Top Enterprise Automation Tools for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide

What’s in store for Enterprise Automation in 2025

With 2025 around the corner, it’s the perfect time to dive into the latest tools that make automating tasks, connecting systems, and driving digital transformation easier than ever.

In this guide, we’ll break down the top enterprise automation tools and methods for 2025. You’ll understand the pros and cons of each platform for enterprise automation, their best use cases, and the perks they bring.

Whether you’re looking to optimize finance operations, HR processes, or compliance reporting, these tools can help take your automation strategy to the next level.

Key trends, tools, and strategies in Enterprise Automation

As we look toward 2025, enterprise automation (EA) is only going to get smarter, faster, and more adaptable. Seamless integration between systems will become a must, not a luxury. Organizations want platforms that “talk” to each other and fit right into existing workflows — without a ton of custom development.

One common challenge that will remain is point-to-point integrations, where systems are directly connected in a way that lacks flexibility. This setup creates a fragile network where if one system fails or is updated, it impacts everything else.

"Seamless integration between systems will become a must, not a luxury."

With smooth integration as a key enabler, what other trends can we expect for enterprise automation in 2025?

Here are my 4 predictions:

• #1: AI-Powered automation becomes the norm

  AI is increasingly embedded into automation tools, handling complex tasks, making decisions, and learning to optimize processes. This means that beyond automating repetitive tasks, businesses will benefit from systems that work smarter and faster, guided by AI insights. According to PwC's Global Artificial Intelligence Study, AI is projected to contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030.
  

  
  

• #2: Low-code/no-code platforms will grow

  Low-code/no-code platforms eliminate the need for specialized training, enabling users to create their own tools. This helps companies become more agile and efficient. Gartner predicts that by 2025, 70% of new apps will be built using low-code/no-code tools, nearly three times the rate seen in 2020.
  
  
  

• #3: iPaaS becomes central to Enterprise Automation

  Point-to-point connections often lead to a complex web of systems that are hard to maintain. This tangled setup creates “tech debt” that becomes costlier to address over time.  Acting as the “glue” between systems, iPaaS (integration platform as a service) ensures a seamless flow of information and enables organizations to build advanced cross-departmental workflows. Having a dependable iPaaS allows companies to adapt quickly to changes and scale without disrupting current processes.
  
  

• #4: Greater Emphasis on Security and Compliance

  As automation extends into areas handling sensitive data, security and compliance will become even more critical. Automation tools in 2025 are expected to include advanced security measures, built-in compliance tracking, and straightforward ways to ensure data privacy. This is especially vital for sectors such as finance and healthcare, where data integrity is essential.
  

Before diving into the best tools and technologies for enterprise automation in 2025, let’s briefly recap the four primary types of enterprise automation.

Recap: What is Enterprise Automation?

Enterprise automation is about using technology to take over repetitive tasks, allowing teams to focus on more important tasks.

However, there’s more to it than just handling simple tasks.  Enterprise automation can bring together smart technologies, like AI, RPA, Process Mining, and more, to boost efficiency across the business.

It’s about connecting systems, streamlining processes, and making sure everything runs smoothly, with less manual effort.

The Five Types of Enterprise Automation

To maximize the benefits of automation, it's important to understand the different types and levels of enterprise automation. Here’s an overview of the main categories and how they can help your organization:

1. Basic Automation

Basic automation involves implementing simple solutions to eliminate repetitive tasks. This can include using macros, formulas, or pre-set scripts to automate data processing tasks in spreadsheets or basic software tools.

Example: Automating email notifications or simple data entry processes, which reduces manual effort and improves accuracy.

2. Business Process Automation (BPA)

BPA goes beyond individual tasks, automating end-to-end business processes across multiple departments. It often involves workflow automation tools that help streamline approvals, document management, and task tracking.

Example: Automating the employee onboarding process by integrating HR systems with document management tools, ensuring a smooth experience for new hires.

3. Integration Automation

Integration automation connects different systems and applications, allowing for seamless data exchange without manual intervention. By using an integration platform, companies can integrate on-premises and cloud applications to ensure consistent and up-to-date information across all systems.

