Automation Anywhere is one of the top robotic process automation (RPA) platforms on the market. With over 3,000 employees and $850 million in funding, they have established themselves as a leader in enterprise-scale automation.
However, while Automation Anywhere excels at complex, unattended automations, they seem to lag behind competitors when it comes to ease of use, setup, and administration. For businesses looking for an intuitive RPA solution that empowers novice users, several alternatives may be a better fit.
Automation Anywhere‘s Main Shortcomings
While Automation Anywhere is capable of delivering strong business results, three main issues frequently surface:
- Steep learning curve – Even using the low-code Automation Anywhere Studio interface, many users struggle, especially non-developers.
- Integration challenges – Tight coupling to AA‘s own platform often introduces speed bumps integrating with other systems.
- Ongoing management difficulty – Admins cite clunky interfaces for bot monitoring/lifecycle management. Upgrades also often break customizations.
These challenges frustration business teams attempting to self-service automation. While IT automation pros happily work around limitations, analysts and department heads often seek smoother journeys specific to citizen development.
Comparison to Top Alternatives
How does Automation Anywhere stack up across key RPA capabilities when compared to leading alternatives?
| Automation Anywhere | Power Automate | UiPath | |
| Computer Vision | ●○○○○ | ●○○○○ | ●●●●○ |
| AI Integration | ●●●○○ | ●●○○○ | ●●●●○ |
| Analytics | ●●●●○ | ●●●○○ | ●●●●● |
| Security | ●●●●● | ●●●●○ | ●●●●● |
UiPath leads in capability for computer vision, AI integration, analytics, with Automation Anywhere close behind. Power Automate trails in areas other than security – unsurprising given its Microsoft DNA.
However, Power Automate and UiPath have clear roadmap momentum across these capabilities whereas innovation pace has stagnated for Automation Anywhere, especially post-IPO.
Top 5 Alternatives to Automation Anywhere
Based on ease of use, pricing, and scalability, we’ve identified five leading alternatives to Automation Anywhere for robotic process automation:
- Microsoft Power Automate
- UiPath
- Blue Prism
- Kryon
- IBM
Below we’ll explore the strengths and potential limitations of each platform.
1. Microsoft Power Automate
- Ease of use: Intuitive low-code interface for building flows. Less coding than Automation Anywhere.
- Pricing: Per-user model more affordable than licensing bots. Costs scale predictably.
- Scalability: Supports personal automations up to enterprise-level solutions. Seamless Office 365 integration.
As a RPA tool native to Microsoft 365, Power Automate shines in usability and frictionless integration with MS apps and services. The graphical low-code interface enables rapid development of automations and workflows with minimal training.
While still powerful enough for complex enterprise needs, Power Automate really excels as a self-service RPA solution for business teams. At the same time, affordability can suffer at scale versus licensing models of standalone platforms.
Power Automate has seen rapid adoption by citizen automators. Over 75% of customers use the tool for self-service needs without involving IT.
2. UiPath
- Ease of use: Extremely user-friendly for both developers and business users. Intuitive interface.
- Pricing: Predictable per-bot licensing model, affordable small business options.
- Scalability: Supports both simple and incredibly sophisticated enterprise automations.
UiPath is one of Automation Anywhere’s top rivals in large-scale process automation, evidenced by its $35 billion valuation. The platform shines for scalability from basic task automation up to automating complex, document-intensive processes.
A per bot licensing model keeps pricing predictable as usage scales. Meanwhile UiPath also offers lightweight packages tailored for small business. Of all the feature-packed enterprise platforms, UiPath may come closest to matching Automation Anywhere for no code simplicity.
UiPath leads rivals in ability to handle sophisticated enterprise requirements based on the latest Forester Wave analysis.
3. Blue Prism
- Ease of use: Intuitive drag-and-drop workflow designer enables rapid building of automations.
- Pricing: Straightforward per-bot model avoids unpredictable user-based licensing when scaling.
- Scalability: Supports straightforward task automation up to advanced enterprise solutions.
Blue Prism offers one of the more user-friendly workflow interfaces among enterprise-focused platforms, using accessible terminology while still supporting advanced functionality. Businesses can easily customize configurations to balance ease of use against control.
A per-bot licensing model aligns costs closely with value by automations actually deployed. While Blue Prism trails leaders in market reach, its focus on pragmatic solutions suits mid-tier organizations needing scalability.
4. Kryon
- Ease of use: Extremely intuitive full-cycle interface enables rapid bot building with smart components.
- Pricing: Unlimited bots for set monthly price based on usage needs, very transparent.
- Scalability: Solutions for companies of all sizes and automation sophistication.
Kryon uses machine learning to guide user through full automation development cycle. Smart components get users productive quickly in an interface designed for rapid iteration. This ease of use comes without sacrificing advanced functionality present in platforms like Automation Anywhere.
Pricing follows simple tiered structure based on usage needs rather than bots deployed. This avoids unpredictable costs when usage scales while still aligning spend to value.
5. IBM
- Ease of use: Extremely intuitive web-based interface for authoring automations.
- Pricing: Prediction automation pricing with fixed monthly costs for on-premises or cloud.
- Scalability: Solutions tailored for personal to enterprise needs.
IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation includes capabilities for addressing document-intensive processes providing an edge over Automation Anywhere. The web-based design canvas uses accessible language to smooth the learning curve.
Pricing follows a fixed model avoiding per user or per bot costs swelling unexpectedly with scale. This simplified budgeting combines with accessible interface for smooth enterprise adoption beyond IT.
IBM customers achieved over 35% faster RPA implementation times versus industry benchmarks in recent study.
Evaluation Criteria by Use Case
When evaluating alternatives, consider product fit to your specific environment and use cases through analysis across five key dimensions:
- Integrations – Needed extensions to other enterprise systems
- Consolidation – Centralizing separate automations into orchestration
- Ongoing Change – Adaptability to evolving process needs
- Citizen Development – Enable business teams to build bots
- Process Complexity – Doc intensive, unstructured data, más OCR needs
For example, a company prioritizing citizen development and user-friendly change management may lean strongly towards Power Automate over Automation Anywhere.
Download our RPA Buyer‘s Scorecard to benchmark vendor alternatives given your unique priorities.
The RPA Platform Market Continues Expanding
While adoption accelerates, the RPA platform market still sits early at ~$2 billion annually. This is projected to swell to $13 billion by 2025 according to Grand View Research.
Driving this growth are untapped opportunities spanning front, middle, and back office processes at most companies. RPA penetration currently resides in low single digit percentages for addressable processes.
As today‘s leading platforms further break down barriers preventing adoption like ease of use and pricing, automation will scale across functions delivering productivity and experience breakthroughs.
Smooth Your Enterprise Automation Journey
Choosing the right automation platform lays the foundation for unlocking process productivity and elevated experiences across the enterprise.
While Automation Anywhere brings proven scalability for complex RPA initiatives, platforms like Power Automate, UiPath, and Blue Prism solve ease of use and pricing adoption hurdles common in alternatives.
Evaluating product-market fit across dimensions like user friendliness, licensing model, and pace of innovation ensures you select the right platform for delivering frictionless, fast-scaling automation.
To determine alignment of top vendors to your unique priorities and environment through an unbiased data-driven approach, schedule a custom RPA consultation today.
