What is Blue Prism?

What Is Blue Prism?

Blue Prism is an enterprise RPA (robotic process automation) platform that automates repetitive, rule-based tasks by creating software robots (digital workers) that interact with applications through their user interfaces. Founded in 2001 by Alastair Bathgate and David Moss in Warrington, United Kingdom, Blue Prism is widely credited with coining the term "robotic process automation." SS&C Technologies acquired Blue Prism in March 2022 for approximately $1.6 billion.

Core Components

• Process Studio: Visual process designer for building automation workflows using flowchart-style logic
• Object Studio: Interface layer that defines how digital workers interact with applications (screen elements, buttons, fields)
• Control Room: Centralized management console for scheduling, monitoring, and controlling digital workers
• Digital Workers: Software robots that execute automated processes on virtual or physical machines

Key Features (April 2026)

• Attended and unattended automation: Robots can work independently (unattended) or alongside human users (attended)
• Process intelligence: Process mining and task mining to identify automation candidates
• Decision models: Business rules and decision tables for complex logic
• Credential management: Secure storage for passwords and API keys used by robots
• Blue Prism Cloud: SaaS deployment option managed by SS&C
• Integration with SS&C products: Access to SS&C's broader portfolio of financial services and healthcare technology

Pricing (April 2026)

Blue Prism uses enterprise licensing:

• Per-digital-worker licensing, typically $10,000-$25,000 per robot per year
• Platform license for Control Room and development tools
• SS&C Blue Prism Cloud is priced on a subscription basis
• All pricing requires sales engagement

Who Uses Blue Prism

Blue Prism has historically focused on large enterprises in financial services, healthcare, insurance, and the public sector. Its governance-first approach (centralized control room, audit trails, role-based access) appeals to regulated industries that require strict oversight of automated processes.

Competitive Position

Blue Prism competes with UiPath (market leader in RPA), Automation Anywhere (cloud-native RPA), and Microsoft Power Automate (desktop RPA included in M365). Blue Prism's traditional strength was enterprise governance; however, UiPath and Automation Anywhere have narrowed this gap. The SS&C acquisition has shifted Blue Prism's positioning toward financial services and healthcare verticals.