What Is an Automation Platform? Plus, How It Can Help Your Business

This article was first published in February 2018 and was updated in November 2024.

Were you aware that an automation platform can help automate business processes in all areas of your business?

Over the past several years, digital transformation has changed how companies approach expansion. Offering stellar services is a simple way to grow, but that can only be done with solid processes and procedures behind them.

Regardless of your department’s organizational function, an automation platform will help you satisfy internal and external clients. Here at Nutrient Workflow, we offer an automation platform with simple integration so you can immediately optimize your business. We’ll outline everything you need to know about automation platforms.

So, what is an automation platform, and how can it benefit you? Read on to find out.

An Overview of Automation Platforms

An automation platform is a type of cloud-based software that many businesses use for various purposes. In the world of digital transformation, these platforms are helping businesses complete more tasks while reducing how much money and time are spent on them.

An automation platform can be used for several business functions, such as data entry, employee onboarding, incident response, or customer service. With the right platform, you’ll have access to a variety of tools that can be used to streamline any process.

Types of Automation Platforms

Automation platforms come in various forms, each tailored to meet specific business needs. Understanding the different types can help you choose the right solution for your organization. Here are some of the most common types:

1. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Platforms: These platforms use software robots to automate repetitive, rule-based tasks by mimicking human actions. RPA platforms like Automation 360 and UiPath are ideal for tasks such as data entry, invoice processing, and customer service interactions. By leveraging robotic process automation, businesses can significantly reduce manual labor and increase efficiency.

2. Business Process Automation (BPA) Platforms: BPA platforms focus on automating entire business processes by integrating multiple systems and applications. Tools like Microsoft Power Automate and Ansible enable organizations to streamline workflows, improve accuracy, and enhance productivity. These platforms are perfect for automating complex processes that involve multiple steps and stakeholders.

3. Cloud Automation Platforms: These platforms offer a cloud-based infrastructure for automating business processes, providing scalability and flexibility. Examples include Automation 360 and UiPath Automation Cloud. Cloud automation platforms allow businesses to scale automation efforts quickly and efficiently, adapting to changing needs without significant upfront investment.

4. Hybrid Automation Platforms: Combining the capabilities of RPA and BPA, hybrid automation platforms offer a comprehensive solution for businesses. They provide the flexibility to automate a wide range of tasks, from simple, repetitive actions to complex, multi-step processes. This versatility makes hybrid platforms an excellent choice for organizations looking to implement a robust automation strategy.

Who Uses Automation Platforms?

Businesses of any size in any industry can use an automation platform if they’re looking to make performing repetitive tasks easier, more consistent, and trackable. These platforms are also frequently used in situations that require strict compliance, for instance, due to regulatory requirements.

As processes and tasks become more complex, an automation platform can scale to meet the evolving needs of its users: the best platform offers unlimited processes, tasks, alerts, reports, and transactions.

Consider the difference in automation needs for a global pharmaceutical company vs. a small pest control company. While the first may deal with international legal document reviews across multiple stakeholder departments in various languages, the other may just be looking to expedite the invoice process. Most platforms aren’t flexible enough to accommodate these vastly different use cases. 

The Benefits of Automation Platforms

Here are some of the main benefits of digital automation:

Improve Customer Service

Building a positive reputation with clients is much easier using an automation platform. Customer Service teams need to ensure consistent, rapid follow-up. You can achieve this by getting things done quicker and offering services at lower rates, which can be done with automation software.

Internal and external clients will be happier with the expedited services, and employees will have an easier time fulfilling their duties. If you’re trying to scale your business, you’ll need digital automation to expand your reach as much as possible.

Streamline Operations

Automating workflows is one of the main benefits, as it gives an organization more time to work on more value-adding tasks. Whether you have a tight budget or want to do more at once, an automation platform will help you.

These solutions’ tools can be accessed from anywhere at any time. All it takes is a click of a button to make a request, provide approval, or any other workflow task.

Based on preset business rules, the platform will route information to where it needs to go. Integration with various business systems ensures that all systems talk to each other and share critical data.

Ensure Compliance

Creating a standardized, automated process helps ensure that the activities required to complete tasks successfully are performed consistently. Compliance requirements can be met by auditing and reporting on them to demonstrate to external parties that procedures were followed correctly.

Key Features of Automation Platforms

Automation platforms are packed with features designed to help businesses automate their processes efficiently. Here are some of the key features you can expect:

1. Automated Workflows: One of the primary benefits of automation platforms is the ability to create automated workflows. These workflows streamline business processes, reduce manual labor, and ensure tasks are completed consistently and accurately. By automating workflows, businesses can focus on more strategic activities.

2. Integration with Legacy Systems: Many automation platforms offer seamless integration with legacy systems, allowing businesses to automate processes without overhauling their existing infrastructure. This integration ensures that all systems communicate effectively, sharing critical data and maintaining operational continuity.

3. Scalability: Automation platforms are designed to scale with your business needs. Whether you’re starting small or looking to expand automation across your entire organization, these platforms provide the flexibility to grow as required. This scalability ensures that your automation efforts can keep pace with your business’s evolving demands.

4. Reliable Automation: Consistency and accuracy are crucial for successful automation. Automation platforms offer reliable automation, ensuring that automated processes are executed correctly every time. This reliability helps build trust in the system and ensures that business operations run smoothly.

5. Event-Driven Automation: Some platforms, like Ansible, offer event-driven automation, enabling businesses to automate processes in real-time based on specific triggers or events. This capability allows for more responsive and dynamic automation, improving efficiency and responsiveness.

Automation Platform Security

Security is a top priority for automation platforms, ensuring that automated processes are executed securely and in compliance with regulatory requirements. Here are some of the key security features you can expect:

1. Data Encryption: Automation platforms encrypt data both in transit and at rest, protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access. This encryption ensures that your data remains secure throughout the automation process.

2. Access Control: Robust access control features allow businesses to manage who can access and control automated processes. By setting permissions and roles, you can ensure that only authorized personnel can make changes, enhancing security and accountability.

3. Compliance: Automation platforms are designed to meet industry regulatory requirements, ensuring that your automated processes comply with relevant standards. This compliance helps mitigate risks and demonstrates to external parties that your business adheres to best practices.

4. Audit Trails: Comprehensive audit trails enable businesses to track and monitor automated processes. These trails provide a detailed record of actions taken, helping to identify and address any issues that arise. Audit trails are essential for maintaining transparency and accountability.

5. Secure Integration: Automation platforms offer secure integration with other systems and applications, ensuring that automated processes are executed safely. This secure integration helps protect your business from potential vulnerabilities and ensures that your automation efforts are robust and reliable.

By understanding the different types of automation platforms, their key features, and the security measures they offer, you can make an informed decision about which solution is best for your business. Embracing automation can help you streamline operations, improve customer satisfaction, and achieve your business goals more efficiently.

Implement an Automation Platform Today

Now that you understand an automation platform better, you should start using one as soon as possible. When directing a department, digital automation will ensure you have the means to provide the best services to your clients.

If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to think about some of the things your department regularly does. Any function requiring many steps can be simplified with an automation platform.

Check out Nutrient Workflow’s automation features to learn more about how our automation platform can benefit you! You can also get a personalized demo to see how IT uses it.

Interested in Automating Your Workflow?

We have a variety of resources to help you on your journey to an automated workflow.

• Workflow Tools and eBooks

• Workflow Ideas Weekly eMail Newsletter

• Recorded Demonstration of our Workflow Automation Software

• Request a Live Demonstration

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