As we transition from the digital era to a post-digital, fully automated future, digital process automation is becoming increasingly solidified as a pre-requisite tool for market leaders to accelerate digitalization.
In recent years, Microsoft Power Automate has emerged as a tool for automating workflows and digitalizing business processes.
But, are there better Microsoft Power Automate alternatives for scaling process automation?
I would argue yes. While Microsoft Power Automate can support your organization on its process automation journey, there are better tools for scaling digitalization. In this blog, I will discuss why alternative platforms may be better suited to achieving company-wide digitalization.
Power Automate For Automating Business Processes And Achieving Scale
One of the key reasons why it is more challenging to scale digital process automation with Power Automate is due to its low code functionality.
Low code app development is a methodology for creating apps with some coding language domain knowledge. Although less coding knowledge is required compared with traditional fully coded apps, low code will require technical expertise and experience.
A no code approach is recommended for automating business processes to achieve true economies of scale. No code, as the name suggests, is the methodology of creating apps without the need for coding skills.
Organizations adopting no code application development will be equipped to achieve scale by the widespread empowerment of workers to digitalize processes via citizen development programs.
Citizen development is unsuitable for low-code app development because you will require coding skills and experience in this model. No code app development does not require coding skills or experience and is therefore the more suitable model for citizen development and scaling digital process automation programs.
What does Microsoft Power Automate cost?
The costs may be a challenge for some organizations. Microsoft Power Automate pricing starts at $15/pm per user but quickly ramps up. This makes is a costly choice for organizations compared with other vendors included in this blog.
Developer Cost With Power Automate
There is also a significant cost in human resources needed to use Microsoft Power Automate as it is a low code platform. Professional developers are required to scale results with low code tools like Microsoft Power Automate. With the average salary of developers reaching $100,000 according to Glassdoor, costs to scale Power Automate usage can quickly scale.
While no code tools can be used by business users across the business, utilizing the existing human resources and not incurring further costs. According to EY, organizations may also struggle to find the tech talent needed to fuel their low code strategy with 81%, of surveyed organizations, acknowledging a shortage in “power user or developer” tech skills.
Hopefully, that gives you a flavor of why you should look for an alternative to Microsoft Power Automate. If you want to explore the range of digital process automation tools in the market today or are thinking about achieving widespread digitalization, read on.
In this blog, we have handpicked the top five Microsoft Power Automate alternatives and provide comprehensive insights into the pros and cons, of options based on real-world customer feedback.
Let’s get started on the top five list of Power Automate competitors.
1. FlowForma Process Automation
FlowForma is an award-winning process automation tool, designed to deliver rapid ROI for customers. FlowForm is a key platform to consider as an alternative to Power Automate. Watch the product demo video for a quick tour of the features and functionalities.
Features
- Forms: One of the key features of FlowForm’s Process Automation tool is its intuitive and user-friendly forms. Forms provide users with the ability to collect data in real-time on mobile, tablet and desktop devices. The data collected in forms provides an organization with rich data for decision-making and an audit trail of steps completed throughout a process.
- Analytics: Analytics is a game-changing feature of the FlowForma Process Automation tool that provides 360-degree visibility of process data at the click of a button. The analytics feature is no code, which means no coding or Power BI skills are required to produce impactful dashboards that drive real business change.
- Automated Workflows: Workflow automation is a core component of the FlowForma Process Automation Tool. The workflow component empowers organizations to streamline business operations by replacing manual tasks with automated processes. FlowForma's workflow automates both simple and complex workflows making it suitable for projects of all sizes. This feature is key to optimize business processes and achieving business goals such as productivity improvements and compliance.
- Document Generation: FlowForma Document Generation is a key feature of the FlowForma Process Automation Tool. The features empower users to remove manual documents and replace them with automated documents generated at the touch of a button. Designed for simplicity and ease of use, automated document generation empowers organizations to scale digitalization.
No Code Platform
FlowForma is a no code tool meaning that non-IT users can quickly and easily automate workflows.
Pricing
FlowForma’s pricing model is simple and easy to understand. Pricing starts at $7 per user per month for unlimited processes. The pricing model is favourable compared to Power Automate.
This includes:
- Unlimited Forms
- Unlimited Workflow Automation
- Unlimited Document Generation
- FlowForma Engage
- FlowForma SureStart Onboarding
Pros
- Speed: Users have identified speed as one of the key reasons for using FlowForma's business process automation software. The National Health Service (NHS) highlighted the success of 55 processes digitalized in 12 months as a key outcome. Read the case study here.
- Time-Saving: One of the goals of business process automation software is to improve productivity so workers can focus on value-added tasks. FlowForma customers have highlighted significant productivity improvements leading to time savings. With one customer, Downer New Zealand saved 3,250+ by digitalizing key processes in the business. Learn more in the case study here.
- ROI: Customers have stated that ROI is achieved once an organization has digitalized 3 processes. Learn more in this case study from UK construction firm Coinford.
