The leading businesses of the world are using automation to optimize their workflows and save resources. In this blog, we dissect the ten most important business process automation trends that are reshaping modern enterprises and their day-to-day business processes. 

The Age of Automation

Business activities in the Information Age were filled with repetitive tasks:

  • Receive and send emails
  • Generate bills, purchase orders
  • Route documents
  • Approve time-off requests from employees

68% of employees claim they have too much work to handle every day. Thankfully, as we transition into the Automation Age, these repetitive tasks are increasingly becoming obsolete.

What is Business Process Automation?

Business Process Automation (BPA) is a systematic approach to making an organization’s workflows (i.e., business processes) more effective, resource-efficient, and automation-driven.

BPA improves business processes by identifying repetitive, manual business processes and then automating them with the latest AI tools, RPA tools (Robotic Process Automation), and other technologies.

  • This process is different from using traditional software tools because the automation is done by “bots” (robots) or AI tools
  • Both RPA bots and AI tools are trained on large data sets
  • They can communicate with other information systems
  • They can perform tasks that typically require human insight and decision-making

Approving payroll requests from employees is a task that used to require human, cognitive thought. Today, AI tools like IBM Watson and UiPath can efficiently perform such HR tasks with ease. 1 in 4 employers use such tools to support HR-related activities in 2024.

Business Process Automation Trends

Automating business processes reduces the risk of human error and costly rework. It can also improve morale by enabling employees to work on tasks that require thought, rather than simply repeating rote actions

By using the right BPA tools and following the right business process automation trends, any business can:

  • Decrease their headcount and operational costs
  • Increased daily throughput and overall efficiency
  • Reduce errors in data entry and processing
  • Accelerate workflows to meet customer demands more effectively
  • Deliver quicker responses and better service quality
  • Lower operating risks by strengthening compliance through automated controls

Want your business to enjoy all of these advantages? Here are the 10 most important business process automation trends that you need to know:

1. Low-Code, No-Code, and, Citizen BPA Development

Low-Code, No-Code, and, Citizen BPA Development
  • Low-code and no-code platforms are transforming the BPA landscape
  • These technologies enable users to create and manage workflows and applications with minimal coding expertise
  • By 2025, low-code technologies will be responsible for developing and designing 70% of new apps and automation tools used to streamline business operations

Why This Matters

  • Low-code and no-code solutions promote teamwork between technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • Non-technical employees can actively participate in creating applications tailored to their specific work-related need
  • Low-code and no-code platforms can make workforces less dependent on IT departments

The trend of citizen development with low-code and no-code platforms will expand further as organizations face severe shortages of qualified software developers.

Empowering non-technical employees to create applications and BPA solutions not only addresses this talent gap but also accelerates innovation within businesses.

2. AI-Fueled Simulation and Testing of Business Process Scenarios

AI-Fueled Simulation and Testing of Business Process Scenarios
  • AI-fueled automation is revolutionizing how businesses simulate and test various process scenarios
  • By leveraging machine learning and advanced algorithms, organizations can analyze historical data, model complex interactions, and predict outcomes
  • Organizations can create simulation models to test different scenarios without real-world consequences

Why This Matters

  • This trend is set to enhance decision-making and operational efficiency across industries
  • Testing business process ideas in a simulated environment minimizes potential risks before real-world implementation
  • Identifying inefficiencies through simulations helps avoid costly trial-and-error validations
  • AI simulations pinpoint areas for improvement which leads to better resource allocation

AI-powered process mining tools can analyze your team’s system logs, identify inefficiencies and deviations, and provide actionable insights for improving your business process within minutes!

3. Process Mining and Process Analytics

Process Mining and Process Analytics
  • Process mining and process analytics are techniques that help organizations gain deep insights into their operational workflows
  • Process mining uses data (timestamps, activity logs) captured from enterprise systems (like ERP and CRM) to create a detailed view of how business processes are executed
  • Process mining tools provide graphical representations of this workflow data in real-time
  • These tools can connect to various data sources and consolidate information for a comprehensive analysis of all major business processes
  • The ability to visualize and analyze important business processes in real-time makes it easier to identify bottlenecks and deviations from intended processes

Why This Matters

  • Process mining and process analytics help businesses identify inefficiencies, optimize processes, enhance productivity, and drive continuous improvement
  • Even non-technical users can use process mining tools to generate reports detailing important business processes
  • Continuously monitoring processes helps organizations ensure adherence to compliance standards and internal policies
  • Real-time data analysis allows businesses to respond quickly to emerging issues or opportunities
  • Process mining can uncover where delays occur in workflows, enabling targeted interventions to streamline operations
  • Organizations can assess key performance indicators (KPIs) related to efficiency, effectiveness, resource utilization, and compliance through process analytics

By adopting process mining and analytics techniques, companies can enhance their business process automation efforts significantly. Their integration improves operational efficiency and empowers organizations to make decisions that drive continuous business growth.

