Automation is no longer optional—it’s a competitive advantage. But with so many tools available, like low-code platforms and Robotic Process Automation (RPA), it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. While both promise efficiency, they’re built for different purposes and use cases, which makes choosing the right solution tricky.
This article breaks down how low-code and RPA compare, helping you identify the best fit for your business needs.
If you want to understand "low code architecture," read our article on "Low Code Architecture: A Comprehensive Guide."
What Is Low-Code RPA?
Low-Code Robotic Process Automation (RPA) represents a powerful combination of two transformative technologies: low-code development platforms and Robotic Process Automation. Together, they simplify the process of creating automation solutions, making it faster and more accessible for businesses.
At its core, Low-Code RPA utilizes visual tools, drag-and-drop functionality, and pre-built components to design automation workflows. Instead of writing complex lines of code, you can visually map out processes and connect them using pre-configured modules.
For example, you can automate tasks like data entry, invoice processing, or report generation by simply dragging and connecting elements in a workflow editor. These tools make it possible for business users—often referred to as "citizen developers"—to collaborate with IT teams or even independently build automation solutions tailored to their needs.
The growing importance of Low-Code RPA is caused by its ability to address modern business challenges. Organizations today need scalable, efficient, and adaptable solutions to remain competitive.
Low-Code RPA not only provides quick wins through task automation but also supports larger digital change initiatives. Its flexibility allows companies to adapt to evolving market demands, integrate legacy systems, and improve operational agility.
Benefits of Low-Code RPA
1. Faster Deployment
Unlike traditional coding, which requires writing extensive amounts of code manually, low-code platforms rely on visual interfaces and drag-and-drop tools. These features make it easier to design automation workflows in a fraction of the time, even for users without advanced programming skills.
Another key factor in accelerating deployment is the availability of pre-built components and templates. These reusable modules allow you to quickly assemble automation solutions without starting from scratch. For example, instead of coding a data extraction process line by line, you could utilize a pre-configured template to accomplish the task with minimal adjustments.
By reducing the reliance on specialized developers, low-code RPA also ensures faster implementation. Business users, often called "citizen developers," can participate in the automation process directly, bridging the gap between technical and non-technical teams.
Low-code RPA further supports iterative development and rapid prototyping. You can create workflows, test them, and refine them in quick cycles, enabling faster delivery of solutions.
2. Reduced Development Costs
One significant way low-code RPA minimizes costs is by reducing the reliance on specialized developers. Traditional software development often requires hiring and retaining highly skilled programmers, which can be expensive and time-consuming. With low-code RPA, the visual, drag-and-drop interfaces enable non-technical users—or "citizen developers"—to create automation workflows.
Moreover, low-code RPA platforms include pre-built components and templates that streamline development. Instead of building automations from scratch, you can use these ready-made tools to quickly design workflows tailored to your needs.
Another cost-saving advantage lies in the simplicity and efficiency of low-code tools. The visual design environment and drag-and-drop functionality reduce the complexity of creating automations, allowing workflows to be built and deployed faster.
3. Improved Collaboration
Low-code RPA enables shared participation in automation projects, bringing diverse perspectives to the table. Traditionally, automation initiatives were dominated by IT teams, but low-code RPA empowers non-technical users to contribute meaningfully without requiring advanced programming skills.
The visual tools and user-friendly interfaces of low-code RPA platforms play a central role in this change. Features like drag-and-drop builders and pre-configured templates allow business users to design workflows or prototype solutions.
Moreover, low-code RPA simplifies complex processes into understandable workflows, which improves communication and alignment across teams. Non-technical stakeholders can easily review and provide input on automation designs, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
4. Enhanced Agility
Low-code RPA empowers businesses to respond to these shifts efficiently by reducing reliance on lengthy development cycles. Instead of spending weeks or months on traditional coding projects, teams can use intuitive tools to create or update automation workflows in a matter of days—or even hours.
This adaptability is further enhanced by the iterative nature of low-code platforms. By allowing rapid updates to existing automations, businesses can continuously refine processes as new requirements arise. For example, if a compliance regulation changes or a new product launch requires operational adjustments, low-code RPA facilitates quick modifications without disrupting broader systems.
