Did you know that knowledge workers can spend as much as 60% of their day on routine tasks that could easily be automated? That’s what recent research from McKinsey found.
For example, imagine an employee submitting an IT support ticket for a simple issue like resetting a password or accessing a blocked website.
Without automation, the request might sit in a queue, waiting for IT to review it manually, delaying resolution and frustrating both the employee and the team.
With workflow automation, however, the system can automatically identify the issue, take the necessary action, and resolve it instantly.
For businesses like yours, this kind of inefficiency isn’t just a headache — it’s costing millions in lost productivity every year.
If you’re looking for ways to boost efficiency and cut costs, workflow automation — especially when powered by artificial intelligence (AI) — is transforming how enterprises operate.
But where do you even start? Let’s break down what enterprise workflow automation is, why it matters, and explore 11 of the best solutions to help streamline your business.
What is enterprise workflow automation?
Enterprise workflow automation is a powerful tool that helps streamline business processes and boost efficiency.
It goes far beyond simple task automation or robotic process automation (RPA). It's a smart way to simplify and improve business processes across teams, systems, and departments.
AI-powered workflow automation moves information where it needs to go, automates decisions, and takes action across different systems — all while keeping things secure and compliant.
For example, consider a typical employee onboarding process.
Without automation, your HR team has to manually coordinate across IT, facilities, and department heads to provision accounts, set up workspaces, and schedule training — a lot of back-and-forth.
However, with intelligent workflow management, a single request can trigger a cascade of automated actions across systems — from creating email accounts to scheduling orientation sessions. Suddenly, everything’s ready before your new hire even walks in the door.
How AI makes workflow automation software smarter
Enterprise workflow automation software is the backbone of streamlining and digitizing complex business processes.
Unlike older automation tools that just copy manual tasks, workflow automation solutions use artificial intelligence to:
- Understand context
- Make decisions
- Adapt as your organization’s needs change
The big difference between basic workflow tools and enterprise-grade automation platforms comes down to AI, particularly agentic AI.
This type of AI can understand intent, reason through processes, and take action on its own.
While RPA tools are great for automating predictable, rule-based tasks, AI-powered automation steps it up by handling more complex scenarios that require judgment and flexibility.
Here’s an example: When an employee submits an IT support ticket, traditional automation might just route it based on keywords. But an AI-powered system can:
- Understand the context of the request
- Search your internal knowledge bases for solutions
- Automatically fix common issues
- Only hand off tricky problems to your team
Plus, it learns from every interaction to continue getting better over time.
AI-powered automation is incredibly versatile, offering solutions for nearly every department and function — adapting to your business’ unique needs.
Whether it’s simplifying HR tasks like onboarding and benefits, automating financial approvals and vendor management, or improving IT service delivery and security, the possibilities are endless.
AI can handle complex decisions, adapt to changes, and easily work across multiple systems and teams.
Check out our guide to enterprise automation use cases to see how other organizations are making the most of this technology.
Benefits of workflow automation tools
Why invest in automation? Enterprise workflow automation offers plenty of benefits, including:
- Higher productivity: By cutting out manual handoffs and automating routine tasks, employees can focus on more important work instead of being bogged down by admin.
- Better accuracy and compliance: Automated workflows stick to consistent processes and keep detailed audit trails, reducing mistakes and helping you meet regulatory requirements. This is especially important in industries like healthcare or financial services.
- Happier employees: Automating repetitive tasks means less time spent on frustrating admin work. Plus, self-service tools let employees get what they need fast, without waiting for manual approvals.
- Smarter insights: Automation creates loads of data on how processes are performing, where bottlenecks happen, and where improvements are possible. You can use this info to keep refining your operations.
- More room to grow: As your business scales, automated workflows can easily handle more work without needing to add new staff, offering a more efficient way to grow your operations.
How to pick the right enterprise workflow automation tool
Choosing the right workflow automation solution for your business takes some thoughtful consideration.
Sure, features and pricing matter, but it’s also important to think about things like how well it integrates with your existing tools, whether it meets your security needs, and if it can scale as your business grows.
Customizations
Enterprise workflows are rarely a one-size-fits-all deal. Your organization has its own processes, compliance needs, and business rules that call for a solution flexible enough to match.
