AI Agents vs RPA for ERP Automation
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) was the first wave of ERP automation. AI agents represent the second, more capable wave. Understanding the differences helps manufacturers choose the right approach—or the right combination—for their automation journey.
RPA: Strengths and Limitations
RPA excels at rule-based, repetitive tasks with structured data. It's fast to deploy for simple scenarios. But RPA bots are brittle—they break when UI changes, can't handle exceptions, and require constant maintenance. In ERP environments, RPA failure rates of 30-40% are common.
- RPA maintenance costs: 20-30% of initial development annually
- RPA bots break on UI changes, data format changes, and exceptions
- Cannot handle unstructured data or make judgment calls
- Limited to screen-level interactions, no deep ERP integration
AI Agents: The Next Level
AI agents go beyond screen scraping to operate at the business logic level of your ERP. They understand data context, handle exceptions intelligently, adapt to changes, and improve over time. Most importantly, they integrate through APIs and data layers, not fragile UI automation.
- API-level integration: no breakage from UI changes
- Intelligent exception handling with escalation logic
- Continuous learning from outcomes and corrections
- Handle both structured and unstructured data natively
When to Use Each Approach
Use RPA for simple, stable, rule-based processes that won't change. Use AI agents for complex, judgment-intensive processes where exceptions are common. For most ERP automation, AI agents provide better long-term value. Many organizations start with RPA and evolve to AI agents.
Move beyond RPA limitations—see what AI agents can do for your ERP.
Related Resources
AI Agents for ERP: The Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about AI agents for ERP systems. How they work, ROI expectations, implementation approaches, and real-world results.
AI & AutomationManufacturing AI Readiness Assessment
Assess your manufacturing organization's readiness for AI. Data quality, process maturity, infrastructure, and cultural readiness evaluation framework.
ERPERP Integration Patterns with AI Middleware
Modern ERP integration patterns using AI middleware. Event-driven architecture, API orchestration, and intelligent data synchronization for Infor and Salesforce.