Business process automation (BPA) involves having software automate as many tasks within a process as possible. Doing so is more than convenient — it’s vital to operational efficiency, reducing costs and human error while enabling companies to scale effectively. Increasingly, more companies are taking advantage of this tech, and the market is expected to reach $30.2 billion by the end of 2030.
Read on to discover key features of BPA software, use cases and the top eight business process automation tools to elevate your organization.
Top Business Process Automation Software Summary
- Scribe
- Nintex
- Appian
- ProcessMaker
- Kissflow
- ActiveBatch
- Laserfiche
- Microsoft Power Automate
- Bizagi
- IBM
What’s Business Process Automation?
Business process automation requires using software to perform repetitive tasks and procedures in order to reduce time-consuming manual work. Typically, tools are cloud-based, making them easily accessible for remote, hybrid and in-office teams. This accessibility means they’re more than just “nice-to-have” — BPA is becoming a fundamental operational strategy for companies.
Automating business processes helps organizations hand countless tasks over to tech, letting staff devote time and energy to more pressing responsibilities. For example, automating HR tasks, like sending rejection letters, means managers can spend more time carefully shortlisting top candidates.
Key Features of Common Business Process Automation Software
When selecting software, look for the following essential functionalities to reap the full benefits of process automation.
Workflow Management
Workflow management is a fundamental business process automation feature that allows you to build and maintain visual workflows and automate tasks and messages. This functionality significantly contributes to company efficiency by reducing tedious, manual work.
For example, when an employee requests leave, their manager receives a message prompting approval. Then, when the manager approves the request, information like the duration and type of leave automatically enters into HR and payroll systems, freeing the manager from contacting both teams.
Secure Data Encryption
The best automation software promises tight data security in both transit and storage. High-quality encryption prevents hacking, keeping company data and employees’ personal information secure.
Top-notch security ensures that just authorized personnel can access records and sensitive information. For example, only certain finance department members should have access to banking information and Social Security numbers.
Document Management
Automating process documentation makes company workflows accessible to every worker, sets quality standards and encourages consistency. AI business automation solutions like Scribe let you document organizational processes like standard operating procedures (SOPs) instantly.
Say a business creates a customer service SOP on query resolution and stores it in a company-wide knowledge base. This promotes the quality and consistency of their customer service by circulating information for all employees to access. It also supports the organization as it scales by setting new hires up for success.
Examples of Effective Business Process Automation
The most common use for BPA is workflow automation, which handles high-volume, repetitive tasks, like sending messages, scheduling training sessions and meetings and processing order requests. Here are some example use cases for automating business process workflows.
Employee Onboarding
Employee onboarding requires complex and effort-intensive tasks like processing paperwork, enrolling people in benefits programs and IT setup. But you can easily automate these tasks with BPA software.
For instance, process automation is a life-saver when a small HR team must onboard a dozen new hires and ensure no crucial information — like legal matters, company policies and tool access — fall through the cracks.
Purchase Orders
Purchase orders are recurring processes that, while simple, carry risks like delays and delivery mistakes.
Automating approvals, supplier confirmation and order tracking increases accuracy and speeds up order fulfillment. Customers also appreciate automated order updates when they’re waiting for deliveries, so this feature can improve your overall client satisfaction rate.
Marketing Automation
Automation software empowers marketing teams to build a high-quality audience quickly by sending messages across multiple channels, including email, text and social media. BPA software also segments your audience to provide more relevant messaging to each group, tailoring marketing efforts based on demographics and customer journey phases.
Top 8 Business Process Automation Solutions
Whether you need workflow management tech or process documentation software, start your search with these eight excellent business process automation solutions to find the best option for your company’s needs.
1. Scribe
Scribe is an AI process documentation tool that automatically creates guides, manuals and SOPs. Turn on the browser extension or desktop app and perform your procedures as usual. Our tool documents the process, capturing detailed steps and adding annotated screenshots.
