IT Great Falls - Top IT Automation Trends in 2025

Top IT Automation Trends in 2025

IT automation has grown from a tool for shrinking help desk tickets into a strategic catalyst for digital transformation. As 2025 approaches, the automation landscape is being shaped by advances in artificial intelligence (AI), growing adoption of low‑code/no‑code platforms, and a drive to unify disparate systems. Analysts estimate the global workflow automation market was worth US$20.3 billion in 2023 and is growing at over 10 % per year, while surveys show nearly two‑thirds of CFOs now view task automation as a strategic priority. The following trends highlight how businesses will use automation to improve efficiency, resilience, security and customer experience in 2025.

1. Intelligent automation: AI, machine learning and generative models

AI continues to be the most transformative force in automation. Studies predict that by 2025 about 90 % of enterprise applications and software will incorporate AI and 61 % of machine‑learning applications will be used in the automation market. These systems go beyond scripting repetitive tasks to learn from data and adapt their actions; 50 % of enterprises are expected to adopt AI orchestration platforms, up from under 10 % in 2020. AI‑driven automation enables solutions like automated machine‑learning (AutoML), intelligent document processing and predictive maintenance. Moreover, the rise of generative AI has spurred new use cases. A recent survey reported that 97 % of businesses plan to develop generative‑AI models and 72 % have adopted data and ML pipelines to support these efforts. Preferred automation capabilities include API‑based integration (52 %), self‑service automation for business users (50 %) and chat‑based service support (49 %), signalling that generative and conversational AI will augment both IT and customer service workflows.

Agentic AI—autonomous agents that can make decisions—will also gain traction. Analysts expect that by 2028 about one‑third of enterprise software applications will include agentic AI and about 15 % of day‑to‑day work decisions will be made autonomously. Such agents can monitor infrastructure, detect anomalies and trigger corrective actions without human intervention, making them valuable for security monitoring and incident response. Companies like Oracle and SAP are already integrating agentic AI into their platforms.

2. Hyperautomation and intelligent process automation

Hyperautomation combines multiple technologies—AI/ML, robotic process automation (RPA), workflow automation and low‑code platforms—to automate end‑to‑end business processes. Gartner identifies hyperautomation as a top strategic trend, and it is now a priority for 90 % of large enterprises. Hyperautomation goes beyond deploying bots to examine every aspect of operations and apply the most effective tool for each step. Intelligent process automation (IPA) layers AI and machine learning on top of traditional RPA to handle complex, unstructured tasks; this integration can scale repetitive activities without additional coding. However, success depends on data quality and software selection; poor data and legacy systems are cited as barriers. Investments in hyperautomation will accelerate digital transformation and free employees to focus on creative work.

3. Democratization via low‑code and self‑service automation

Low‑code/no‑code platforms are democratizing automation. By 2025, 70 % of new applications are expected to use low‑code/no‑code technologies. These tools allow non‑technical “citizen developers” to design workflows through visual interfaces, reducing demand for scarce coding skills. The IT skills shortage is projected to continue, making user‑friendly automation tools essential. Self‑service automation further empowers business teams: surveys indicate 88 % of respondents already offer self‑service automation within their organizations. Instead of submitting tickets and waiting for IT, end users can initiate tasks themselves while IT maintains centralized visibility and control.

4. Centralized management and automation fabrics

As automation proliferates, organizations are consolidating oversight. Centralized scheduling and orchestration solutions are used by over half of companies (53 %) and the formation of dedicated automation teams is growing: 91 % of organizations now have a centralized IT automation team and 74 % have a centralized cloud‑operations team. This governance ensures that automation initiatives align with business goals and comply with security policies. The rise of “automation fabrics” complements centralized management. These fabrics unify applications, data and workflows into an integrated ecosystem, eliminating disconnected “automation islands” and enabling seamless scaling. Businesses adopting automation fabrics benefit from reduced downtime and technical debt because legacy systems, cloud solutions and AI‑driven automation coexist in one platform.

5. Domain‑specific trends: cloud automation, container management and DevOps automation

Cloud automation is among the top investment priorities: 50 % of companies plan to increase spending on cloud‑automation tools. Cloud automation simplifies the orchestration and monitoring of complex cloud environments, supports hybrid‑cloud strategies and accelerates digital transformation. Workload automation and service orchestration platforms are also gaining momentum; 42 % of businesses will invest in workload automation and 38 % in service orchestration platforms, totalling 80 % priority investment.

The shift to cloud‑native infrastructure is driving container management. By 2024, 75 % of large enterprises are expected to adopt container management solutions. IT automation improves container management by automating the creation and testing of container images, orchestrating containerized applications and enabling dynamic scaling. DevOps pipeline automation is another focus: around 35 % of current automation efforts target DevOps pipelines. Adopting AIOps and MLOps can reduce downtime by 20 % and improve productivity. Automation tools provide infrastructure resources, automate testing and deployment, manage configurations and proactively monitor systems.

6. Security, compliance and personalization

As attackers adopt AI, organizations must fortify their automation systems. Automation platforms increasingly emphasize strong encryption, multi‑factor authentication, audit trails and built‑in compliance features. These features protect sensitive data, satisfy evolving regulations and provide transparency. Security and compliance features are vital because hackers are using AI and ML tools, increasing the likelihood of breaches.

Personalization is another emerging trend. Automation can tailor products and services to individual customers by leveraging data and AI. This capability enhances customer experience and fosters loyalty. To capitalize on personalization, businesses must develop strong data‑collection strategies and ensure they have the right tools to process and act on that data.

7. Challenges and the road ahead

Despite rapid progress, organizations still struggle with automation maturity. An AIIM report found that only 33 % of respondents have integrated systems for workflow automation, and a mere 3 % have achieved advanced automation that leverages RPA and AI/ML. There is also an “AI readiness paradox”: 77 % of organizations experiment with AI, but 77 % rate their data quality as average or poor. Over half (52 %) encounter internal data‑quality issues during AI implementation. To succeed with automation in 2025, businesses must invest in clean, well‑structured data, upgrade legacy systems and train employees to adopt new tools. Resistance to change, technical issues and integration challenges remain obstacles, but the benefits—cost savings, reduced errors and greater agility—make overcoming them worthwhile.

Looking ahead, automation will continue to expand across the enterprise.  By 2026, 30 % of enterprises are expected to have automated more than half of their operations, and 45 % of business processes are still paper‑based—a reminder that there is still significant room for growth.  As 2025 approaches, businesses that invest in intelligent automation, democratize automation through low‑code tools, establish centralized governance and adopt automation fabrics will be best positioned to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

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Sources:

- Gartner: 2025 Strategic Automation Trends (https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases)

- McKinsey & Co: Future of Work in IT (https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-digital/our-insights)

- Forrester: Hyperautomation Market Trends (https://go.forrester.com/blogs/)