IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) vs SAP Intelligent RPA comparison

IBM and SAP are both solutions in the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) category. IBM is ranked #9 with an average rating of 7.8, while SAP is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.0. IBM holds a 1.9% mindshare in RPA, compared to SAP’s 1.6% mindshare. Additionally, 87% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 87% of SAP users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 4, 2024

IBM Robotic Process Automation and SAP Intelligent RPA compete in the automation software category. IBM RPA seems to have the upper hand due to its strong analytics and integration with IBM Watson, whereas SAP excels in adaptability and flexibility.

Features: IBM RPA is known for its ease of use, integrating seamlessly with IBM Watson, and providing robust analytics and hybrid cloud integration. SAP Intelligent RPA is flexible, handling both attended and unattended tasks, offering smooth integration with CRMs, databases, and APIs.

Room for Improvement: IBM RPA can improve by enhancing its machine learning capabilities, browser compatibility, and Microsoft systems integration. SAP Intelligent RPA needs better SAP GUI stability, improved data extraction processes, and more flexible error messaging and Outlook integration.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM RPA supports versatile deployment in hybrid cloud environments, with generally positive customer support though it can vary in quality. SAP Intelligent RPA is flexible in both cloud and on-premises deployments but needs better technical support and resource accessibility.

Pricing and ROI: IBM RPA has higher pricing with annual licensing but offers significant ROI, with returns often in less than a year. SAP Intelligent RPA's SaaS model is adaptable to various business needs, providing cost-effective solutions over time with a similar ROI period.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) vs. SAP Intelligent RPA Report (Updated: January 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) vs. SAP Intelligent RPA

January 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Fortra's Automate

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2025, in the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) category, the mindshare of Fortra's Automate is 1.3%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is 1.9%, down from 2.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SAP Intelligent RPA is 1.6%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Featured Reviews

Anabel Marco

Account Director at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

Automates processes efficiently with cost-effective scaling and robust customer support

Web scraping is quite good since it offers a lot of possibilities. Another important feature for me is its compatibility with MBI, the Power that is ISEQUADO Centers. I appreciate the ability to scale and increase the number of bots or studios without additional expense. Automate's non-reliance on additional orchestrators makes it quite cost-effective.

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Karinne Carnevalli De Almeida

Consultant at Universidade Federal Fluminense

User-friendly interface and good stability

I would recommend using IBM RPA. I would advise you to learn about your main processes to automate inside your company. So you can apply it in big and small processes depending on the investment for your company. That is an advantage or not. Overall, I would rate the solution an eight out of ten. It has some difficulty in the tool, but it's a very stable and useful tool for automating processes.

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Keerthana Jayathran

SAP BTP Developer at Wipro Limited

Offers integration of the document extraction service into SAP ALC, enabling the direct upload and extraction of details

I found that SAP Intelligent RPA can be somewhat unstable when using SAP GUI. When we upgraded from SAP GUI version 7.50 to version 7.70, we had to update our SAP Intelligent RPA screens even though the screens were the same. This was difficult and time-consuming. The one I would like to see is in context with the screens, if they are using the same SAP UI, and if it updates, it should not be changed. At least it should be able to identify the screen. There should be more of an error, like a proper error feature, in future releases. Sometimes, we don't understand why that automation is not learning what, like, where it is stuck, what the reason is, or what the criteria we are missing to add. A proper error message would be helpful.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"I would rate the technical support as a nine out of ten because it is quite fast and courteous."

"We have tried other RPA solutions like UiPath or Automation Anywhere. They are fantastic products but complex, and it's hard to understand everything. It would be best if you had a skilled developer or several. Automate is easy to implement, administer, and use. It's appropriate for us because our cases are simple and easy to automate. We don't need complicated tools with many features; We prefer to get a significant ROI quickly."

"The most valuable features for my client are timing and scheduling."

"We use it for specific cases, mainly secure file transfers, which are vital for us. And it works for us."

