This IDC Market Perspective explores the impact of AI agents on business automation, highlighting AI agents’ ability to extend GenAI capabilities into actionable automation. It discusses how the impact of AI agents on the established business automation technology landscape will be shaped by the nature of work in particular use cases, the nature of competition, and the need for trust and reliability.“AI agents are poised to significantly expand the options that modern organizations have for automating aspects of work, and this will have an impact on the business automation technology market. However, AI agents will not be direct substitutes for existing and already established business automation technologies.” Neil Ward-Dutton, Vice President of AI, Automation, Analytics, and Data at IDC.
Executive Snapshot
New Market Developments and Dynamics
AI Agents Bring Generative AI to Business Automation
Level Setting on AI Agents
Defining AI Agents
AI Agents in Context
AI Agents as Business Automation Actors
Business Processes Are Scaffolding for Measurable Business Value
The Trajectory of AI Agents' Impact on Operations
All Work is Not the Same, and Organizations Already Have Tools They Rely On
Low-Automation and Low-Jeopardy Environments Are the Work Entry Point for AI Agents
Over Time, AI Agents Will Play Wider Roles — But They Will Rely on Deterministic Automation Tools as Well
AI Agents Will Influence Automations Through Multiple Work Actor Patterns
How AI Agents Are Impacting Automation Products
AI Agents Within the Business Automation Life Cycle
AI Agents Impacting Automation Solution Architecture
Advice for the Technology Supplier
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Related Research
Synopsis
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