Low Code VS RPA

The modern software industry focuses on automation. Automation is not restricted only to testing, There are different types of automation — infrastructure automation, test automation, process automation, etc.

Two technologies that are popularly used in the industry are Low code and Robotic process automation. Low code focuses on minimizing coding proficiency and focuses on the less technical user and helps create applications and build the automation flows faster and easier. Low code tools are nowadays popular in the test automation industry as well. Where it provides test case automation without writing any code.

On the other hand, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) focuses on automating complex and repetitive workflows, tasks, and processes with flow-based techniques or code-based techniques. Both of these approaches are popularly used across the industry to cater to business needs.

Let’s understand them in detail.

What is Low Code?

Low code is modern technology, it aids in creating applications and developing test automation scripts rapidly with minimal effort of setup and integration. Low-code platforms allow users to create applications, integrate into different systems, and build flows with pre-built components or templates. It minimizes coding and helps in faster development and delivery. It also contributes to high productivity.

The low code approach has broader use cases, it can be used in development, testing, infrastructure, etc. It eliminates traditional coding requirements and comes with prebuilt components.

Some tools also offer customization to such components. Low code tools are mainly used to create applications within the organization such as HR Portals, Survey sites, Event registration, etc.

Low code tools not only make development faster but also decrease the resource requirement and contribute to the organization’s profit.

What is Robotic Process Automation (RPA)?

Robotic Process Automation has limited scope compared to low code, The RPA focuses on automating reparative and complex processes. It uses bots to automate routine and rule-based tasks. Bots are programmed to mimic humans with a specific set of inputs that produce the outputs. It can perform many tasks such as data entry, document processing, report generation, extracting email, automatic refunding, analyzing a large set of data, etc.

RPA is the most successful automation technology in different domains such as financial, healthcare, logistics, and retail applications. RPA can be used for internal process automation or client-facing process automation. Complex tasks such as the KYC process, order tracking systems, return and refund process, etc, can easily be automated using robotic process automation.

Unlike low code, RPA limits its scope to task or process automation. RPA aims to automate the existing process, and Low code aims to create a new application or process with minimal coding or technical knowledge. Low code is the most preferred approach if there is a need to build new user interface-based applications swiftly.

How Does Low Code, RPA, and AI are interrelated?

The Low Code, RPA, and AI all are interrelated, for example, the Low code tool can internally use artificial intelligence to provide the auto completions or auto-generation of various components based on requirements, and the RPA tool can utilize the potential of both Low code and AI to minimize the user effort required in technical aspects.

Additionally, RPA can also use AI to make intelligent decisions that are involved as part of process completion. They are helpful in decision-based processes.

For example, if a customer provides the documents where birth doesn’t meet the given criteria and the bank has age restrictions to open the bank account. In such a situation AI can help to analyze other valid documents based on the outcome, the tool can reject the account opening application or it can also suggest that the customer should provide valid documents by stating the reasons with guidelines

RPA vs Low-Code: When to Use?

Both RPA and Low-Code have been built to serve specific purposes and customer needs. Both have many benefits and limitations. It is important to know the scope of the task that you are targeting to choose the tools.

RPA helps in long, repetitive, and complex process automation, it can also act as a human by mimicking human-like behavior. However, the RPA might require good technical knowledge and the scope of RPA is limited.

The Low code tools focus on the rapid development of applications, workflow automation, etc. it doesn’t require a lot of time and effort. However, these tools are modern and advanced and may require good investment on tools.

Let’s understand when to use RPS vs Low-code.

When to use RPA?

Repetitive, Rule-Based Tasks

RPA reduces human resource requirements by automating complex and repetitive tasks, such as report generation, analysis, and rule-based processes. They can mimic what humans do such as data entry, refund processing, KYC validations, etc. If there is a definite process in place then RPA can produce accurate output with minimal or no errors

Legacy System Integration

If an organization is lacking modern ecosystems such as APIs, microservices, protocol standards, etc. RPA can be the best choice. The bots are capable and intelligent enough to navigate to different screens, wait for approvals, extract data, etc., and can efficiently perform any task that doesn’t require decision-making skills.

Faster Implementation

Typically, RPA has very minimal prerequisites. It fits with both modern and legacy systems.

The RPA tools are programmed to mimic humans, they can perform both UI-based and API-based task automation efficiently. RPA tools are easier to implement and there will be immediate return on investment. The results can be witnessed within a few months.

