General comparison
Basic definition
Low-code is a development approach that enables the creation of applications with minimal hand-coding. Instead of building everything from scratch, developers and even non-tech experts can just turn to the relevant low-code platform (like Retool, UI Bakery, Appsmith, or others) and use the features that it offers.
As a rule, modern platforms of this kind provide drag-and-drop interfaces, pre-built templates, ready-to-use UI elements, and visual development tools. All this helps to accelerate the creation of applications and avoid a lot of errors that are typical for manual coding.
The notion of low-code automation refers to using such platforms to design, build, and deploy automated workflows, apps, or processes.
In a very simplified way, the process of automating processes with the low-code approach looks as follows:
- Low code workflow design. First of all, users need to create workflows by visually mapping out their tasks and conditions.
- Rules definition. Then, it is required to set business rules, triggers, and logic with the help of the platform’s interfaces.
- Connection of the required systems. Users can rely on the provided APIs or pre-built connectors to integrate systems, like CRMs, ERPs, and databases, into their automated workflows.
- Deployment and monitoring. When everything is ready, workflows can be deployed and further monitored with the available tools.
While speaking about low-code technology, it is also important to highlight that it is not only about process automation. Such platforms can be also used for creating different types of solutions for different industries. You can read more about low code web development and mobile development in the articles available on our blog.
RPA is a technology that can help business automate their repetitive, rule-based tasks by employing software robots (bots) that can mimic human interactions with digital systems and applications. These bots can cope with a wide range of different repetitive tasks, including but not limited to data entry, processing transactions, generating reports, moving files, extracting data, and responding to emails.
Advanced robots can demonstrate even more impressive capabilities as they can be engaged in cognitive processes. For example, they can interpret texts, participate in conversations, and apply ML models when making complex decisions. What is important to highlight here is that the execution of such tasks can be performed fully without relying on any human intervention.
How does robotic process automation work?
- User actions recoding. RPA tools can record user actions to create a process workflow. For example, it can be a workflow for filling out the form or creating a report based on a particular type of data.
- Process definition. With the help of an RPA platform, it is necessary to define tasks step-by-step.
- Bots deployment. Software bots are deployed to execute the task in accordance with the set flows. Such bots can work 24/7 without breaks.
- Monitoring and optimization. The performance of software bots should be monitored to define areas where adjustments are required.
The key focus of RPA is mainly on task automation, which is possible thanks to replicating manual, repetitive processes across various tools, systems, and platforms. In other words, such bots operate on already existing processes.
Features & Things to consider
Task complexity that it can handle
The range of tasks that can be performed greatly depends on the capabilities of the chosen platform. Some platforms have limitations related to building highly complex, custom applications with specific logic.
The capabilities of software bots that you can create for your business processes will vary based on the chosen RPA platform. However, as a rule, such bots are designed to deal with simple repetitive tasks. For complex decision-making processes, AI integration is required.
Integrations
Modern low-code platforms offer great flexibility in the questions of app integration. They can be connected to popular business services just with a couple of clicks. For more complicated custom integrations, manual coding will be necessary (if a platform supports custom code).
As a rule, software bots work well with existing UIs. However, you may face difficulties if your bots need to deal with systems with dynamic interfaces.
Customization
Different platforms offer different customization capabilities. That’s why it’s very important to check this aspect in advance before selecting a platform for your project.
Some RPA tools allow users to include custom scripts for building advanced functionality for their software bots.
Scalability
Though low-code platforms ensure some level of scalability, you can face challenges when it comes to scaling your solutions enterprise-wide.
The managing process of large bot fleets can become too resource-intensive, which may raise questions regarding the feasibility of such solutions.
Types of data that can be processed
This aspect fully depends on platform capabilities.
Traditional bots are intended to deal with structured data only. For working with unstructured data sets, bots need to be paired with AI tools.
Skills required
As a rule, standard apps and workflows can be built even by business users. However, for creating more sophisticated processes and custom interactions, specific technical skills are required.