Example: Automatically synchronizing customer data between CRM systems like Microsoft Dynamics and ERP systems like SAP to maintain accurate records.

4. Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

RPA uses software bots to mimic human actions, automating tasks such as data entry, extraction, or report generation. When combined with an integration platform, RPA bots can work in tandem with automated workflows, ensuring data is transferred across different systems effortlessly.

Example: Automating invoice processing by using RPA bots to extract data from PDFs and input it into an accounting system, while iPaaS handles the integration with finance applications.

5. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Automation

AI-driven automation goes beyond rules-based tasks by using data to learn and make predictions. AI and machine learning can be used to automate complex decision-making processes, such as recommending products to customers, detecting fraud, or predicting equipment maintenance needs.

Example: Aalto University uses AI for efficient automation. With the combination of AI and Frends iPaaS, Aalto makes decisions regarding e.g. IT support requests, that previously required human input.

With five types of enterprise automation and countless solutions available, what are the best tools for bringing together different technologies and approaches in 2025?

The top Enterprise Automation tools for 2025: iPaaS, low-code, and more ⚒️

In 2025, the top enterprise automation tools not only integrate easily with your existing systems but also make it easy to combine multiple types of automation, from basic workflows to AI-driven processes. Up next, we’ll dive into the best tools available, looking at their features, use cases, and how they can help you build a cohesive automation strategy for a more efficient, adaptable business.

1. Integration Platforms (iPaaS)

Integration platforms as a service (iPaaS) connect different applications, data sources, and systems, enabling seamless data exchange across environments. These platforms are essential for building scalable automation in hybrid cloud and on-premises systems. But what are the best integration tools for enterprise automation in 2025? Platforms like Frends iPaaS ensure successful automation between everything from legacy on-premises applications to the latest IoT technologies. 

Key iPaaS features for Enterprise Automation:

• Connects cloud- and on-premise applications
• Can be used together with various automation technologies, such as RPA, AI, and process automation
• Makes API management easy and fast
• Includes real-time data synchronization
• Supports complex multi-system workflows for the entire enterprise

Pros: Scalable, supports diverse systems, ideal for enterprise-wide integration and automation.
Cons: Depending on the vendor, platforms can be costly and may require technical expertise to set up more complex integrations.

Examples: Frends, MuleSoft, Boomi

 

2. RPA (Robotic Process Automation) Tools

RPA tools automate repetitive, rule-based tasks by using software bots that replicate human actions. These tools are excellent for handling structured, routine tasks such as data entry, form filling, and transaction processing across various applications.

Key RPA features for Enterprise Automation:

• Automates repetitive, rule-based tasks, like data entry, report generation, and transaction processing
• Executes straightforward tasks, suitable for automating specific steps in a process rather than complex, conditional workflows
• Works with other automation technologies, integrating with iPaaS, AI, and process automation tools for end-to-end workflows
• Processes documents with AI and OCR, reading and extracting data from PDFs, invoices, and emails

Pros: As RPA is ideal for automating high-volume, rule-based tasks, it minimizes human error and mistakes in data processing and entry. RPA is also fast to deploy and scale.

Cons: However, it struggles with unstructured workflows or tasks requiring more flexibility and adaptions. Small updates to connected applications or interfaces can disrupt bots, so they require frequent maintenance. RPA alone lacks the orchestration for multi-step workflows across systems, but integration platforms can help.

Examples: UiPath, Blueprism, Automation Anywhere

3. Low-Code/No-Code Automation Platforms

These platforms allow users to design and deploy automated workflows with minimal coding knowledge, making them accessible to non-technical users. They’re often used to automate simple tasks and workflows across applications.

Key low code/no code platform features for Enterprise Automation:

• Create workflows visually, letting non-technical users automate tasks without coding
• Cloud-based platforms make it easy to scale automation as business needs grow
• Use pre-built templates for specific tasks like onboarding or email automation
• Use pre-built connectors for many popular systems and applications
• Basic AI-driven automation options

Pros: These are often best for automating document approvals, simple data transfers, and customer communications. However, low-code/no-code platforms for both integration and automation can also handle more complex workflows.