Simplifying automation development also plays a critical role in fostering flexibility. With low-code RPA, both technical developers and non-technical stakeholders can collaborate effectively. Drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-built templates enable teams to prototype, test, and deploy solutions faster.
5. Higher ROI on Automation Investments
Traditional software development often involves lengthy processes and specialized developers, both of which drive up expenses. Low-code RPA simplifies this by providing visual, drag-and-drop interfaces, enabling faster and more cost-effective workflows.
The speed of deployment also plays an important role in maximizing ROI. Low-code RPA allows organizations to implement automation solutions faster, meaning they can start seeing returns much sooner.
Moreover, these platforms support iterative development, enabling businesses to refine and expand their automations over time without starting from scratch.
Another key factor is the improvement in operational efficiency. Low-code RPA automates repetitive tasks, such as data entry or report generation, which frees employees to focus on more strategic, high-value activities.
Finally, the accessibility of low-code RPA to non-technical users broadens participation in automation initiatives. Teams that previously relied on expensive, specialized developers can now utilize citizen developers—employees with little to no coding experience—to design and deploy automations.
Popular Low-Code RPA Platforms
1. UiPath Apps
UiPath Apps empowers businesses to build custom, automation-driven applications without requiring extensive coding expertise. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and seamless integration with UiPath RPA workflows, the platform enables users to create tailored solutions that enhance operational efficiency and user experience.
Key Features of UiPath Apps:
Drag-and-Drop Interface: A visually intuitive interface allows users, including non-technical "citizen developers," to build applications with ease.
Seamless RPA Integration: Integrates with UiPath workflows to extend automation capabilities into dynamic applications, creating cohesive end-to-end solutions.
Real-Time Data Handling: Applications can trigger workflows, display real-time data, and collect user inputs for further processing, enhancing interactivity.
Flexibility and Customization: Supports diverse use cases, from simple task management to complex enterprise applications, tailored to industry-specific needs.
Scalability Across Industries: Adaptable for industries such as finance, healthcare, and retail, helping businesses improve efficiency and deliver better customer experiences.
2. Automation Anywhere
Automation Anywhere is a powerful low-code RPA platform designed to simplify business process automation for users with varying levels of technical expertise. With its accessible interface and robust features, the platform helps organizations optimize workflows, reduce errors, and enhance operational efficiency.
Key Features of Automation Anywhere:
User-Friendly Interface: Provides a low-code environment with drag-and-drop tools, enabling users to create automation workflows without extensive coding knowledge.
Efficient Process Automation: Automates complex tasks like data entry, document handling, and system integration to streamline operations and minimize errors.
Support for Non-Technical Users: Empowers non-IT employees with pre-built templates and intuitive tools, fostering collaboration and aligning automation projects with business objectives.
Scalability for All Business Sizes: Adapts to the needs of small teams or large enterprises, supporting both daily task automation and large-scale initiatives with ease.
Versatility Across Industries: Delivers flexible solutions applicable to various industries, including finance, healthcare, and manufacturing, ensuring tailored automation for specific workflows.
3. Microsoft Power Automate
Microsoft Power Automate is a low-code automation platform that simplifies process automation for businesses of all sizes. With its intuitive visual interface, it enables users to create workflows quickly, reducing the need for professional developers.
Key Features of Microsoft Power Automate:
User-Friendly Workflow Design: Offers a drag-and-drop interface for creating automation workflows, making it accessible to users with minimal technical expertise.
Seamless Microsoft Integration: Integrates with Office 365, Teams, SharePoint, and Dynamics 365, enabling efficient task automation across commonly used Microsoft applications.
Flexible Use Cases: Automates both simple tasks like data entry and complex workflows involving conditional logic and multi-step processes.
Enhanced Efficiency for Microsoft Users: Aligns with existing Microsoft tools, minimizing compatibility issues and maximizing the return on investment for businesses already in the Microsoft ecosystem.
4. Blue Prism
Blue Prism is an enterprise-grade low-code RPA platform designed to meet the needs of organizations requiring robust, scalable, and secure automation solutions. Its focus on governance and compliance makes it ideal for handling complex, large-scale automation processes.
