ERP
Records what happened.
ERP records completed transactions. It has limited detail about delays, manual work, and activity outside the system.
The argument
Why Geist
Geist connects process evidence, models, owners, and approved changes. This page explains how that differs from ERP, RPA, AI agents, and traditional BPM.
The thesis
Each tool covers part of the process.
ERP, RPA, AI agents, and BPM tools solve different problems. Their data and actions often remain separate.
RPA
Scripts steps you already know.
RPA automates a path defined in advance. The script needs maintenance when the process or user interface changes.
Agents
Do isolated tasks.
Agents handle scoped tasks from the context they receive. They do not maintain a current model of the full operation.
Legacy BPM
Draws diagrams by hand.
Traditional BPM tools support manually maintained process models. Those models become outdated when the work changes and no one updates them.
Geist connects these parts.
Geist builds BPMN models from observed work, compares them with execution data, routes proposed changes for review, and records the result after implementation.
Product comparison
Compare ERP, RPA, AI agents, traditional BPM, and Geist.
| Capability | ERP | RPA | Agents | Legacy BPM | Geist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Models built from observed work | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Updates from current process data | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Evidence from documents, images, and video analysis | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Closed-loop: model → fix → feedback | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Geospatial: processes pinned to real locations | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| AI access to models and process data | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Bring your own model (BYOK) | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Each category is designed for a different job. The comparison shows which parts of process work each one covers.
Founder note
Michael Glück, founder
Why we built Geist.
Operations teams often keep process diagrams, transaction data, recordings, ownership, and improvement work in separate systems. We built Geist to connect those records to one maintained model and a controlled change process.
See it on a real process.
Book a demo to see how process evidence becomes a maintained model and a reviewed change.