B2B Process Automation in 2024: Decision Intelligence and AI-driven Business Processes

We have been reducing manual clicks with APIs and business rules to save on time and expenditure for years, and the extent to which we can automate is still unimaginable as evident from the recent launch of rabbit inc.

Task Automation

Business depends on us humans to learn, adapt, and execute. With most of such tasks now being performed on computers, it is anticipated that soon humans and machines will connect through thought. User-dependent tasks are now aided with automation features inside software products.

Microsoft Copilot[iii] has been integrated into nearly all Microsoft 365 products and automatically creates presentations, emails, and data analytics apart from the usual text generation using 2-line prompts, akin to commands given to employees. I have personally used this in Power BI online and advanced analysis that once required specialized training and certification became as easy as asking in plain English: “Show me 5 highest performing distributors in the state based on sales volume and rank them based on average order value”.

Google announced Gemini Pro model in the Google Workspace [iv], which will supposedly provide an experience similar to Copilot for the users of the Google ecosystem. The business research company reports[v] an expected CAGR of 11.9% in the business process automation market which is currently valued at $13.5B.

Vision Automation

Vision Automation, can also be clubbed as a part of Task automation, but is distinct in its function. Vision, as it currently stands, is used for analysis and not execution.

Computer Vision technologies have evolved from TensorFlow models and on-premise Python libraries like Jaided Ai’s EasyOCR[vi] to fully managed and sophisticated multi-model APIs like the Google Cloud Vision Ai[vii] and Microsoft Azure Ai Vision[viii]. Computer vision Market was valued at $17.2B in 2023 and is growing at a CAGR of 17.7% as per the industry analysis by MarketsandMarkets™ [ix].

Applications based on Computer vision are being used for document processes. Handwritten notes, packaging label entry, invoice capture, document verification, retail space analysis, workforce monitoring, and surveillance logs are only a few of the solutions that have been supercharged with computer vision.

Workflow Automation

Mordor Intelligence values the Workflow Automation market at $21B with an expected CAGR of 9.5%[x]. Workflow Automation comes at a level higher than Task automation. While software-based tasks require features inside the software, workflows are dependent on people who are required to think and make decisions constantly.

Pegasystems Workflow Intelligence ranks at the top of Gartner’s business process automation tools section ($10B+ size)[xi]. With the Process Ai and GenAi, their low code platform can essentially be used as a unified tool to launch and run a company. Similar to other major players like SAP and Microsoft Dynamics 365, they have dedicated training and learning platforms to get acquainted with their product suite.

IBM, a thought leader in the industry, recently launched its new version of Business Automation Workflow with AI-powered task prioritisation and IBM Process Designer.[xii] Other leaders in this segment include the likes of Oracle, Appian Corporation, and Xerox.

Decision Automation

More commonly known as Decision Intelligence, Decision Automation comes at a level even higher than Workflow Automation involving tools and technologies at work in tandem with strategic decision-making. [Further Reading by Cognyte [xiii]]

The decision Intelligence market has been expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.6% over the next decade. Precedence Research values this segment's market size at $12.1B for 2023[xiv]

While the major players are expected to bring DPA to their product portfolio, specialized firms Aera Technology can put your business into self-driving mode.[xv] Learning from your decisions, industry models, and data to ask you with premade decisions like a senior manager would. It covers the level 5 to 7 of the ten levels of automation[xvi] in operations management.

Peak similarly offers decision intelligence for inventory and pricing intelligence, optimizing your profitability. Diwo eliminates the need for analytics and directly gives you recommendation prompts with expected revenue impacts on making those decisions.[xvii]

Board takes decision intelligence into the planning stage which could reduce the time spent in planning by 75%. metaphacts GmbH brings decision intelligence to the Knowledge process enabling 90% of data generated into an enterprise-wide knowledge base.

Conclusion

The benefits of automation at all three major levels come with an overlooked benefit of decreasing dependency on trained human skills. When working on adiflow, I created a concept of prompting SMB owners through WhatsApp with premade decisions made by AI models. Aera Technology has achieved exactly what I envisioned. I highly recommend checking them out.

It is refreshing to be alive in this era.

Bibliography

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[i] (“What is Cognitive Automation - An Introduction | 10xDS,” 2019)

[ii] (“What is cognitive computing?,” n.d.)

[iii] (Spataro, 2023)

[iv] (“The next chapter of our Gemini era,” 2024)

[v] (“Business Process Automation Market Growth Revenue, Strategies, Trends 2033,” n.d.)

[vi] (“Jaided AI: EasyOCR demo,” n.d.)

[vii] (“Vision AI,” n.d.)

[viii] (“Azure AI Vision with OCR and AI | Microsoft Azure,” n.d.)

[ix] (“AI in Computer Vision Market - Global Size, Share & Industry Analysis [Latest],” n.d.)

[x] (“Workflow Automation Market - Size, Report & Forecast,” n.d.)

[xi] (Inc, n.d.)

[xii] (“Announcing IBM Business Automation Workflow 23.0.2,” <date>)

[xiii] (“What is decision intelligence?,” n.d.)

[xiv] (“Decision Intelligence Market Size, Trends, Report By 2032,” n.d.)

[xv] (Technology, n.d.)

[xvi] (“Fig. 1,” n.d.)

[xvii] (“Diwo’s Decision Intelligence Platform,” n.d.)