"Compared to other vendors, it's the scheduling tool because a lot of vendors want to charge you extra for their enterprise-level license to have a scheduling tool built in to give you the ability to set up regular schedules to run and do certain data checks."

"It's very easy to use. That's a big selling point for it. It has got a drag-and-drop interface, so you can quickly deploy bots."

"I find the ease of use from a programming perspective very valuable."

"Overall, the whole product is really nice and provides significant benefits."

More Fortra's Automate pros

"The solution is scalability."

"It is easy to use. We have enabled our resources who don't have a background in automation to be certified and trained, then implement this product within a very short period of time, as it is very user-friendly."

"IBM Robotic Process Automation has greatly improved the organization by improving the speed of performance, as the speed of the robot is estimated to be 20 times faster than the human being."

"IBM Robotic Process Automation is very easy to use."

"It's user-friendly; even non-technical people can program bots using drag-and-drop functionalities."

"IBM RPA helped us resolve a lot of difficult cases we could not resolve using other solutions."

"Integrating the tool with SAP, EBS, or other ERPs is easy."

"The good stuff about IBM is the fact that it's very easy to use, there are very nice and smart AI tools within the licensing that you don't have to pay any access. Moreover, it's more precise and more secure."

More IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) pros

"The most valuable feature of SAP Contextor is that everyone is in one place in the program that I need."

"It is a stable solution...It is a scalable solution."

"The standout features of SAP Intelligent RPA are its flexibility and integration capabilities."

"Most of the details are already in the help portal and SAP notes are available. It is well documented as part of the product support."

"It is remarkably easy to configure and code, and it doesn't require an extensive technical background or coding expertise."

"The initial setup of SAP Contextor is easy."

"Contextor is a good solution for a Citrix environment. It's the first with this tool. Other tools provide the same functionality, but not with the Citrix environment."

"Scalability is fine. It is pretty nice."

Cons

"I believe we need to test various OCR tools that assist in evaluating, let's say, six different customer resyncs. We analyze their spending patterns and documentations, but current OCR support has limitations, requiring highly standardized documents, which isn't always the case. With a more advanced OCR system, we could improve processes related to credit risk management and legal matters. We're exploring how to integrate Fortra's Automate with our CRM platform, taking cues from instances where Salesforce seamlessly merged with Automate. However, we use a different CRM, Insight for New Enterprise, and we're seeking ways to connect the automation process within our CRM. We aim for the automation to continue smoothly, even in instances where traditional automation methods might face hurdles."

"The OCR for Hebrew text needs to be improved."

"We really need a free development environment for customers. Building and testing automation on production isn't ideal."

"While this solution is continually improving, as it is now, the user interface could use improvement when I compare it to a product like UiPath."

"I find that most important features are strong, however, there is a lack of good development for artificial intelligence, such as machine learning."

"The product also has a limited use case in some respects."

"The solution has a very weak knowledge base."

"Some companies have asked for voice integration. This is likely part of the roadmap."

More Fortra's Automate cons

"The time it takes for approvals, and risk analysis could be faster."

"I would like to have more flexibility in connecting the platform with third-party systems."

"I would like to improve the efficiency of this solution and the Surface Level Agreement."

"The scalability of the solution can be challenging."

"We're based in Thailand, but the documentation is not in Thai, which makes it difficult for us. If they could translate all of their documentation into our language, we'd be very grateful."

"I would like it to do pretty much everything out-of-the-box without any need for any customization. However, that is not the case right now. We absolutely have to do some amount of customization with the solution in order to use it out-of-the-box as-is."

"Needs better integration with artificial intelligence or with machine-learning."

"Stability could be better."

More IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) cons

"The initial setup is of medium complexity. It is neither too hard nor too simple. You need some background in SAP and an understanding of it."

"The tool's licensing has been kind of a challenge...At the moment, the tool does not offer different licensing models to users."

"I would like to see a better capacity for unstructured data, for example, PDF, or text within images."

