamline their operations and enhance overall efficiency. In particular, its intuitive design, robust capabilities make it accessible to individuals with varying skill levels, while and its overall affordability and flexible licensing model mean that businesses of all sizes are able to reap the benefits including efficiency gains, improving employee satisfaction, reducing churn, and enhancing customer service quality.
It’s worth noting that organisations adopting UiPath often follow a hybrid approach, with business users tackling smaller tasks and the technical team handling more complex processes. This strategic balance ensures efficient automation deployment across different levels, preventing overwhelm and maximising returns on investment.
[5 Key Take Away]
- Automation’s Strategic Surge: Business leaders are increasingly focused on automation as a strategic asset, with 53% of CFOs saying they plan to accelerate digital transformation using data analytics, AI, automation, and cloud solutions.
- Key UiPath Differentiators: UiPath’s success is driven by a user-friendly interface, continuous innovation, and a strong focus on customer satisfaction, distinguishing it with accessible, efficient automation that evolves with market demands.
- UiPath’s Comprehensive Advantages: UiPath’s robust platform offers six key advantages, including fostering interaction, seamless interconnectivity, and innovative features like machine learning models, task capture, process document understanding, and an efficient test suite.
- Hybrid Automation Approach: UiPath’s adoption involves a hybrid approach, with business users handling smaller tasks and the technical team managing complex processes, ensuring effective automation deployment across various levels.
- Broad Applicability of UiPath: Among the most versatile RPA solutions on the market, UiPath’s intuitive design, robust capabilities, affordability, and flexible licensing make it a strategic necessity for diverse businesses seeking efficiency gains and operational streamlining.
This article and infographic are part of a larger series centred around the technologies and themes found within the 2023 edition of the TechRadar by Devoteam report. To learn more about UiPath and other technologies you need to know about, please download the TechRadar by Devoteam .