But flexibility shouldn’t mean using up tons of development resources or piling on excessive technical debt.
When looking at customization options, keep these in mind:
- Flexible configuration: Choose platforms with plenty of configuration options that don’t require a lot of coding. This lets business users tweak workflows as your processes evolve.
- Development options: Tools should support a mix of development methods — like no-code visual builders for simple workflows and low-code tools for more complex ones. This way, both end users and developers can stay productive.
- Template libraries: Platforms with pre-built templates and workflow patterns can speed things up while still allowing you to tailor them to your business needs.
Integrations
Workflow automation only works if it connects smoothly with your current tech stack. Smooth integration makes a difference between real transformation and small, isolated improvements.
When evaluating integration options, here’s what to look for:
- API-first architecture: The platform should have strong APIs and pre-built connectors for common enterprise solutions like human resources information system (HRIS) platforms and service management tools.
- Data synchronization: Choose a solution that keeps data synced and secure in real time, avoiding silos and ensuring a seamless flow of information.
- Integration governance: Enterprise platforms should include tools to manage, monitor, and secure integrations at scale, giving you confidence as your tech stack grows.
Responsible AI practices
As artificial intelligence becomes an essential part of automating workflows, it's important to implement AI responsibly. This is just as much about technical capabilities as it is about governance, transparency, and managing risks effectively.
Here are some key points to think about for responsible AI:
- Data validation and quality: AI models are only as good as the data they’re trained on. They need accurate, complete datasets to work effectively, so having strong validation checks in place is a must for maintaining data integrity.
- Explainable decisions: When AI influences decisions, it should be clear how those choices were made, with decision trees that are easy to audit, if needed.
- Security and privacy controls: Make sure the solution offers detailed permissions management and strong encryption to protect data in transit and at rest. It should also meet key standards like GDPR and HIPAA, depending on your industry requirements.
- Model governance: Find tools that help you keep an eye on AI performance, spot and fix any biases in decision-making, and easily handle updates and version control. A responsible enterprise workflow automation tool should give you clear insights into how your AI models work, provide fair outcomes (removing biases), and make it simple to track changes and improve performance over time.
By prioritizing these practices, you’ll not only maximize the benefits of AI but also ensure it’s used ethically and securely, fostering trust across your organization.
Top 11 enterprise workflow automation solutions to streamline your business operations
The enterprise workflow automation market is evolving fast, and a few platforms are standing out as leaders. Here's a closer look at the top enterprise automation tools, what makes them unique and the best use cases for each.
1. Moveworks
Moveworks is redefining workflow automation with agentic AI that understands context, reasons through processes, and takes action on its own. Unlike traditional automation tools, Moveworks acts as an intelligent AI assistant that can effortlessly manage complex workflows across departments and systems.
What makes Moveworks unique:
- Automates workflows through simple, natural language
- Resolves many requests autonomously, with little to no human oversight
- Integrates easily with your existing enterprise tools and predefined business rules
- Comes with built-in compliance and security features
- Includes Creator Studio to quickly build custom workflows
Plus, Moveworks can handle complex workflows without requiring tons of setup or training.
Its agentic AI gets what users want, connects to the right systems, and is able to complete multi-step processes automatically, making it ideal for enterprises that want to get up and running quickly with minimal development time.
Get a free demo and see firsthand how Moveworks can support your enterprise.
2. Workato
Workato brings you a unified platform that makes it easy to connect cloud and on-premise apps with its recipe-based automation. The platform is a good choice for mid-market enterprises looking to automate workflows between apps.
Top features:
- Pre-built connectors for popular enterprise apps
- AI-powered workflow suggestions to save time
- Real-time monitoring and analytics for better insights
- Enterprise-grade security and compliance you can trust
- Flexible multi-cloud deployment options
3. Mulesoft
Mulesoft offers an all-in-one integration platform that helps businesses connect their apps, data, and devices, with a focus on API-led connectivity. So it’s best suited for enterprises needing to connect legacy systems and modern applications.
What you’ll get:
- Tools for API management and development
- Hybrid integration options
- Reusable integration assets
- A visual flow designer
- Advanced security features
4. Microsoft Power Automate
Power Automate integrates deeply with Microsoft's ecosystem while offering connections to hundreds of third-party applications.