"SAP Contextor could improve by automating some processes."

"There should be more of an error, like a proper error feature, in future releases. Sometimes, we don't understand why that automation is not learning what, like, where it is stuck, or what is the reason like, or what is the criteria we are missing to add. So a proper error message would be helpful."

"One way SAP Intelligent RPA could improve is by integrating built-in DI services for document processing."

"For potential features or improvements, one aspect I would suggest enhancing is the flexibility of the extraction process."

"I found that the SAP scripting of a program is easier than SAP Contextor."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I'm only involved in running the product and maintaining the systems, so I can't speak to the cost."

"Once you buy the software, you just pay for the support for backend help."

"From a distributor's perspective, one of the biggest selling points of Automate is its price point."

"It comes with a package that costs approximately $20,000 USD per year."

"I like the way this solution is priced because you can buy a license, or you can buy the software outright."

"While solutions like UiPath and Blue Prism cost around $11,000-$12,000 for each license, this product costs around $7,000 and you can keep it forever."

"The pricing is quite reasonable. We can run the process with one bot. The limitation is at the server level because they have some resources, and sometimes that is enough. It isn't too expensive, so you can get a good return off of one, and you can also have a pack of five bots that is quite competitive."

"Compared to other products, the pricing model for this solution is much more convenient, flexible, and adaptable to the Portuguese reality."

More Fortra's Automate pricing and cost advice

"The license is paid annually."

"The pricing is reasonable for this solution."

"The pricing is reasonable."

"IBM RPA is cheaper than other tools."

"The product has a yearly licensing fee."

"The product is reasonably priced compared to other tools."

"There is a free trial for one month, so you can use it to run your payloads or proof of concept. After that, you can pay for the license on a monthly or annual basis."

"IBM licensing is annual and based on Virtual Processor Cores (VPC). This provides flexibility as part of the containerization environment."

More IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) pricing and cost advice

"This is not a tool or software with a license as others are. The SaaS model is based on the usage of the tool."

"The initial cost might seem higher, but over time, with continued use over five or ten years, the cost tends to decrease, making it a more economical choice."

"It all comes with a bundle right now. Having advanced features, it is competitively priced."

"The pricing is not that expensive. It is manageable."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

15%

Computer Software Company

14%

Healthcare Company

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

16%

Computer Software Company

14%

Educational Organization

Government

Computer Software Company

17%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Energy/Utilities Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about HelpSystems AutoMate?

We use it for specific cases, mainly secure file transfers, which are vital for us. And it works for us.

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What is your primary use case for HelpSystems AutoMate?

We used the platform primarily for task automation, including transmitting EDR files. Additionally, we've utilized it...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortra Automate?

The starter pack was all we needed and was reasonable. Others were either more expensive or didn't do all that I want...

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What do you like most about IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)?

Integrating the tool with SAP, EBS, or other ERPs is easy.

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What needs improvement with IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)?

The product must be promoted more. There are no promotions.

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What is your primary use case for IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)?

We're working with different clients from the manufacturing environment. We have implemented end-to-end solutions. We...

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What do you like most about SAP Contextor?

The standout features of SAP Intelligent RPA are its flexibility and integration capabilities.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SAP Contextor?

The pricing for SAP Intelligent RPA operates on a model that considers power usage and transactions per job. It is ad...

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What needs improvement with SAP Contextor?

The tool's licensing has been kind of a challenge. If the tool can bring up a usage-based licensing model, it would b...