4. End-to-End Organizational Visibility

  • This trend emphasizes the need for comprehensive insights across all business functions
  • Instead of focusing solely on isolated tasks, organizations are recognizing the importance of having a holistic view of their operations
  • This visibility helps identify gaps and inefficiencies that could lead to larger issues if left unaddressed
  • As businesses strive for better integration and collaboration, the demand for solutions that provide real-time, centralized overviews of processes is increasing
  • New BPA tools can consolidate data from various departments, eliminate silos and ensure a unified view of operations.
  • Organizations can track processes as they happen and immediately identify bottlenecks hampering business processes

Why This Matters

  • With enhanced visibility into operations, managers can make informed decisions based on accurate data rather than assumptions
  • Clear visibility into processes allows organizations to hold teams accountable for their performances
  • A unified view also fosters teamwork across departments; all stakeholders can access the same information and work towards common goals
  • Identifying minor issues early prevents them from escalating into significant problems

Companies today are moving away from point solutions in favor of all-in-one BPA platforms that offer end-to-end visibility across all business functions.

For example, many companies use such tools to monitor inventory levels, logistics, and supplier performance, in real-time to optimize their supply chain operations and minimize delays.

The trend towards end-to-end organizational visibility will only grow as businesses increasingly rely on data-driven insights to enhance every little aspect of their routine operations.

5. More Industries Will Join the Business Process Automation Train

BPA is being embraced with open arms across industries. 75% of organizations use automation software in marketing:

  • 83% of the marketing departments use BPA software to automate social media posts
  • 75% use BPA software to automate email marketing tasks

The rate of BPA adoption is similarly high in the HR sector:

  • 69% of HR professionals who use BPA claim that it expedites the hiring processes
  • HR professionals have reported that onboarding automation tools have improved performance by 18% 

Other industries are aware of these benefits and they are catching up quickly:

Finance

Automating financial processes reduces the burden of manual data entry and streamlines accounting tasks

  • 30% of organizations say that their finance department has experienced the greatest ROT from automation 
  • 73% of finance professionals believe that automation leaves more time to focus on value-added tasks

Telecommunications

  • BPA tools help companies in the telecommunications industry monitor network performance in real-time
  • These tools can identify issues before they impact customers, minimize downtime, and boost service reliability

Healthcare

  • Thanks to electronic health records (EHR), using BPA to manage complex workflows is now common practice in many leading healthcare institutions
  • BPA tools trained on HER data can streamline patient scheduling, intake forms, and follow-up reminders
  • BPA also facilitates the analysis of patient data for better decision-making
  • Healthcare providers can use BPA to identify trends in patient outcomes in real time and then optimize their treatment plans accordingly

Information Technology (IT)

While not all IT processes can ever be automated, many mundane tasks are currently being streamlined by leading IT firms:

  • Around 74% of IT leaders believe that automating mundane business processes can save their employees at least 11 to 30% of time
  • By the end of 2024, 75% of major IT businesses in the West will have multiple data hubs deployed across the globe
  • These data hubs will mine and process business-critical data and then use those insights to drive targeted automation efforts

Why This Matters

Companies that have embraced BPA are already benefiting from having improved operational efficiency, better decision-making capabilities, and a culture of continuous improvement.

It is fair to say that more industries will continue to join the BPA hype train. That means the onus is on you to move first and adopt BPA before your closet competitors.

6. Hyper-Automation

Hyper-Automation

Unlike traditional automation methods that rely on a single technology, hyper-automation aims to streamline as many business processes as possible using as many technologies as possible:

  • Hyper-automation leverages a combination of AI, ML, RPA, and other tools to automate complex processes
  • Merging multiple automation technologies can be resource-intensive and may require significant technical expertise
  • Poor-quality data can hinder the effectiveness of hyper-automation initiatives
  • Organizations must ensure they have clean, reliable data for accurate analysis

Why This Matters

  • Hyper-automation is expected to become a standard practice among large-scale organizations in the next few years
  • Currently, small companies cannot afford to invest in hyper-automation
  • But, that will change soon as hyper-automation strategies become cheaper and more effective at cutting costs 

 7. BPA Will Become More User-Centric

As users become accustomed to BPA, their expectations rise. To meet those expectations organizations are designing processes that enhance user experiences and worker satisfaction:

