The Automation Opportunity
The AI business process automation market reached $19.6 billion in 2026.
Time Savings: 20-120 hours per employee annually on repetitive tasks. Top Automation Targets:- Data entry and transfer
- Report generation
- Email responses
- Invoice processing
- Appointment scheduling
Common Automated Workflows
Lead Processing
Trigger: New form submission → Validate data → Score lead → Add to CRM → Send personalized email → Assign to sales repInvoice Processing
Trigger: Invoice received → Extract data with AI → Match to PO → Route for approval → Schedule paymentCustomer Onboarding
Trigger: Sale closed → Create accounts → Send welcome sequence → Schedule kickoff call → Assign success managerAutomation Platforms
| Platform | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Zapier | Simple workflows | $20-$100/mo |
| Make | Complex flows | $9-$99/mo |
| n8n | Self-hosted | Free-$50/mo |
| Power Automate | Microsoft shops | $15/user/mo |