The new era of automation is pushing the boundaries of what's possible. From low-code to generative AI, this technology can automate tasks that once required human creativity, judgment, and critical thinking.
In the same way new materials and automated machinery created new standards of manufacturing in the 20th century, 21st-century forms of automation are ready to streamline many more processes than we thought possible. The financial implications of modern automation are staggering, as is the potential boost in worker performance. Here are a few numbers that show the scope of automation.
1. By 2026, the automation market could be worth as much as $19.6 billion. (Markets and Markets)
2. New forms of automation offer a golden opportunity for a vast majority of businesses (94%) currently bogged down by repetitive, time-consuming tasks. (Kissflow)
3. Only 55% of businesses are actively using generative AI to automate certain processes. (CompTIA)
4. Nearly all (94%) business professionals at major companies say they'd prefer a unified platform that connects their applications and automates workflow, eliminating the inefficiencies of relying on numerous, disconnected systems. (Workato)
5. The potential contribution of automation and AI to the global economy is estimated to be a massive $15.7 trillion by 2030. (PwC)
Automation fundamentally changes how work gets done. It streamlines repetitive tasks, freeing up human workers to focus on more complex or strategic areas. As new forms of automation come to market, these tools will lead to new approaches for automating data analysis, customer service, and marketing, leading to faster completion times and increased productivity.
6. Automation can be a game-changer, saving organizations up to 77% of their time. (Gitnux)
7. Half of business leaders believe automation can handle up to 30% of their workload. (Kissflow)
8. Workflow automation is rapidly becoming a strategic advantage, with 75% of companies reporting a significant competitive edge. (Gitnux)
More productive companies are often more profitable and better able to take on new challenges. With workflows automated for efficiency, faster completion times and increased productivity mean teams can accomplish more in less time.
9. Two-thirds of knowledge workers report that automation has made them significantly more productive at work. (Zapier)
10. By embracing hyperautomation alongside process redesign, organizations can expect significant cost reductions, with estimates suggesting up to 30% lower operational expenses. (Gartner)
11. Executives see automation as a workforce superpower! A study revealed that 90% expect it to significantly increase their workforce capacity in the next three years. (Deloitte)
12. Over a third (35%) of small and medium businesses credit automation with significantly improving their customer service and support capabilities. (Zapier)
From loan processing to healthcare companies streamlining data analysis, automation allows humans to focus on complex areas and client relationships instead of tedious tasks. Even industries with a strong tradition of automation, like manufacturing, can benefit from new workflow automation. There are very few industries that won’t be impacted by increased automation.
13. Professionals in the administrative (46%) and legal (44%) fields are most likely to see a quarter or more of their work automated. (Goldman Sachs)
14. Data entry (38%), document management (32%), lead nurturing (30%), and inventory control (27%) top the list of automated tasks across industries. (Zapier)
15. Marketers using automation are 95% more likely to report highly successful marketing strategies than their non-automated counterparts. (HubSpot)
Automation is changing the face of finance and fintech. In traditional finance, repetitive tasks like data entry, digitalization, and basic loan processing are being streamlined. Fintech companies are leveraging automation further by personalizing financial products, automating fraud detection, and expediting loan applications. This combination of human expertise and automation improves efficiency and innovation across the entire financial sector.
16. Two-thirds of survey participants (66%) report that C-suite executives are now, or soon will be, directly responsible for ensuring responsible AI/ML practices within their institutions. (Institute of International Finance)
17. Almost 9 out of 10 (88%) finance and insurance executives have accelerated automation implementation since 2020. (McKinsey)
18. A global survey of financial institutions reveals a surge in automation. Almost 85% of respondents already use AI and machine learning (ML) techniques in production. (Institute of International Finance)
Automating tasks like account management, transaction processing, and fraud detection frees up bank tellers and customer service representatives to take care of problems that chatbots or self-service systems can't handle.
19. More than a third of banks surveyed (36%) reported slashing annual costs by more than 10% thanks to automation and AI. (NVIDIA)
20. Using automation and AI tools to analyze agent interactions could lead to an increase in sales opportunities of 50% or more. (EY)
21. Some fraud detection technologies could help banks reduce false positives by as much as 70%. (Comply Advantage)
Tasks like server maintenance, updating software, detecting cyberattacks, and basic troubleshooting are perfect candidates for automation. Automation boosts IT efficiency and keeps companies more secure, allowing workers to focus on proactive measures that keep businesses running smoothly.
