Power Automate was still primarily a cloud-based developer tool. When we first wrote this blog in early 2020, UiPath was a proven RPA option in the cloud and desktop platforms for both developers and business users. In May 2020, Microsoft acquired Softmotive and incorporated the desktop functionality and backend workflows from that product. In 2019 Microsoft expanded Flow with more external connectors, added AI features and in general built out an RPA product under the PowerApps platform. automating routing of outlook email and responses. Flow, a SaaS offering for automation, was first introduced in 2016 and was mainly used in the Microsoft ecosystem, i.e. Power Automate is actually a rebranding and extension of Microsoft Flow, which was a component of SharePoint. Though Microsoft needs no introduction, its Power Automate offering is on the more recent side, being introduced at Ignite 2019. Now valued as a multi-billion dollar company, UiPath is recognized as one of the leaders in the field of Robotic Process Automation. Since 2013 the company has experienced near exponential growth.

This platform focused on training and orchestrating automation, i.e. In 2012 the company shifted toward RPA, building out a platform for the automations it made.

UiPath was founded in 2005, as “DeskOver,” a company that focused on software outsourcing, building automation libraries and software development kits. Before getting right to the technical aspects, let’s start with a review of how the products got started. In answer to this, we are supplying this blog to point out the main differences between the two RPA tools. We are often asked to compare Microsoft Power Automate and UiPath to understand which is a better fit for our customers. We maintain partnerships with Microsoft in App Development, Cloud, and Mixed Reality and we are a certified UiPath Partner. SphereGen works with many customers automating processes with RPA.

Power automate desktop alternative