The verdict in three sentences
RPA (UiPath, Automation Anywhere) deploys fast but costs around SGD 4k/bot/year in recurring licences, with no ceiling as bots multiply. A custom build (around SGD 25k) needs upfront investment, but its recurring cost is capped at 15-20% of the build per year. In Singapore in 2026, both approaches eliminate 40 to 70 hours of repetitive tasks per month, with ROI in 6 to 12 months — the decision plays out over three years.
Bot licence or custom development
RPA excels at automating existing interfaces without changing them; custom goes further by integrating natively with your systems, but requires more upfront design.
| Criterion | RPA (bot licence) | Custom automation |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost (SGD) | 3,000 - 8,000 | 15,000 - 40,000 |
| Recurring cost | 4,000/bot/year | 15 - 20% of build/year |
| Delivery time | 2 - 4 weeks | 5 - 10 weeks |
| Systems integration | Surface (UI) | Native (API) |
| Scalability | Linear per bot | Near-zero marginal |
| Maintenance on changes | Fragile (UI changes) | Robust |
| Vendor dependency | High | None |
3-year TCO: the decisive calculation
For a firm deploying the equivalent of 3 bots or 3 automated processes, here is the total cost of ownership over three years.
| Line item | RPA (3 bots) | Custom (3 processes) |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost (SGD) | 6,000 | 25,000 |
| Licences 3 years (SGD) | 36,000 | 0 |
| Maintenance 3 years (SGD) | included | 12,000 |
| Hosting 3 years (SGD) | 4,320 | 4,320 |
| 3-year total (SGD) | 46,320 | 41,320 |
Mini case study
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Daniel, CIO of a 120-person services firm in Singapore, wanted to automate supplier invoice entry, bank reconciliation and customer reminders — 60 hours a month in total. A 3-bot RPA solution came to SGD 46,320 over three years. The custom build, priced at SGD 25,000, cuts that to SGD 41,320, saving SGD 5,000 over three years — and far more once bot counts grow. ROI reached in about 9 months on agent time alone (blended hourly cost SGD 30).
FAQ
When is RPA preferable? To quickly automate third-party software without API access, or for a temporary need. Its per-bot cost, however, becomes penalising at scale.
Is custom always cheaper? Over three years at constant volume, almost always, because it removes recurring licences. Very short term or for a single light process, RPA can suffice.
How long for each approach? RPA: 2 to 4 weeks per process; custom: 5 to 10 weeks, but with no licence cost afterwards.
What's the annual maintenance for custom? Between 15 and 20% of the build per year, covering monitoring, fixes and enhancements.
Can we combine both? Yes, a hybrid approach is common: RPA for closed software, custom for flows at the core of your systems.
Let's scope your project. List the repetitive tasks to automate and their monthly volume: we'll compare RPA and custom over three years and price the best option. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
