If you are familiar with test automation, you may be wondering what the difference between test automation and RPA is. Adding to this, it is not uncommon for many automation vendors to offer both solutions within one platform, which can add to the confusion. You may also be interested in acquiring more in-depth knowledge on the topic if your IT department is already leveraging test automation, and you want to see if a similar solution can be utilized across departments.

Truth be told, test automation and RPA share many similarities and can create some of the same benefits. They are both essential tools for enterprises undergoing digital transformation, and who have a high need for agility and change-readiness. As Senior Consultant at Pharma IT Jeppe Resen Amossen said in a recent interview: “. . . automated testing becomes the only feasible way to stay assured that existing functionality still works in settings where the system becomes sufficiently complex or when changes need to be implemented on a continuous basis.”

The difference here is that RPA is about completing processes rather than testing them – if tedious, repetitive processes are left to be performed manually, it requires a much larger amount of resources and leaves no room for innovation, in turn exposing the business to unnecessary risks when changes in the market occur.

Below is an overview that sums up the remaining differences between test automation and RPA.