Robotic business automation requires more advanced technical skills than the use of low-code platforms.
Cost
As a rule, low-code platforms offer subscription-based pricing models. The bigger the team you have and the more complex the solutions you need to build, the higher the cost will be.
This is a more cost-effective option for building apps and automating new or updated workflows.
Traditionally, the cost depends on the number of bots that you need to create or the number of users who will get access to RPA tools. If compared with low-code apps, this approach is associated with higher upfront costs.
This is a feasible choice for automating repetitive, rule-based backend tasks, especially in those cases where legacy systems are involved.
Vendor dependence
Businesses fully depend on low-code platform vendors. There can be issues with migrating apps to other platforms.
Businesses fully depend on RPA tool vendors for support and upgrades.
Key benefits
Rapid development. Low-code platforms let users build and deploy applications much more quickly than in the case of manual coding.
Software development democratization. This technology enables even non-technical users to create apps. As a result, businesses can successfully reduce their dependency on IT and professional software developers.
Cost efficiency. The use of this technology minimizes the need for extensive coding and external development resources. This allows companies to optimize their IT budgets.
Seamless integration with external data sources. Modern low-code platforms help users easily integrate their apps with APIs, databases, and existing systems to ensure seamless data exchange between them.
Innovation driver. Low-code development fosters innovation by enabling teams to prototype and test the viability of their new ideas without extensive resources.
Operational efficiency. Bots can work seamlessly 24/7. It means that they can increase the speed and accuracy of various processes while reducing human error.
Cost reduction. This approach allows businesses to lower their operational costs by automating labor-intensive processes and freeing employees for higher-value work.
Legacy software compatibility. Bots can work with existing systems without requiring backend integration or modifications.
Quick ROI. Robotic business automation can ensure quite rapid returns by streamlining simple, high-volume processes with minimal implementation time.
Compliance and consistency. RPA helps to make sure that processes are executed consistently. This is important for reducing risks and simplifying audits.
Main limitations
Issues with complex use cases. Low-code platforms may turn out to be not suitable for building highly complex or performance-intensive apps and systems that should include custom algorithms and large-scale real-time data processing.
Customization challenges. Today low-code platforms offer rich collections of pre-built components and templates. Nevertheless, the problem is that they may lack flexibility for highly specific and unique business requirements. Full customization is available only in the cases of manual coding and traditional development.
Scalability constraints. Scaling applications beyond the capabilities of the low-code platform can be challenging. The majority of issues are related to the cases when apps need to deal with high-volume transactions.
Security risks. Today the majority of popular low-code platforms ensure a high level of data and software security. However, some issues are still possible, especially when customization limits and pre-built components are not vetted and balanced thoroughly.
Integration limitations. Not all low-code platforms ensure full flexibility in the questions related to integrations. Though a lot of them are integration-friendly, they still might have particular restrictions when it comes to complex or non-standard systems. The integration of such systems may require advanced API interactions and custom logic.
Rule-based automation only. The majority of the applied bots cannot deal with complex tasks that require judgment or decision-making. For such tasks, human input is still necessary. Today, there are advanced bots that can rely on ML algorithms. Nevertheless, their capabilities and use cases are rather limited.
Maintenance required. You can’t just implement software bots once and let them function without any control or engagement from the side of your team. Bots need to be updated, especially when system interfaces or processes change. Moreover, it is recommended to monitor their performance continuously to have the possibility of detecting any issues and vulnerabilities at the earliest stages.
Scalability challenges. If your system requires a large number of bots, their management can become complex without proper oversight, skills, and specific knowledge. Moreover, scaling RPA beyond initial implementations can become complex and resource-intensive.
Integration challenges. Such bots demonstrate the best performance when they work with systems that have stable interfaces. With frequently changing systems, they may face challenges.
Implementation time for complex tasks. When you have simple processes, they can be automated rather quickly. Nevertheless, when it comes to automating end-to-end processes with multiple decision points, that’s already a different story. Such tasks can require significant planning and development time.