Handling Data and Validation at Scale

RPA is intended to make the process simpler and easier, most of the modern tools are capable enough to handle the data at large scale. Retail chains and financial organizations may need to deal with billions of records at once. RPA can efficiently handle such scenarios without any manual interventions.

When to use Low Code?

Low Code is a technology that can be adopted in any type of automation or development. Rather than providing a concrete solution, low code focuses on solving the process easier and faster. One example is Testsigma implements low code test automation, it still requires humans to write test cases but it reduces the technical knowledge to write the automation scripts in turn it makes the test automation faster. Similarly Low code can be applied to any task or process that provides specific solutions. Below are a few scenarios when low code is most effective.

Complex Integrations

Low code tools come in handy when there are complex integrations and data flows through multiple systems such as API, database, third-party tools, etc. It helps to integrate complex business systems and aids to run the process smoothly by providing visual options, or flow-based functionality.

Building Swift Development Process

The low-code tools help in the rapid development of applications and integration into the delivery pipelines. The low code tools typically come with templates and pre-built components. You may just need to identify the templates that fit best into your requirements and fill in the required details and the low-code tools take care of rest.

Faster validations

Low code technology can be integrated into test automation, where organizations can scale and streamline the software test automation with ease. It reduces the technical requirements for testers.

Testers can record the use cases, modify them with visual forms, and validate the required functionality. Testsigma is one such popular low code test automation tool, that is popularly used across the domains.

User-Specific Applications

Low code tools are very useful in building specific functionality that is required only for a specific set of users such as custom dashboards, some functionality in mobile applications, customer-facing portals, etc. For example, if the human resource team requires a small application to record the vaccination employee information that can be built with ease using a low code platform.

Low Code vs RPA: Key Differences

One may easily get confused between Low code and RPA applications, Though they look similar at a high level, there are considerable differences. The table below lists the key differences between Low Code vs RPA.

RPA or Low Code: Which is Better?

RPA and Low code both are popularly used. At a high level, both look similar however, once deep-level analysis is carried out it should be easy to choose the best one.

RPA fits well into both legacy and modern ecosystems however might require good technical skills. Though it offers good customization it may not fit well into the process that requires decision making. It can fit well into routine tasks, definite tasks, and handling large volumes of data.

Low code aims to make day-to-day tasks easier by eliminating the technical requirements. It fits well if you have modern ecosystems. The Low code tools may struggle with legacy tools integration. If an organization has incorporated modern technologies, then it can produce good output, interestingly it can create good interfaces, and it can automate the development, deployment, and testing process. It focuses on creating a new rather than an existing one.

As low code tools implement complex technologies in the background. the tools may be costlier compared to RPA tools.

Better option can be chosen by considering the organizational requirements such as the nature of the task in scope, budget, skill sets, resource count, etc.

Conclusion

The RPA and Low code tools are designed to serve specific purposes, the tool can be chosen by considering the organization requirements. Low code tools provide modern capabilities and require good ecosystems in place. It focuses on creating new applications rather than existing processes.

RPA can help in gaining quick return on investment however may not be suitable for all different types of use cases. Low code tools are capable enough to integrate the AI and help to build the tools that can make intelligent decisions. One might also think of combining these tools to build robust and efficient systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are RPA and low-code tools same?

RPA and Low code tools are not the same, however, an RPA can use low code technology to minimize the coding requirements. RPA has limited scope i.e. is process automation. Low code has a broader scope such as infrastructure, request fulfillment, development of applications, workflow process automation, test case automation, etc.

Is Testsigma a low-code tool?

Testsigma is a popular low-code test automation tool that focuses on streamlining the software test automation process with low-code technology using AI and ML. It can smartly aid in writing the test cases without demanding technical skills. It is built with advanced and modern technology that is popularly used for test automation across the different software domains. It lets you automate all your tests for web, mobile, desktop and APIs, from the same place.

What are the examples of RPA tools and Low code tools?

Some of the popular RPA tools are UiPath, Automation Anywhere, Power Automate, etc. Popular Low-code automation tools are Testsigma, Appian, Nintex, Mendix, AWS, etc.

What is LCNC?

LCNC stands for Low-Code No-Code, it is an approach to creating a visual-based software application easily. Primarily, used for creating the application within the enterprise using pre-built components or templates and it requires basic skills without demanding proficient coding knowledge or skills.