Microsoft acquires Softomotive to up its robotic process automation offerings

Software giant Microsoft has revealed the acquisition of Softomotive, a deal aiming to empower the software giant’s partners to create and deploy artificially intelligent bots that automate business workflows.

The London-based robotic process automation developer offers a popular platform, WinAutomation, used by more than 9,000 customers to automate Windows desktop processes involving both legacy and modern applications. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Microsoft plans to merge that platform with Microsoft Power Automate to enhance its native capabilities for building bots and integrating apps from other software platforms, including SAP, Citrix and Java.

“By bringing Softomotive’s desktop automation together with the existing Microsoft Power Automate capabilities, at uniquely affordable pricing, Microsoft is further democratising RPA and enabling everyone to create bots to automate manual business processes,” Charles Lamanna, Microsoft corporate vice president for Citizen Application Platform, wrote in a blog.

Most of its engagements have involved conversational AI, or chatbots, that enterprises increasingly seek to deploy as digital assistants for internal use, such as help desk support, as well as customer facing digital experiences. But demand is also growing for RPA bots, which Sirius has mostly developed working with UiPath.