See all answers

Comparisons

Microsoft Power Automate vs Fortra's Automate

Compared 50% of the time

UiPath vs Fortra's Automate

Compared 37% of the time

Automation Anywhere vs Fortra's Automate

Compared 8% of the time

Blue Prism vs Fortra's Automate

Compared 4% of the time

More Fortra's Automate Competitors

Microsoft Power Automate vs IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Compared 52% of the time

Automation Anywhere vs IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Compared 19% of the time

UiPath vs IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Compared 18% of the time

Blue Prism vs IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Compared 9% of the time

Nintex RPA vs IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Compared 3% of the time

More IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Competitors

UiPath vs SAP Intelligent RPA

Compared 42% of the time

Automation Anywhere vs SAP Intelligent RPA

Compared 23% of the time

Microsoft Power Automate vs SAP Intelligent RPA

Compared 13% of the time

Blue Prism Cloud vs SAP Intelligent RPA

Compared 10% of the time

SAP Build Process Automation vs SAP Intelligent RPA

Compared 5% of the time

More SAP Intelligent RPA Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Fortra's Automate

February 2025

Download Fortra's Automate product report

Buyer's Guide

IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

February 2025

IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) report

Download IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) product report

Buyer's Guide

SAP Intelligent RPA

January 2025

Download SAP Intelligent RPA product report

Also Known As

HelpSystems Automate, Automate

IBM RPA

SAP Contextor, Contextor

Overview

Fortra's Automate is predominantly used in HR and operational departments for automating reports, file manipulation, and data processing. Key uses include automating repetitive tasks, integrating PDFs and emails, running scripts, processing large data sets, transforming file formats, synchronizing databases, managing job schedules, and transferring files.

Users commend Fortra's Automate for its ease of implementation and user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, which requires minimal technical skills for efficient bot deployment. The software is appreciated for its effective scheduling tools, reliable integration capabilities, and a wide range of functions such as file interaction, secure file transfers, and extensive automation without the need for coding. Businesses achieve significant time savings and simplified processes, bolstered by continuous updates and robust customer support.

What are the key features?

Scheduling Tools: Enables precise control and timing for automation tasks
Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly connects with various systems and software
File Interaction: Comprehensive functions for file manipulation and transfer
Secure Transfers: Ensures data safety during file transfers
User-Friendly: Minimal technical skills needed for deployment and use

What benefits should you look for in reviews?

Ease of Implementation: Fast and simple setup process
Time Savings: Reduces time spent on repetitive tasks
Process Simplification: Streamlines complex workflows
Customer Support: Access to continuous support and updates

In various industries such as healthcare, transportation, and payroll, Fortra's Automate automates workflows like invoice generation, data retrieval, data uploading, and insurance eligibility checks, enhancing efficiency and accuracy for HR and operational tasks.

Fortra

IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a technology that encompasses the use of smart robots in any process requiring efficiency, consistency and speed, with no risk of mistakes. In a nutshell, RPA simulates a human user working.

Today, it is possible to automate processes through the use of digital robots, or bots, which execute pre-programed, repetitive tasks in a safe and mistake free manner. There are literally thousands of opportunities for Robotic Process Automation to make an impact on your organization today, including: automatic invoice emission, system integration, information reconciliation, report generation, intelligent email management to lead generation, and many others.

IBM

SAP Intelligent Robotic Process Automation lets you automate enterprise business processes. Design process automations within the Cloud Studio by creating end-to-end workflows. Generate packages from these automations into the Cloud Factory powered by SAP BTP to configure and execute these packages with Agents. Agents running on workstations can work as a digital assistant (attended automation) or as a digital worker (unattended automation).

SAP Intelligent RPA enables business users and technologists to become citizen developers. With powerful yet intuitive low-code and no-code capabilities, the solution supports you in driving automation by tapping into the expertise of citizen developers.

SAP

Sample Customers

Aldergrove Financial Group, Preferred Health Professionals, Mindbeam Technologies, First Credit Union in British Columbia, Vestcom International, Prime Liberty Benefits, University of Tampa, CNLBancshares, World Precision Instruments, BJ's Restaurants, Globe Pequot Press, Accudata Technologies, Norton Healthcare, Pacific Toxicology Laboratories

The Hanover Insurance Group

BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, Kabel Deutschland, Orange, Carrefour

Buyer's Guide

IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) vs. SAP Intelligent RPA

January 2025

Free Report: IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA) vs. SAP Intelligent RPA

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