Key Features of Blue Prism:
Enterprise-Grade Scalability: Designed to automate large-scale workflows across multiple departments, ensuring consistent performance for enterprise-wide processes.
Focus on Security and Compliance: Includes built-in compliance tools to meet strict regulatory requirements, making it ideal for industries like finance, healthcare, and legal services.
Seamless System Integration: Connects with ERP, CRM, and legacy systems to enable end-to-end automation, ensuring smooth data flow and efficient operations.
Governance and Reliability: Prioritizes operational integrity with tools that enforce adherence to both internal policies and external regulations.
5. OutSystems
OutSystems is a robust low-code platform that seamlessly combines automation and application development to drive agility and innovation. With its ability to create scalable, end-to-end solutions, it is well-suited for businesses handling workflows ranging from simple to highly complex.
Key Features of OutSystems:
Intuitive Visual Tools: Offers a user-friendly interface that empowers both non-technical users and skilled developers, fostering collaboration and speeding up development cycles.
Advanced Customization Options: Enables the creation of tailored solutions for industries like healthcare, financial services, and retail, supporting even the most complex workflows.
Seamless System Integration: Connects effortlessly with existing infrastructure, allowing businesses to modernize processes without overhauling their current systems.
Scalability for Diverse Needs: Supports applications of varying complexity, ensuring businesses can grow and adapt their solutions as demands evolve.
OutSystems’ ability to empower businesses in their digital transformation journey is complemented by eSystems’ expertise. As a recognized OutSystems Partner of the Year, eSystems provides tailored solutions using OutSystems technology, helping organizations achieve exceptional results in agility, efficiency, and innovation.
When to Choose Which Solution?
Choosing between low-code platforms and RPA solutions depends on your business goals and the type of automation you need. RPA focuses on automating repetitive, rule-based tasks, while low-code platforms enable broader automation and application development through visual tools and minimal coding.
If your goal is to automate routine tasks like data entry, RPA is often the better choice. For building custom applications, integrating workflows, or modernizing systems, low-code platforms offer the flexibility and scalability to handle these more complex initiatives.
Task complexity and scale are also important considerations. RPA works well for stable, predictable processes, but low-code platforms excel in automating dynamic workflows that involve human input, multiple systems, or frequent changes.
Your team’s expertise matters too. RPA tools are accessible to non-technical users, while low-code platforms may require developer involvement for advanced customizations. Low-code empowers business analysts and citizen developers to take ownership of projects, reducing dependency on IT teams.
For long-term scalability, low-code platforms provide a strategic foundation, integrating seamlessly with existing systems and evolving with your business. A hybrid approach, combining RPA for quick wins and low-code for broader transformation, often delivers the best results.
Ready to Take the Next Step in Your Automation Exploration?
Choosing the right automation solution—whether it's a low-code platform or RPA—can be the key to unlocking greater efficiency and innovation in your business. At eSystems, we specialize in helping organizations identify the best-fit solutions for their unique needs. From low-code Value consulting to tailored automation & integration, our expertise ensures your digital change delivers measurable results.
If you're ready to look into how low-code and RPA can transform your business, contact us today to start the conversation. Let’s work together to streamline your processes and achieve your automation goals.
FAQ
What Is RPA Coding?
RPA coding involves creating scripts or workflows to automate repetitive tasks by mimicking human actions in digital systems, often simplified with low-code tools.
Is UiPath Low-Code?
Yes, UiPath is a low-code platform that combines RPA with visual tools and pre-built components, enabling both technical and non-technical users to create automation workflows.
Is Blueprism Low-Code?
Yes, Blue Prism is a low-code platform focused on building RPA solutions with a drag-and-drop interface, though it leans more toward complex, rule-based automation than broader application development.
Is RPA No-Code?
RPA is not strictly no-code but often includes low-code capabilities, enabling users to automate tasks with minimal programming while offering customization for complex use cases.
What Are the Benefits of Low-Code RPA?
Low-code RPA enables quick task automation with minimal coding, reduces costs, improves scalability, fosters collaboration, and integrates seamlessly with existing systems for greater efficiency.
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