| Dimension | BPA (Business Process Automation) | RPA (Robotic Process Automation) |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | End-to-end process redesign across systems & people | Task-level automation of repetitive clicks or data entry |
| Goal | Transform / optimise the whole workflow | Mimic human actions on the existing UI |
| Technology | Workflow engines, BPM suites, APIs, low-code platforms | Software robots (“bots”) that interact at the presentation layer |
| Integration | Deep API/DB integration; often involves re-architecting the process | Surface-level; no changes to underlying applications |
| Speed to deploy | Weeks–months (process re-design + integration) | Days–weeks (record-and-replay scripts) |
| Change management | High—needs stakeholder buy-in and process re-engineering | Low—quick win, minimal disruption |
| Maintenance | Stable once designed; changes are versioned in the workflow model | Fragile—UI changes break bots; needs constant “bot care” |
| Typical tools | Pega, ServiceNow, Camunda, Power Automate (BPM) | UiPath, Blue Prism, Automation Anywhere, Power Automate (RPA) |
One-liner summary:
RPA = put a digital temp in front of your current screens.
BPA = redesign the process so the screens (or the need for them) disappear.