Workflow Automation 2025: What Business Leaders Need to Know
Way back in the 2010s, I was working with a hedge fund client that was looking to add an outsourced component to their team, thereby creating a globally distributed workforce. They were very cautious about the sensitivities this effort would heighten for their staff. A huge part of my role was to meet with the leadership team, managers and key staff to assess their particular POVs and of course what work functions they deemed most suitable for the new team.
I was also responsible for recruiting, vetting, interviewing and making recommendations for hire. One of the other challenges for this engagement that I welcomed was promoting the idea of a united team instead of fostering an “U.S. team vs non-U.S. team” mentality amongst the staff. Of course, I also needed to convince managers and key staff that this new delineation of work would provide them with more challenging, rewarding analytical tasks in their day to day. Sound like history repeating itself? Now, instead of global outsourcing causing anxiety among American employees and job seekers, AI is the stuff of fright. More and more examples of workflow automation amongst notable companies and industries are popping up in our newsfeeds and also being formally announced.
Take for example, the CEO of Klarna, Sebastian Siemiatkowski, whose workforce recently shrunk from 4,500 to 3,500. Siemiatkowski intimates that AI can perform most human roles and believes that remaining employees' salaries could increase. Also of note, a 2023 report from McKinsey & Company predicted that millions of workers might be forced to transition into new roles by 2030 as AI continues to evolve.
Nearly two-thirds of CFOs say their companies have a strategic priority to automate tasks typically performed by employees, and expect to implement AI to perform a wide range of tasks.
The global workflow automation market size was valued at $20.3 billion in 2023, and it’s predicted to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.1% between 2024 and 2032. Cloud technologies — including cloud-based workflow automation platforms — are the most widely-adopted emerging technology as of 2023, with global spending estimated to exceed $560 billion. Let’s take a look at seven automated workflow trends businesses are expected to adopt in 2025:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) - read more here and here
Low-code and no-code platforms - Make.com’s platform provides an accessible, easy to use workflow automation tool for non coders. Notion is another I would recommend looking into for your business workflow automation needs. Overall, Notion excels as a versatile workspace for note-taking, project management, and knowledge organization, while Make is a powerful automation platform, and Airtable is a flexible database solution. UIPath has been touted as best for small business, while Salesforce is recommended for mid-market and enterprise organizations.
Intelligent Process Automation (IPA) - Intelligent Process Automation (IPA) combines RPA, AI, ML, and Digital Process Automation (DPA) to automate labor-intensive tasks and optimize how these are performed over time. It is ideal for repetitive activities, allowing companies to rapidly scale automation, without the need for additional coding or software upgrades.
Hyperautomation - Hyperautomation streamlines as many processes within a company as possible by combining AI, ML, low-code platforms, and RPA. However, it can be a considerable undertaking.
Advanced security and compliance features - More hackers are starting to use AI and ML tools, increasing the likelihood of data breaches. To protect sensitive information and avoid legal issues, every potential access point for cybercriminals must be secured, including workflow automation systems.
Cloud-based storage and solutions - AI and ML require a lot of data, which leads to increased demand for storage. Because of this, more companies will turn to cloud solutions as they implement AI- and ML-powered workflow automation.
Increased personalization - Businesses will increasingly need to use automation to tailor products and services to specific audience segments to cater to customers’ preference for customized experiences
Social media - AI social media tools can boost your social media marketing by optimizing content planning, creating written content, predicting future trends and more!
Business leaders and owners should consider the benefits and challenges of workflow automation. It can boost productivity, increase performance, reduce operating costs, and minimize data entry errors. For small businesses it could yield: cost savings, enhanced customer service (via improved efficiency and faster response times), improved data management (providing optimized analysis and insights), scalability and growth. Of course there are real challenges to consider when roadmapping workplace automation that include: implementation costs, integration with existing legacy systems, resistance to change, security/compliance and of course scalability to name a few.
Finally, let’s delve into the Future of Work implications.
Dulcet Partners
[Caption:“Executives rethink workforce issues. 78% are ready to invest in RPA to close staffing gaps, while 85% think automation can reduce employee turnover and attract new specialists.”]
The Future of Work Landscape will encompass:
Jobs that require creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence will be in higher demand.
The future of work will be characterized by collaboration between humans and machines.
Continuous learning and adaptation will be crucial for navigating the changing job market.
Ethical considerations surrounding automation, such as job displacement and bias, will become increasingly important.
By making the effort to learn and understand the implications of workflow automation and actively preparing for the future of work, you can stay competitive and thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape. Start developing in-demand skills, be willing and enthusiastic about adapting to new work models and of course you must develop a strong digital literacy!
Dulcet Partners
[Caption: “82% of executives believe process mining helps automation projects excel and drives better outcomes. Automated discovery tools can help identify bottlenecks and opportunities to improve workflows and systems.”]
What do you think about these workflow automation insights? For more AI tools, industry insights and business solutions get in touch with me here at Dulcet Partners.
