Robotic Process Automation 2.0 (RPA)
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) accelerates the digital transformation of business processes by taking over manual, non-value-added actions. SAP Intelligent RPA (iRPA) helps perform repetitive tasks across systems (SAP and non-SAP).
SAP is increasingly integrating these technologies into its Business Technology Platform (formerly SAP Cloud Platform), which is why the term SAP Intelligent Robotic Process Automation 2.0 is increasingly being used.
Added value of iRPA
How can an RPA solution generate business value?
Improving the operation
Reduce human error
Higher speed and efficiency
Increasing the quality
Increasing compliance with business rules
Well-documented audit trails
Suitable processes to optimize using RPA are processes with the following characteristics:
Manual and repetitive
High volume
Multiple systems
Work around for missing native integration
iRPA can be used in two "modes":
Attended fashion, also called a "Digital Assistant"
Runs on a workstation
Automates a subprocess
Started by a user
Unattended fashion, also called a "Digital Worker".
Runs on a server
Automates a whole or partial process
Scheduled or based on triggers
Architecture
SAP Intelligent Robotic Process Automation primarily consists of 3 components: Desktop/Cloud Studio, Desktop Agent and Cloud Factory.
Previously, developing a bot required an on premise desktop design studio. In the newer versions, a low-code, browser-based bot design studio is available. This design studio includes the following features:
Drag and drop editor
Workflow builder
No-code builder for simple use cases
Event-based bot builder
Low-code builder with JavaScript
Debugger
Key features of iRPA
On-premise runtime with cloud-based management tooling
Runtime can run in "Attended" and "unattended" mode
Possibility to work in the background and in parallel
Compatible with remote desktops (Citrix/RDP)
Seamless integration with SAP Business Technology Platform
Integrated within SAP ecosystem
Pre-packaged content and bot store
JavaScript-driven low-code approach
Renewed pricing
Interesting new pricing SAP iRPA
Recently, the "free" or "free tier" model is available for SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP). This model enables you to get started with your own free instance of SAP BTP. The free tier model provides flexibility to explore and try out services until a certain capacity limit is reached. If the capacity limits of the free tier service are exceeded, you can switch to a standard plan with a so-called "Pay-As-You-Go" model.
With this free tier model, users can gain hands-on experience with SAP BTP services and benefit from the following:
Free exploration of different services within the platform offering;
Easily switch from free to paid use while retaining previous work;
Trying out new free tier service plans that will be added later.
The main difference between the free tier model and the long-established trial model for SAP BTP lies in reusability.
The SAP BTP trial allows you to build complete applications in a test environment to learn and explore the possibilities. Once you are ready to move on to the next phase and put applications into production, you need to recreate the development in a new, productive account.
With the free tier model for SAP BTP, you start with a productive account right away. The free tier means that you can try out selected services up to a certain limit and easily switch to the paid version without losing any work.
The free tier model for SAP BTP currently includes 20 free services, including iRPA and Chatbots. See the list of free tier services currently offered in the service catalogue by following this link and the figure below. New free tier services are expected to be added over time.
More information
More information about this licensing model can be found on the SAP website. More information about SAP iRPA can be found in the following related posts and here . For further questions or information on this topic or for other questions regarding SAP Workflow, Fiori or SAP Invoice Management (SIM), please contact Victor van den Hazelkamp.
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