- Customer Support: Customers have stated that customer support is excellent. With this customer review stating support is always on hand to help.
Cons
- Additional Features: According to one customer on G2, additional features could be added to enhance the customer experience.
2. Nintex
Nintex is one of the key Power Automate Alternatives with similar features and pricing.
Features
- Workflow Automation
- Application Development
- Robotic Process Automation
- Document Generation
- Forms Automation
Pricing
Nintex pricing starts at $25,000 USD /year for its basic package. Included in the cost:
- Unlimited users
- Unlimited Workflow Automation
- 2,000 document generations
- Forms
- Mobile App
- Premium Connectors
- Analytics
- eSign
- Standard 8 x 5 support
- Enhanced support
Pros
- Good workflows: According to users, there are relatively good workflows for managing approvals.
Cons
- Cost: A large number of reviews have highlighted cost as a barrier to entry including this user on G2.
- Features: Many reviews on G2 highlight functionality as a key improvement needed including this review highlighting basic functionality missing.
- Learning Curve: There is a steep learning curve for new users according to this review.
3. Kissflow
Kissflow is an established organization that merits including in our Power Automate alternatives list.
Features
- App Builder
- Process Builder
- Form Builder
- Analytics
- Governance
Pricing
Basic pricing starts at $1,500/month with limited features including simple use cases and internal users.
Pros
- Customer Support: Customer support is listed as a key positive among user reviews on G2. This review mentions customer support as ‘top-notch’.
Cons
- Features: Many reviews on G2 highlight additional features as a key improvement that needs to be implemented.
- User Experience: According to reviews on G2, there is a steep learning curve with the Kissflow platform. This reviewer stated that It's not as intuitive as it could be.
- Complexity: G2 users have highlighted the platform can be complex. This reviewer has highlighted that custom validations and complex calculations are difficult to use.
4. CFlow
CFlow is a workflow platform that we have included in the Power Automate alternatives list due to its features and functionality.
Features
- Workflow Generation
- Reports and Analytics
- Tracking and Managing Documents
Pricing
CFlow offers customers three pricing tiers.
- 1. Happy $7 (per user/month)
- 2. Joy $11 (per user/month)
- 3. Bliss $16 (per user/month)
Pros
- Integration: Customer reviews on G2 have highlighted integrations as a strong component of the CFlow platform.
Cons
- Performance and Speed: Poor performance and speed have been highlighted as issues on G2. Including this review that has highlighted speed issues when bulk uploading data.
- Usability: Multiple reviews on G2 have included statements on the platform needing usability improvements. Including this review, which highlights there is a steep learning curve with the platform.
5. Process Maker
Process Maker is an alternative to Microsoft Power Automate that supports users with intelligent process automation.
Features
- Intelligent Process Automation
- Intelligent Document Processing (IDP)
- Seamless Integration
- Generative AI
Pricing
Process Maker pricing starts at $1,475.00 per month.
Pros
- Little Coding Required: Although it is low code platform, many users on G2 have stated that there is very little coding required. This user has highlighted the ability to drag and drop objects into processes without much coding required.
Cons
- Bugs: G2 reviews have highlighted bugs as a common issue with Process Maker. This G2 review states that product releases have several bugs.
- Usability: G2 reviews have mentioned that usability may be challenging for business users. This G2 review highlights that the user interface can be difficult for non-technical people to operate.
- Customer Service: This G2 review highlights customer service needs to be improved.
6. Appian
Appian is a low code process automation platform for business workflow automation. Its platform specialises in automation for the financial services, insurance, public sector and life science industries.
Features
Key features include:
- Platform: Design, automate, and optimize your business processes.
- Artificial Intelligence: Discover the next-generation, AI-powered platform for process automation.
- Low-Code: Build fast with low-code design.
- Data Fabric: Unify data silos with an integrated data fabric.
- Process Automation: Deliver end-to-end process automation with RPA, AI, IDP, and API integrations.
- Total Experience: Create exceptional experiences for every user with mobile-ready capabilities and web portals.
- Process Intelligence: Access, analyze, and report on process and business data.
- Case Management Studio: Rapidly build modular apps for complex casework.
Pricing
Pricing starts at $75.00 per user per month.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
- Cost: Users have highlighted that the Appian pricing model is unclear and more transparency is needed to understand the total and recurring cost of the platform.
- Skills: Customers have noted that advanced coding skills are required to use the platform, making it less accessible to non-technical users.
- Documents: Customers have highlighted that the features for storing and managing documents can be improved.
- Customization: Users have reported a lack of customization for the front end and user experience.
Conclusion on Power Automate alternatives and competitors
I hope this has given you some ideas on Power Automate alternatives that support your digital process automation goals. We recommend taking the time to research the tools available on the market and consider all of the pros and cons of the platforms.
If you would like to learn more about FlowForma as a Microsoft Power Automate alternative, schedule an obligation-free demo or experience the power of process automation first-hand with a 14-day free trial.