22. Up to 85% of organizations surveyed in 2022 reported using robotic process automation (RPA) for IT tasks. (Strategic Market Research)
23. One prediction suggests that half of enterprises will leverage AI and automation orchestration platforms to turn new IT operations concepts into reality by 2025. (Redwood)
24. Almost three-quarters of IT professionals have already integrated machine learning pipelines for generative AI initiatives, underscoring automation and AI's central role in shaping future strategies. (Stonebranch)
25. While concerns exist, a significant portion (32%) of information technology workers see AI as a positive force, believing it will ultimately benefit them personally. (Pew Research Center)
Thanks to a large language model’s ability to learn and analyze huge amounts of data quickly, it can find and fix problems more efficiently than a person. By automating workflows, telecom companies can deliver more reliable service and prioritize future innovation.
26. Studies show that widespread adoption of automation and AI by telecom workers can lead to significant gains, with labor productivity increasing by up to 40%. (FTI Delta)
27. A significant majority (67%) of telecom businesses using automation and AI technologies report revenue growth, with 19% experiencing gains of over 10%. (NVIDIA)
28. Platforms used in manufacturing sped up automation by three times and led to 40% fewer non-recurring engineering costs. (Vention)
While certain tasks like welding and painting have been automated for many years, new advances are reducing inefficiencies and improving product development and prototyping. By reducing the number of tedious tasks that need oversight, human workers can focus on quality control and research.
29. A new survey reveals that generative AI for automation and other industrial applications is the most in-demand new investment area for manufacturers over the next 12 months, ranking #1 on their top 10 list. (Rockwell Automation)
30. When choosing components for automation projects, engineers prioritize quality first (96%), followed closely by service and support (93%) and surprisingly fast delivery times (82%). Price takes a backseat, ranking fifth. (Assembly)
31. Industrial companies are placing a major bet on automation, with plans to invest 25% of their capital in this technology over the next five years. (McKinsey)
In human resources, automation can handle tasks like screening resumes, scheduling interviews, and onboarding new employees. Chatbots can answer common employee questions and provide links to self-service resources. This way, HR professionals can focus on employee development and building better work cultures.
32. Twenty-five percent of companies use HR automation, mainly for recruitment and hiring. (Zavvy)
33. Nearly 70% of recruiters see AI as a tool to help eliminate unconscious bias in the hiring process. (Tidio)
34. Nearly 37% of businesses lack the automation technology needed to streamline and organize their onboarding processes. (G2)
Healthcare automation is much more than intelligent appointment scheduling and data entry. With the newest automation systems, claims can be processed automatically and mountains of patient data can be analyzed to look for trends and support a diagnosis. By freeing healthcare professionals from these kinds of tasks, automation systems let doctors and nurses provide more personalized and effective treatments.
35. Half of U.S. healthcare providers plan to leverage RPA technology over the next three years. (Strategic Market Research)
36. One healthcare office saved more than $4,000 per month by automating some paper-based tasks. (Gravity Flow)
37. Most health systems (80%) plan to invest in digital healthcare solutions over the next five years. (HIMSS)
Many executives see automation not as a substitute for employees but as a tool to help workers be more productive. Combining ITOM and ITSM, for example, brings operational efficiency upgrades together with tools that keep employees satisfied and productive. With fewer tedious jobs to deal with each day, workers can instead focus on more pressing problems and more complex customer support issues.
38. More than 91% of knowledge workers praise automation, reporting it has improved their work experience. (Zapier)
39. At least 50% of workers harbor concerns that automation might threaten their job security. (Authority Hacker)
40. A survey found that 35% of respondents think their companies need to invest in workers skilled for the future of automation, AI, and robotics, creating new opportunities for workers. (McKinsey)
41. Sixty percent of workers respond positively to automation in the workplace. (Harvard Business Review)
Automation offers benefits for businesses and their employees. Streamlining repetitive tasks reduces labor costs and minimizes errors while saving money. For employees, automation frees them from monotonous tasks so they can focus on professional development and better customer service.
42. Studies show that 60% to 70% of all work activities are automatable using current technology. (McKinsey)
43. Half of executives think employees benefit most from automation and AI tools while the other half think the business benefits more. (UGK)
44. Automation investments can yield a return on investment (ROI) between 30% and 200% in the first year for organizations, primarily through reduced labor costs and improved efficiency. (Profile Tree)
45. Product enhancements fueled by AI and automation are projected to be the key driver behind 45% of total economic gains by 2030. (PwC)
These automation statistics show how transformative automation can be for businesses and their employees. Thanks to the power and flexibility of AI-enhanced workflow automation, there’s almost no limit to the tasks that can be streamlined.
ServiceNow offers automation across several products, including ITOM, to give you better tools for automation. Whether your team needs help building better internal apps for employees, keeping IT ops running smoothly, or connecting channels to improve worker and customer experience, ServiceNow can help.