No-Code, Workflow & RPA: The Future of Automation

The Convergence of Automation Technologies

Throughout 2020 and continuing into 2021, notable trends have emerged concerning automation, workflow solutions, and robotic process automation (RPA). Simultaneously, a growing movement towards low-code and no-code application building has been observed.

Process Automation Market Growth

While the precise definition of process automation remains flexible, encompassing areas like industrial automation, Statista projects the process automation market to reach a substantial $74 billion valuation in 2021. These figures are poised to attract significant investment and attention from enterprise software leaders.

Strategic Acquisitions and Investments

Recently, Camunda, a Berlin-based company, secured $98 million in Series B funding. This investment aims to establish the company as a central orchestrator for data flow between RPA bots, microservices, and human personnel.

UIPath, a leading RPA startup preparing for an IPO, has acquired Cloud Elements. This acquisition expands UIPath’s capabilities beyond RPA, incorporating API automation into its offerings.

Expansion of Workflow Capabilities

ServiceNow announced its acquisition of Indian startup Intellibot this week, further enhancing its RPA capabilities. This move is integral to a broader company strategy focused on comprehensive workflow and automation, as discussed in recent company briefings.

Further Industry Consolidation

Late last year, SAP completed the acquisition of Signavio, another Berlin-based process automation startup, for $1.2 billion. This followed announcements of new automated workflow tools and an RPA solution from SAP in early December.

Microsoft has also entered the fray, acquiring process automation startup Softmotive last May and integrating it with its PowerAutomate tool.

A Competitive Landscape

Currently, a dynamic mix of startups and established corporations are competing to deliver a complete suite of workflow automation tools. The goal is to empower organizations to rapidly deploy workflows and streamline processes involving both human and machine resources.

This competitive environment is fueling substantial funding for promising startups, while also driving acquisitions as larger companies seek rapid market entry.

Industry Expert Insights

Cathy Tornbohm, Distinguished Research vice president at Gartner, notes that many large companies have historically remained on the sidelines. However, they now recognize the opportunity and are leveraging their financial resources to accelerate their involvement.

“IBM, SAP, Pega, Appian, Microsoft, ServiceNow all entered the RPA market because they previously lacked focus on data integration into their systems when operating across organizations or without human intervention,” Tornbohm explained. “Their primary focus was on internal organizational processes. The need for greater digital efficiency necessitates optimizing data ingestion and data flows.”

Market Leaders in RPA

Despite the efforts of major vendors, the pure-play RPA market remains dominated by a select few. Gartner identifies UIPath, Automation Anywhere, and Blue Prism as the top three players in this space.

However, Tornbohm emphasizes that these established vendors are not the only players evolving. Pure-play RPA companies are expanding their scope beyond RPA, venturing into broader automation solutions. This is evidenced by UIPath’s recent announcement regarding Cloud Elements.

The Impact of Cloud Adoption

Dharmesh Thakker, managing partner at Battery Ventures, echoes Tornbohm’s observations, highlighting the role of cloud adoption, accelerated by COVID-19, in reshaping the RPA landscape.

“Traditionally, RPA has centered on automating UI interactions and user actions. However, a comprehensive automation suite requires the ability to automate processes across the entire technology stack,” Thakker stated. “Larger companies view this as a means to leverage data within their systems, while standalone RPA vendors see it as validation of their category and an opportunity to broaden their offerings.”

Looking Ahead

The recent activity in the automation and workflow space may represent only the initial stages of a larger trend. Companies of all sizes are vying to become the preferred automation platform in the years to come.

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