The shift from robotic process automation (RPA) to agentic process automation (APA), prominently on display at Automation Anywhere’s Imagine conference in Orlando this week, promises significant implications for the software development community—particularly for low-code/no-code and citizen developers. Automation Anywhere, a provider of automation platforms and framework, articulated how APA, powered by agentic AI, will redefine the development landscape by providing unprecedented flexibility, intelligence and ease-of-use in application development. More than that, they are going all in on APA.
Historically, RPA has been widely employed to automate a range of routine and repetitive tasks. However, its limitations were around RPA requiring highly structured environments and precisely defined logic paths. Small deviations or variations in data inputs often meant manual intervention, limiting its scalability and efficiency in dynamic business processes.
APA, with its integration of advanced AI capabilities, overcomes these limitations. It offers a significant advancement—automation agents capable of understanding context, learning from experiences and adapting workflows dynamically. This intelligence liberates automation from rigid script-bound processes, providing immense potential to enhance productivity, especially in software development environments dominated by low-code/no-code tools.
One of APA’s most transformative impacts will be felt by citizen developers—individuals with limited or no formal coding training who build applications primarily through visual interfaces and drag-and-drop components. Historically, citizen developers faced significant hurdles as their applications became more complex, often necessitating the involvement of professional developers to handle the logic-intensive, conditional workflows beyond their skill sets.
With APA, citizen developers have access to a new class of tools—intelligent agents capable of automatically handling complex backend logic and decision-making processes. These agents don’t just automate routine tasks; they actively assist in managing more sophisticated operations typically reserved for professional developers. As a result, citizen developers can confidently create more robust, intelligent, and dynamic applications without becoming overwhelmed by complexity.
APA’s impact on low-code/no-code platforms will also be profound. These platforms have democratized application development, empowering non-technical users to address their unique business challenges rapidly. Integrating agentic automation into these platforms amplifies their capability significantly. APA agents can proactively identify patterns, suggest optimal workflows, troubleshoot issues autonomously, and dynamically adapt processes based on evolving data inputs.
Consider a typical scenario where a citizen developer creates a customer-facing app to streamline order processing. Traditionally, even low-code platforms require significant configuration to handle variations in customer behavior or unexpected data formats. APA agents, by contrast, autonomously manage these exceptions in real-time, learning from every interaction and continuously refining the process. This means less manual tweaking, fewer errors, and dramatically improved operational efficiency.
Moreover, the Imagine conference emphasized the importance of orchestration—a crucial consideration in the APA era. Organizations increasingly utilize diverse automation tools and multiple intelligent agents from different vendors. Effective orchestration ensures these various agents collaborate seamlessly, complementing rather than competing against each other. For citizen developers, simplified orchestration interfaces integrated directly within low-code/no-code platforms will be a game changer, dramatically reducing complexity and improving user experience.
This orchestrated approach mirrors strategic insights from industry giants like Salesforce and ServiceNow, who recognize orchestration as key to leveraging multi-vendor, multi-agent environments successfully. Automation Anywhere’s commitment to robust orchestration tools positions them well to lead this transformative shift.
Yet, as with any technological shift, the transition from RPA to APA must be handled strategically. Automation Anywhere’s 20 years of industry experience provides a significant advantage, enabling the company to anticipate potential pitfalls and smoothly manage the transition. Their established market credibility and deep industry relationships offer solid assurance to businesses hesitant about adopting radically new technologies.
From a broader AppDev perspective, APA will significantly influence software quality, delivery speed, and development agility. Intelligent automation agents support developers by rapidly handling mundane, repetitive tasks, freeing them to focus on more innovative, strategic initiatives. Consequently, APA facilitates faster innovation cycles, improved customer satisfaction and enhanced business agility.
As businesses adopt APA-driven low-code/no-code solutions, they’ll likely witness an acceleration in their digital transformation journeys. Citizen developers, empowered with intelligent APA agents, will increasingly contribute to critical business solutions without relying heavily on IT departments. This not only democratizes software development but also enables organizations to respond more rapidly and effectively to market demands.
In conclusion, Automation Anywhere’s strategic pivot from RPA to APA doesn’t merely represent an incremental upgrade—it heralds a new era of intelligent, flexible and powerful automation that is poised to revolutionize the AppDev landscape, empowering citizen developers and accelerating innovation.
