Automation can transform your business, improve productivity, and drive faster growth. But with so many options, it’s hard to know which automation is right for you. This guide breaks down the types of automation and shows how they can benefit your organization.
Why Automation Matters
Automation reduces repetitive work, frees up employees for strategic tasks, and improves accuracy. From simple task automation to AI-driven decision-making, choosing the right level is crucial to success.
Key benefits include:
- Increased efficiency and productivity
- Reduced errors and operational costs
- Better decision-making with real-time data
- Scalable solutions for growing businesses
Types of Automation
1. Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
What it is: RPA automates repetitive, rule-based tasks using bots or scripts.
Why it matters:
- Frees employees from manual data entry
- Reduces mistakes caused by fatigue or boredom
- Quick to implement – often within 3-4 weeks
- Low cost and minimal training required
Example use cases:
- Entering data from documents into systems
- Re-keying information across non-integrated applications
- Processing standard transactions
RPA is not meant to replace employees. It empowers them to focus on higher-value work.
2. Intelligent / Business Process Automation (IA / BPA)
What it is: IA and BPA use RPA combined with AI and business process management (BPM) to support knowledge workers and complex processes.
Why it matters:
- Speeds up decision-making for exceptions or complex tasks
- Reduces operational inefficiencies and costs
- Scales up or down based on workload
Example use cases:
- Healthcare: Reviewing claims for exceptions or suspected fraud
- Banking: Reconciling accounts or posting journal entries
- Mortgages: Processing applications and supporting documents
IA/BPA gives employees the right information at the right time, improving accuracy and efficiency.
3. AI-Powered Automation
What it is: AI-powered automation leverages AI/ML to analyze data patterns, predict outcomes, and make decisions automatically.
Why it matters:
- Handles complex, data-driven decision-making
- Identifies trends and predicts future outcomes
- Provides proactive insights for strategic business actions
Example use cases:
- Predicting loan defaults in financial services
- Recommending customer purchases
- Predictive maintenance for equipment
AI-powered automation supports strategic work, enhancing competitive advantage rather than replacing employees.
4. Enterprise-Wide Automation
Hyperautomation: Combines multiple automation tools (RPA, AI, BPM, low-code/no-code) to automate end-to-end business and IT processes.
Extreme Automation: Integrates disruptive technologies such as cloud, AI, blockchain, and NLP across all processes for a new operating model.
Process Mining: Visualizes how data flows through your organization by analyzing digital footprints in systems.
Benefits:
- Identifies inefficiencies and gaps
- Ensures compliance and process standardization
- Guides automation strategies with real data
Process Mining allows businesses to confidently implement automation with measurable results.
How to Choose the Right Automation
- Start small: Begin with RPA for repetitive tasks.
- Scale intelligently: Move to IA/BPA for knowledge workers.
- Leverage AI: Use AI-powered automation for predictive, strategic decisions.
- Optimize enterprise-wide: Apply hyperautomation and process mining for maximum efficiency.
How We Can Help
Prolifics offers free discovery workshops to assess your automation needs. Our experts can design, deploy, and customize solutions, from RPA to AI-powered automation, delivering measurable improvements in time, efficiency, and decision-making.
Contact us: solutions@prolifics.com
Learn More About Automation
Join our next Innovation Sandbox: BOTS – Taking on Today’s Challenges. Learn how automation improves healthcare experiences and supports employees’ mental health. Register for the live online event on Prolifics TV.
