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Organisations in all regions and industries are turning over more and more of their business processes to automation. The operational gains being made from this are plain to see, but business leaders are looking for more. The application of artificial intelligence (AI) to automation technologies can help them secure it.

Meeting data privacy and security concerns is the foremost automation challenge for organisations; technology issues, lack of skills and employee resistance are also hindrances

Data privacy and security concerns

Lack of relevant talent and skills

Key challenges

AI-based automation will soon make its presence felt. Although there is some uncertainty, few strongly believe automation will displace humans in the workforce

consider consider deployment of AI capabilities a high priority

believe automation is most effective when it complements humans, not replaces them

The impact of AI

33%

29%

69%

79%

Automation is delivering operational gains for most firms today, and hopes are building for top-line benefits, such as revenue growth; gains for employees are less visible thus far

of surveyed organisations are using automation technologies

Automation is the responsibility of a C-level executive at 84% of

surveyed organisations

Automation returns

91%

73%

make extensive use of them

51%

69% 56%

Technology deployment

30%

Employee resistance

29%

The automation of business processes has made considerable headway

Company departments that have automated half or more of processes:

Automation maturity

Europe

Asia

Lack of relevant talent and skills (by region): Employee resistance (by region):

North America

*=3 meaning that the challenges tied in their level of significance among the surveyed organisations

43%

23%

23%

Data is drawn from an Economist Intelligence Unit survey completed in May 2019. The survey canvassed the views of 502 C-level executives, directors and senior managers working in energy/natural resources, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, professional services and government/public sector.

© Copyright The Economist Intelligence Unit 2019

Increased productivity

Reduced human error

Improved consistency of processes and output

Enhanced customer experience

Increased revenue

Reduced operating expenses

Accelerated product/service innovations

Enhanced competitive advantage

Freeing up employees to take on higher-level roles

Enhanced employee engagement and experience

Reduced occupational injuries

Europe

Asia

North America

31%

52%

32%

28%

27%

27%

25%

20%

19%

18%

17%

10%

25%

31%

1 2

=3 =3

The advance of automationBusiness hopes, fears and realities

are ‘very’ or ‘entirely’ satisfied with the returns from automation to date

67%IT

63%operations and

production

56%finance

say the same of hard automation (physical robots)

consider software automation (such as RPA) a high or

essential priority

84%