Pros
- Accessible user interface
- Instant, accurate AI process documentation
- Free to capture any process on your browser
- Works on Windows and Mac computers
- 100+ guides and SOP templates
Cons
- Limited number of documents in the free pla
- Only supports software documentation
- Pro plan is recommended for the best experience
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2. Nintex
Nintex is cloud-based workflow automation software that streamlines processes. The no-code platform is accessible to all employees, requires no programming and uses a point-and-click interface.
This option provides workflow automation and other business process management features, including document generation, form automation and eSignature management.
Pros
- No-code workflow creation
- Accessible interface
- Seamless integration with popular platforms like Microsoft Teams
Cons
- Limited customization
- Sluggish load speed
- Occasional automations that don’t execute
3. Appian
Appian is low-code software that helps companies create and automate business processes.
A drag-and-drop interface plus AI-driven tips and suggestions make it simple to build workflows, even if you aren’t a tech expert.
This tool also offers workflow tracking, letting you monitor process performance and use this data to improve efficiency, compliance and consistency.
Pros
- Visual, drag-and-drop workflow building
- AI-driven suggestions
- Process performance tracking
Cons
- Somewhat confusing interface
- Limited customization
- Limited reporting features
4. ProcessMaker
ProcessMaker is business process automation software that focuses on “hyper-productivity,” a term the company uses to describe the efficiency gained through a combination of AI and automation.
The tool empowers anyone to create smooth workflows without a single line of code — but it also allows users with coding experience to automate more personalized and intricate processes.
Pros
- Simple interface
- Versatile workflow builder for all tech levels
- Small learning curve, enabling teams to ramp up quickly
Cons
- Complex coding workflows that may require programming knowledge
- Some critical features that require coding knowledge
5. Kissflow
Kissflow is low-code BPA software primarily aimed at companies that want a straightforward approach. This lightweight platform promises detailed automation for any tech level, boasting a simple visual interface. It also supports scaling, letting users seamlessly edit and update workflows without complicated reconfiguration.
Pros
- Easy building of complex workflows
- Seamless integration with many tools, centralizing processes
- Quick task reassignment and delegation
Cons
- Significant focus on visuals, making it difficult for technical learners to ramp up
6. ActiveBatch
ActiveBatch schedules and automates jobs, reducing manual monitoring and task assigning. This solution offers an extensive Job Step Library with hundreds of workflow templates so you can start immediately with zero custom scripting or coding.
The software also provides an in-app knowledge base and a dedicated customer support team so you’ll never be in the dark as you learn the platform.
Pros
- Advanced security across on-premises, hybrid and cloud workspaces
- Detailed Job Step Library designed by automation experts
- Excellent customer support
Cons
- Somewhat unreliable event triggers
- Complex user interface with some difficult-to-find features
7. Laserfiche
Laserfiche is content management and no-code BPA software that focuses on company-wide resource centralization. This tool automates company-wide processes and helps users digitize documents, enhancing cross-functional alignment.
This platform also provides out-of-the-box and custom reporting templates to measure process efficacy, helping you maintain visibility into your procedures and make updates as needed.
Pros
- Quick document uploading and large storage capacity
- Deep searching and indexing functions
- Simple workflow automation creation and interface
Cons
- Occasional lagging and crashing issues
- Lacking tight security for remote workers
8. Microsoft Power Automate
Microsoft Power Automate is an accessible automation platform that provides AI technology and low-code options. This software offers ready-to-use workflows that only require a few tweaks to fit your needs. It also lets users customize more intricate AI-generated workflows so you can build a personalized plan with little heavy lifting.
Additionally, Microsoft Power Automate features seamless integrations, called “connectors,” with many tools. For example, Power Automate can send insights straight to Excel files on SharePoint to automate data collection.
Pros
- Premade workflow templates
- Customized AI-generated workflows
- Hundreds of possible integrations
Cons
- Lower-intelligence AI
- Limited customer support and documentation
Improve Productivity With Scribe’s Automated Business Process Documentation
Automating tedious workflow steps is non-negotiable for companies looking to improve team efficiency and task consistency.
Start by trusting Scribe to turn your processes into actionable guides. Enable our browser extension and walk through your procedure as usual — our AI tool captures every move and builds a customized, comprehensive document.
Sign up for Scribe today and translate critical processes into step-by-step guides.