Use cases
- Workflow automation. You can use low-code platforms to automate a wide range of business workflows. For example, the created tools can help you automate approvals, notifications, and task assignments.
- Custom app development for different industries and business domains. You can rely on such platforms to develop both internal tools and customer-facing applications for different platforms and purposes.
- Prototyping and MVP development. One of the most important benefits of low-code platforms is the possibility to create some simple apps and workflows just in hours (instead of weeks or months which are typical for traditional development). That’s why they are often used for buildings and testing prototypes for business ideas.
- Development of business systems. Very often the low-code approach is used to build various business tools and solutions, like CRM platforms and different dashboards. Low-code platforms traditionally offer rich collections of templates and ready-to-use elements for such solutions.
- Connection of separate systems. Low-code tools can help businesses solve problems caused by the use of disparate systems. Thanks to the created solutions, you will be able to efficiently bridge gaps between different business systems and enable seamless data flows.
Want to learn more about real-life use cases for low-code technologies? In the portfolio of our team, you can find a row of successful low-code projects.
RPA is applied across a wide range of industries, without any specific limitations. It can bring benefits to companies and organizations with absolutely different goals and expectations as today automation has become a standard practically for all markets.
- Data entry and extraction. You can automate repetitive data entry tasks or steamline the process of extracting data from structured formats. For instance, you can introduce software bots that will take data from invoices and enter it into your accounting system.
- Invoice processing. Bots can automate invoice validation, approval, and payment processes.
- Customer support automation. RPA tools can help you deal with repetitive customer inquiries and automatically update CRM records. For example, you can build a bot responsible for working with FAQs and logging support tickets.
- Employee onboarding. You can automate various onboarding tasks, such as account creation, training scheduling, and documentation management.
- IT processes and operations. A lot of routine IT tasks can be seamlessly automated. For instance, you can implement bots for resetting user passwords and checking system health.
- Regulatory compliance. Bots can be helpful for ensuring consistency and accuracy in compliance-related processes. They can generate and submit reports in accordance with the requirements introduced by regulatory authorities.
When to choose each of them
- You need to create user-friendly interfaces or customer-facing apps.
- You need to build solutions that require end-to-end workflows with multiple steps.
- You need to replace your legacy systems with new modern apps.
- You need to quickly test a business idea or launch an MVP.
- You need to automate high-volume, repetitive processes that follow a fixed set of rules.
- Your processes rely on legacy systems without APIs or modern interfaces and you need to find the most convenient way to automate these processes.
- You need to focus on automating backend operations without interaction with user-facing interfaces.
Conclusion
As you can see, both RPA and low code can be successfully applied when you need to automate routine processes. Nevertheless, the core ideas behind these two approaches are quite different.
Low code is mainly about creating and enhancing new applications.
At the same time, RPA is intended for optimizing and automating already existing processes. That’s why RPA is often easier and faster to implement. However, it doesn’t mean that namely this option is a one-size-fits-all solution. When it comes to more complex tasks, bots may be not able to cope with them.
Nevertheless, both approaches can demonstrate high efficiency when used in the appropriate cases. But do you really need to choose between these two options? Sometimes it can be feasible to implement a combined approach that will include both of them.
Here are a couple of ideas for you.
- You can use a low-code platform to create user-facing workflows, while RPA will be responsible for backend automation.
- You can introduce bots for extracting data from legacy systems or documents. At the same time, you can rely on low-code technology to design workflows that will use the extracted data.
- You can build a full-scale feature-rich app with the help of the low-code approach and introduce bots to automate some specific tasks.
Of course, that’s just a short list of examples. In reality, the range of low code and RPA applications is much wider.
Can’t make up your mind and choose the best approach to automate your business processes?
At Akveo, we will be always ready to help you. Apart from development services, we also provide professional consulting support. Our experts will deeply analyze your individual case to offer you the best solution. Do not hesitate to contact us and learn more about our services.
