RPA or AI agents: which automation for your processes?
RPA proved automation was worth it. But replaying clicks on screens has limits: the moment a document changes or a case falls outside the script, the robot breaks. AI agents approach the problem differently. An honest comparison.
0
scripts to maintain when a layout changes
5 steps
between the file drop and the final result
100%
of AI costs visible, capped and billed at real cost
Two different logics
RPA (Robotic Process Automation) replays human actions on interfaces: open a screen, copy, paste. It excels when everything is stable, and seizes up the moment a format moves. Every screen or layout change is paid for in script maintenance. The market's platforms are reviewed in our RPA tools comparison.
An AI agent doesn't replay clicks: it understands content. A new but similar document gets processed; a doubtful case gets flagged instead of failing the batch. That's the ERHA approach: read, process, check, deliver, with a human keeping the final say. The full mechanics are explained in RPA vs AI agent: the difference.
The comparison, point by point
Varied documents
One script per layout, to maintain.
Structure is understood, not scripted.
Edge cases
The robot fails, or processes silently.
Flagged and submitted for human validation.
Setup
An RPA project: licences, developers, weeks.
ERHA is set up on your real files.
Maintenance
Scripts reworked at every change.
ERHA absorbs format variations.
Costs
Per-robot licences, fixed cost.
Per run: cost displayed, capped, billed at real cost.
Choosing in practice
RPA remains a fit if
- Your screens and formats never change.
- Volume justifies a dedicated full-time robot.
- No interpretation is ever needed, at all.
AI agents win if
- Your documents vary from one issuer to the next.
- Doubtful cases must be seen by a person.
- You want to pay per run, not per licence.
Frequently asked questions
Do we have to drop our existing RPA?
No. The two coexist well: RPA carries on with the stable flows, AI agents take the variable documents and the cases that need interpretation. Most teams start with a single process.
Is an AI agent reliable enough for a business process?
ERHA doesn't guess: doubtful cases are re-checked, then flagged for human validation, and every decision is justified. Reliability comes from control, not blind trust.
How does an AI agent's cost compare with an RPA licence?
There is no licence: a setup package, then pay-per-run. Every run shows its exact, capped cost, which you compare against the human time or licence it replaces.
Ready to get that time back?
We'll show you ERHA on one of your own files, in 30 minutes.