It provides both desktop and cloud automation capabilities, so it’s a viable option if your organization is heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem and wants to automate both types of workflows.
Key features:
- AI Builder for intelligent automation
- Low-code development environment
- Robust compliance features
- Process mining capabilities
5. Zapier
Zapier makes automation simple with its user-friendly interface and huge range of app integrations. While it started with small businesses in mind, it now meets enterprise needs as well.
Why teams love it:
- A massive app integration library
- Easy no-code automation builder
- Multi-step workflows
- Collaboration tools for teams
- Version control and testing features
6. Salesforce Flow
Salesforce's automation platform taps into the power of the Salesforce ecosystem and goes beyond just CRM processes. It’s a great fit for organizations already using Salesforce as their main platform and looking to expand automation across the rest of their tech stack.
Top features:
- Easy-to-use process builder and flow designer
- Smart insights with Einstein AI
- Mobile-friendly workflows
- Strong security controls
7. Jira Automation
Jira’s automation features are designed to streamline software development and project management workflows, but they’re flexible enough to handle other business processes too.
What to expect:
- Powerful project automation
- Easy-to-use custom rule builder
- Automation across multiple projects
- Tons of integration options
- Audit logging for compliance
8. UiPath
UiPath combines RPA and AI to automate both simple tasks and complex workflows. Whether you need attended or unattended automation, it’s a solid choice for organizations looking to blend RPA with smart, AI-driven tools.
What you’ll get:
- Process mining and task recording
- Document understanding
- Test automation
- Governance and compliance tools
9. IBM Robotic Process Automation
IBM’s solution also blends traditional RPA with AI and machine learning to deliver smart automation for enterprise needs.
It’s a great fit for large enterprises, especially those already invested in the IBM ecosystem, that want to expand their automation capabilities.
Key features:
- AI-driven decision-making
- Natural language processing
- Process mining and modeling
- Enterprise-grade security
10. Automation Anywhere
Automation Anywhere offers a cloud-based platform that combines RPA with smart automation tools, so it’s a great pick for organizations that need intelligent, cloud-based automation with powerful analytics.
Top features:
- Bot insight analytics for better data-driven decisions
- IQ Bot to handle unstructured data
- Centralized control room for easy management
- Enterprise-grade security
11. Aisera
Aisera offers an AI-powered solution designed to automate cross-departmental workflows across the business. Using conversational AI and machine learning, its goal is to help boost productivity, cut costs, and create a better user experience.
It’s a great option for businesses wanting to roll out self-service features across different departments.,
What makes Aisera stand out:
- Smart AI-driven conversational workflows
- Integration with tools such as ServiceNow, Salesforce, and more
- Ability to automatically solve common requests
How workflow automation can enhance efficiency for your enterprise
As enterprises like yours embrace AI to improve operations, intelligent workflow automation is emerging as a powerful solution for:
- Greater efficiency
- Data-driven insights
- Enhanced productivity
While many platforms claim to offer automation, the real value lies in solutions that deliver intelligent, end-to-end automation capable of adapting and growing with your business.
Moveworks is leading the pack with a cutting-edge platform and our Agentic Automation Engine that blends advanced agentic AI with enterprise-grade automation.
It goes well beyond traditional tools by that designed from its core for AI agents so you can easily create and manage custom workflows.
You can streamline even the most complex workflows by:
- Connecting different departments, applications, and systems
- Removing silos
- Creating a smoother, more connected (and transparent) work environment for everyone
Moveworks enables your entire company to interact with systems and access automations through chatting in simple, conversational language. This doesn’t just make processes easier — it opens up access to technology for everyone in your organization.
With enterprise-grade security built in and a commitment to industry compliance standards, you can trust Moveworks to meet the rigorous standards used by automated processes.
But the real magic? Moveworks is ready out of the box and so starts delivering value from the very beginning. You won’t need months of setups or never-ending implementations. You start to see the benefits of intelligent automation much sooner, enabling you to boost efficiency and spark innovation across your business.
Ready to make your workflows more efficient? Moveworks’ agentic AI is designed to revolutionize how you work, helping your organization achieve more with less effort.
Learn how global enterprises like yours are accelerating digital transformation with Moveworks AI.
Table of contents
