BPM vs RPA: Understanding the Differences and When to Use Each
Understand the differences between BPM and RPA and learn when to use each to optimize your company’s processes.
You’ve probably heard about BPM (Business Process Management) and RPA (Robotic Process Automation) — two powerful automation approaches.
Yet, many companies still struggle to understand when to use each one effectively.
This guide goes straight to the point: the main differences between BPM and RPA, and how combining them can maximize results.
What is BPM (Business Process Management)
BPM is a methodology for managing and continuously improving business processes.
It involves mapping workflows, standardizing operations, and automating them across departments.
The goal of BPM is to ensure processes are efficient, auditable, and aligned with company strategy.
Simply put, BPM is the big-picture framework that defines how work should be done.
What is RPA (Robotic Process Automation)
RPA uses software bots to perform repetitive tasks, simulating human actions.
It’s ideal for automating manual activities like data entry, form filling, or report generation.
RPA focuses on specific, rule-based tasks within a larger process.
In short, RPA is the micro-level execution, automating small parts of a broader workflow.
BPM and RPA in Practice
The two are not competitors — they’re complementary.
BPM defines how processes should run, while RPA executes specific actions within them.
Example:
- BPM designs the expense approval workflow.
- RPA reads invoices and automatically fills out the data.
Key Differences Between BPM and RPA
(The list below is organized in numerical order only and does not represent a ranking of quality or preference.)
| Aspect | BPM | RPA |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Complete process management | Task-level automation |
| Approach | Structure and optimization | Repetition and execution |
| Complexity | Strategic, cross-departmental | Operational and task-based |
| Technology | Workflow and modeling platforms | Software bots |
| Scalability | Company-wide | Task-specific |
| Main goal | Efficiency and governance | Agility and reduced manual work |
When to Use BPM, RPA, or Both
- Use BPM to organize and optimize full processes.
- Use RPA to automate repetitive, rule-based tasks.
- Combine both to create orchestrated, intelligent automation.
Think of RPA as the hands and BPM as the brain — together, they form a complete automation ecosystem.
The Role of Jestor
Jestor is a platform that allows users to create and manage intelligent workflows without code, incorporating AI features such as agents and other capabilities.
It combines BPM structure with intelligent automation, centralizing data, workflows, and analytics in one place.
Companies using Jestor achieve balance between management and execution, creating continuously improving processes.
Conclusion
BPM and RPA are not rivals — they’re two sides of the same automation strategy.
The key is knowing when and how to apply each effectively.
If your company wants to unify efficiency, visibility, and intelligent automation,
discover Jestor — the platform that brings together BPM, RPA, and AI in one simple, scalable solution.
Internal research conducted using GPT