It’s no secret: automation has become a fixture in modern business operations. But in 2021, a new and ambitious trend began capturing attention—hyperautomation. More than a buzzword, hyperautomation pushed organizations to go beyond task-based automation, aiming for end-to-end transformation of entire business processes.

Gartner first coined the term "hyperautomation" in 2019, but it was in 2020 and 2021 that this concept really started gaining traction. At its core, hyperautomation is about integrating multiple automation tools—like Robotic Process Automation (RPA), machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI)—to automate not just individual tasks, but entire workflows and business operations.

Key characteristics:

• End-to-end automation beyond simple, repetitive tasks
• Use of advanced technologies like AI/ML for decision-making processes
• Seamless orchestration of humans and digital workers

Why Did Hyperautomation Become So Hot?

Several factors converged in the early 2020s to create perfect conditions for hyperautomation:

• COVID-19 Pandemic: The massive shift to remote work highlighted inefficiencies in manual processes and accelerated digital transformation mandates.
• Vendor Ecosystem Maturity: RPA platforms (like UiPath, Automation Anywhere, and Blue Prism) matured, adding AI capabilities, connectors, and process discovery tools.
• Need for Agility: Businesses needed adaptive operations that could respond to rapid market changes, supply chain disruptions, and customer demands.

Hyperautomation in Action: Example Use Cases

Case Study: Insurance Claims Processing

• Traditional RPA helped automate data entry for claims.
• Hyperautomation added document recognition (AI), workflow orchestration, and exception handling, cutting processing time from days to hours.

Example: Financial Services Onboarding

• Integrated chatbots, RPA, and business rules engines to streamline customer KYC (Know Your Customer) processes, reducing manual involvement and errors.

How Does Hyperautomation Differ From Basic Automation?

Basic Automation	Hyperautomation
Focuses on discrete tasks	Automates end-to-end processes
Often rule-based	Combines RPA, AI, ML, analytics
Limited scalability	Scalable across departments
Human handoffs required	Orchestrates digital + human

Strategic Benefits for Business Leaders

For decision-makers, hyperautomation promised more than cost savings:

• Business Resilience: Automated processes were less impacted by disruptions.
• Better Insights: Integration of analytics enabled real-time process monitoring and optimization.
• Employee Empowerment: Freed staff from repetitive work, enabling them to focus on higher-value activities.

Getting Started: Steps to Consider

1. Map Your Processes: Use process mining tools to identify automation opportunities.
2. Evaluate Technology Stack: Invest in platforms that combine RPA, AI, workflow, and monitoring.
3. Pilot and Scale: Start with a focused initiative, then expand automation across functions.
4. Prioritize Change Management: Success requires collaboration between IT, business, and employees.

Looking Forward

As 2022 unfolds, hyperautomation is rapidly evolving from an emerging trend to a core competitive strategy. Organizations embracing it now are poised to reimagine their processes and outpace the competition.

Ready to explore hyperautomation for your business? Start small, think big—and let digital workers transform your operations.