Both workflow and robotic process automation (RPA) have an important place, albeit a very different one. It’s not always easy to know which to use and when. The hype around RPA could lead you to believe that RPA is the best choice for everything from order management to oven cleaning. But before you get out the oven cleaner, let’s dig a little deeper.
Typically, we recommend using workflow for state-managed processes that are performed at a high scale and are mission-critical to the business. RPA is often best for repetitive human tasks. There’s also a grey area where you may start with RPA for a quick win — with the goal of moving to workflow to take advantage of its flexibility and robustness. The matrix below can help you frame the question.