Definition
What is Business Process Automation?
Business process automation (BPA) applies technology to entire end-to-end business processes, not just individual tasks. It covers everything from document approvals to multi-department handoffs.
How it works
BPA goes further than single-task automation by orchestrating cross-functional processes that span teams and tools. For example, an employee onboarding process might involve HR creating an account, IT provisioning software access, and finance adding the person to payroll, all triggered from one form. BPA platforms map these dependencies, handle exceptions, and provide audit trails. Successful BPA projects typically start with process mapping to identify bottlenecks before building any automations.
Last updated: March 2026