  • Many organizations are re-evaluating their BPA methods to ensure they meet customer needs efficiently
  • User-centric BPA prioritizes understanding the needs of both customers and employees
  • They are involving end-users in the BPA design process to understand their motivations and challenges
  • They are employing usability testing to refine processes based on real user feedback
  • They are implementing automated systems for handling inquiries, orders, and service requests
  • Chatbots and self-service portals are being used to empower users and reduce wait times

Why This Matters

  • Merely investing in BPA isn’t enough for businesses
  • They must anticipate user needs and deliver uniform experiences across all touchpoints
  • Designing processes with end users in mind fosters a more engaging work environment
  • User-centric BPA leads to faster response times
  • Using integrated BPA tools that provide visibility across functions also becomes easier for workers

Merging new user-centric automation tools with existing systems can be resource-intensive. Companies must team up with BPA experts who specialize in humanizing automated processes to make the most of this trend.

8. BPA for Maintaining Compliance

BPA is increasingly being utilized to maintain compliance across various industries:

Finance and Accounting

  • BPA automates financial reporting and auditing processes
  • It reduces the time required for audits by providing an automated audit trail
  • It helps businesses ensure adherence to financial regulations through fast automated checks

Human Resources (HR)

  • BPA can automate onboarding processes to ensure compliance with local labor laws
  • It can maintain records of employee training and certifications, automate leave request processing, and more all while ensuring total adherence to company policies

Healthcare

  • In healthcare, BPA is used to automate patient data management procedures and make them compliant with HIPAA regulations
  • It ensures secure handling of sensitive patient information and facilitates timely reporting of compliance-related metrics

Manufacturing

  • BPA tools can automate quality control processes
  • They can track production data in real time for regulatory reporting and reduce the risk of non-compliance through automated inspections

Why This Matters

  • BPA can effectively mitigate all risks associated with non-compliance
  • BPA systems can automatically log actions taken during processes and auto-create audit trails that simplify compliance checks
  • Automated systems can validate data against predefined rules in real-time to let businesses know if their activities are compliant with relevant regulations
  • All of these features can help organizations avoid compliance violations and focus on higher-value activities instead

Regulatory requirements are only going to get stricter over time. So, the trend of using BPA for maintaining compliance will keep growing as organizations face increasing regulatory pressures.

9. Mobile and Cloud-Based Business Process Automation Tools

  • The integration of mobile and cloud-based business process automation (BPA) tools is revolutionizing how organizations manage their processes
  • As remote work becomes more prevalent and customer expectations rise, organizations are increasingly adopting these solutions to stay competitive
  • These technologies offer flexibility, and scalability, and enhance remote collaboration

Cloud-Based BPA Tools

  • Cloud-based BPA tools allow users to access and manage processes from anywhere which is ideal for remote teams
  • These tools can easily adjust resources based on demand; this means they can accommodate workload changes without requiring extensive hardware upgrades
  • Organizations can avoid the upfront costs associated with traditional on-premises software by opting for subscription-based BPA cloud models

Mobile BPA Solutions

  • Mobile BPA applications enable employees to initiate, monitor, and complete tasks while away from their desks
  • Modern mobile BPA tools have intuitive interfaces and are very easy to use
  • With these tools, employees can quickly access customer information and respond to inquiries in real-time

Why This Matters 

  • Cloud-based tools break down silos within organizations
  • They facilitate real-time sharing of information and workflows among team members
  • Mobile BPA allows employees to access and manage business processes on the go
  • Sales teams that use mobile BPA apps can update customer information in real time and provide live support to customers anywhere, anytime

The trend of adopting mobile and cloud-based BPA tools will keep growing as organizations increasingly recognize their potential for enhancing operational efficiency and responsiveness.

10. BPA Is Here to Stay

  • BPA is becoming a cornerstone of modern organizational strategies
  • Despite concerns about job displacement due to automation, the overall impact of BPA is expected to spur economic growth
  • In 2020, at least 64% of organizations were using BPA tools to automate workflows
  • By the end of this year, that figure will be more than 50% 

Why This Matters

  • Think BPA is a passing fad? Think again
  • Organizations must adapt to this trend to enhance their operational capabilities
  • Not investing in BPA will result in your competitors outperforming your business
  • By investing in BPA technologies now, you can position your firm for long-term success 

Conclusion

These are the most important business process automation trends of our time. You may look at them and say – “all this sounds good, but BPA is way too expensive for us.”

Well, you are both right and wrong. A lot of BPA solutions are quite expensive, but the cost is justified because they require very complex procedures to set up and build processes with.

However, there are also free or open-source solutions that are quite easy to set up and can be used to begin your organization’s first steps toward BPA.

Even better, at Itobuz, we provide cost-effective and 360-degree business process automation services that help small businesses enter the world of automation without breaking the bank.

To learn more about that, get in touch with us now!