Businesses often face a critical choice when choosing business process automation software: deploy an on-premise solution or pick a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model.
While SaaS has gained significant popularity for its convenience and scalability, on-premise automation offers unique advantages that are often overlooked. By retaining full control over infrastructure, ensuring compliance with stringent data security requirements, and offering unparalleled customisation options, On-premise solutions let organisations tailor automation to their specific needs.
Discover why on-premise automation can be a superior choice, particularly for businesses prioritising data sovereignty and an added layer of security.
What is on-premise automation?
On-premise automation is the deployment of automation tools and software within a company’s own IT infrastructure and servers, rather than using cloud-based solutions or third-party providers. In this setup, the software is installed, maintained, and operated on servers that are physically located within the organisation’s premises (hence the name).
What is SaaS?
SaaS is a software delivery model where the tool or program is hosted on third-party cloud servers and accessed over the internet. Instead of purchasing and installing software on individual devices or servers, you can subscribe to a service that provides access to the application on-demand.
On-premise automation vs SaaS
| On-premise | SaaS | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | High up front cost but no ongoing expenses if perpetual licence bought | Monthly subscription you pay for as long as you want to use the tool |
| Customisation | High customisation possibility | Provider has control over how customisable they want to allow the tool to be |
| Support | Support is provided by your own team, unless the provider offers a support option. | The provider is responsible for providing support. |
| Security | You have full control of where and how the data is stored, so you are responsible for the security measures deployed. | The provider is responsible for security of data. |
| Data compliance | You have sovereignty of the data used and stored by the tool. | The provider stores the data in the cloud, so has responsibility for security and storage. |
The advantages of on-premise automation
There are many benefits of running a business process automation tool on premises, including:
- Data security – Your business maintains full control over sensitive data, ensuring compliance with strict security legislation.
- Customisation – Software can be tailored to meet specific business needs and requirements, providing flexibility.
- Low latency – Because the software runs on your internal servers, there is no lag time between a cloud server and your devices, meaning automation processes run faster and smoother.
- No down time – Your software runs as long as your servers are up and running, there’s no need to rely on a third-party service being available to use the tool.
- Compliance with legislation – Ensures adherence to industry regulations that prohibit data storage or processing in external environments.
The best on-premises business process automation software
Not all business process automation software provides an on-premise deployment option. If you’re looking for an on-premise solution, here are our top choices.
ThinkAutomation
ThinkAutomation is a comprehensive low-code business process automation platform. It is designed to help streamline your processes, improve efficiency, and reduce manual intervention by automating repetitive tasks and workflows. The program functions as a powerful, low-code automation engine that integrates with various systems, applications, and databases. ThinkAutomation is great for:
- Reducing manual workload, saving time and resources.
- Improving accuracy by eliminating human error in repetitive tasks.
- Flexibility and scalability to adapt to your diverse business needs.
- Helping your business build custom automation workflows without extensive coding knowledge.
IBM Business Automation Workflow
IBM Business Automation Workflow is a program that combines business process management (BPM) and case management. It enables you to model, execute, monitor, and optimise business workflows, helping to automate tasks and streamline your operations. BAW is part of IBM’s suite of automation solutions and is designed to support both structured processes (like approvals) and unstructured, dynamic workflows (like case handling).
RunMyJobs
RunMyJobs is a workload automation tool and job scheduling platform. It is an on premises automation solution that helps you manage and automate complex workflows, IT processes, and business tasks across different systems and applications. RunMyJobs is designed to improve operational efficiency, reduce manual effort, and ensure seamless execution of critical business processes.
On premise marketing automation tools
On premise marketing automation tools are installed and hosted on your own internal servers or private cloud (instead of a third-party cloud server).
These tools streamline and automate many marketing tasks while providing full control over data and infrastructure. They are particularly suitable for prioritising data security and compliance with stringent regulations.
ThinkAutomation is an example of a on premise marketing automation tool. With ThinkAutomation, you can:
- Monitor competitors on webpages and social media to react to opportunities e.g. a pricing change or negative review.
- Schedule automated communications with your customers to maintain customer relationships and loyalty.
- Send personalised offers to your customers with automated SMS campaigns.
- Send a loyalty offer email to customers after a certain number of days/months/years.
- Send a welcome tweet to new customers.
Industries that use on premise business process automation
Due to its superior data security and legislation compliance, on premise business process automation software is suitable for several regulated industries, such as:
Healthcare
Sensitive patient data cannot be stored on external servers, so an on-premise deployment ensures adherence to strict data privacy and compliance requirements (such as GDPR in Europe). On-premise automation software can also be integrated with electronic health records (EHR) systems. Find out more about healthcare automation
Finance
High sensitivity to data breaches and the need for internal control over financial data means an on-premise deployment is a must for the financial sector. On-premise automation software can also deal with high-frequency transaction processing with minimal latency. Find out more about finance automation
Government
National security concerns require high-security measures and local data storage. On-premise deployments ensure compliance with local data sovereignty laws, and the increased reliability ensures continued tool availability even during critical operations. Find out more about automation for Government agencies