Advantages and disadvantages of commercial vs. non-commercial RPA technologies

Abstract

Software has both advantages and disadvantages whether they are based on open or closed source code. Closed source software are often expensive, but functional and mature products. In many cases open-source software are free, but in return they might not be as advanced or easy to use as their closed source peers. These are key issues in this study that seek to answer the question: is it feasible to replace a closed source commercial RPA (Robotic Process Automation) software with a similar open-source software? This thesis is commissioned by a company in the Finnish financial industry. The work consists of four parts. The first part or introductory part describes the purpose and objectives of the study. The second part, i.e. the theory part focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of open-source code in comparison to closed source code and presents various possible alternatives to the current solution. The third part is a case study where the two best alternatives are tested in practice against each other and the current solution, and results are analyzed. In the fourth and last part of the study, conclusions are drawn based on the results and experiences from the case study. The suitability of the software is examined from many different points of views, e.g., ease of use, compatibility with existing architecture and performance. Finally, we should be able to answer yes or no to the central research question and decide on which software is the most suitable for the purpose.