Cons: Like RPA, the more basic no code/low-code automation platforms struggle with unstructured workflows or tasks requiring more flexibility and adaptions, as they often lack advanced integrations.

Examples: Microsoft Power Automate, Zapier, Frends iPaaS (also for more advanced enterprise automation)

4. AI-Driven Automation Platforms

These platforms use artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance automation, allowing systems to learn from data, make predictions, and adapt workflows. AI-driven automation tools are used to support decision-making and handle unstructured data.

Key AI-driven automation platform features for Enterprise Automation:

• Predictive analytics and AI-powered insights
• Natural language processing for customer interactions
• Intelligent data processing and anomaly detection
  

Pros: These platforms are ideal for automating customer support, analyzing large datasets, and identifying trends or anomalies in data. They're great for unstructured data tasks and improve over time with data.

Cons: They often cost more than the basic automation platforms, and may require specialized AI knowledge for setup.

Examples: ServiceNow Automation Engine, IBM Watson, Automation Anywhere with AI features

5.  IT Process Automation (ITPA) Tools

ITPA tools focus on automating IT operations, including incident management, network monitoring, and system maintenance. These tools help reduce downtime, improve response times, and ensure system reliability.

Key IT process automation features for Enterprise Automation:

• Automated issue tracking and ticketing
• Real-time system monitoring and alerts
• Integration with IT service management (ITSM) tools

Pros: IT process automation platforms are best for IT support automation and system monitoring: they improve system reliability, reduce manual IT workloads, and speed up incident management.

Cons: They are often limited to IT-related tasks and can be complex to integrate with non-IT workflows. However, if you use iPaaS for your IT process automation, it can connect your IT workflows with other systems and processes across the organization.

Examples: ServiceNow, Jira, Atera

Why the right tools matter

Enterprise automation isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every organization has different needs, from connecting older systems to managing AI-powered workflows. The tools you choose should work well with what you already have while being flexible enough to grow with you.

When picking the best tools for 2025, think about:

• Scalability: Can it handle more as your business grows?
• Integration: Does it easily connect to your current systems?
• Ease of use: Can your team start using it without a steep learning curve?
• Value for money: Will it deliver clear benefits for your investment?

By finding the right mix of tools, you can make your processes faster, smoother, and ready for the future.

Building a smart automation setup for your enterprise

The best approach to automation combines tools that work well together. Modern iPaaS solutions aren’t just integration tools — they also include low-code features for creating and automating workflows.

They can work alongside RPA tools to handle repetitive tasks or integrate with ITPA solutions to automate IT processes. With AI capabilities becoming more common, iPaaS can also enable smarter decision-making and predictive automation.

The key is to use these technologies in a way that fits your business needs. Start by identifying the tasks that consume the most time and effort, then leverage an iPaaS platform to either automate them directly or orchestrate workflows across your existing tools. This approach keeps your setup flexible, scalable, and ready for the future.

iPaaS can work alongside RPA tools to handle repetitive tasks or integrate with ITPA solutions to automate IT processes. With AI capabilities becoming more common, iPaaS can also enable smarter decision-making and predictive automation. 

Benefits of iPaaS: automate, integrate, and grow your business

iPaaS works as a central hub, simplifying connections between systems (whether you're connecting RPA tools, IoT technologies, or other tools). It’s flexible and scalable, so businesses can adapt to new tools and technologies without disrupting day-to-day workflows.

By reusing existing integrations and automating tasks, it saves resources while keeping things running smoothly. iPaaS also supports easy updates and system changes, ensuring it’s ready for whatever comes next. And lastly, its low-code design means even non-tech users can create and manage integrations without hassle. 

Let's have a look at a few examples:

→ Sandviken Energi speeds up operations with Frends iPaaS

Sandviken Energi improved process speeds by 179 times using Frends iPaaS, which has enabled faster and more secure data exchanges.

With a unified integration platform, Sandviken Energi speeds up data exchanges, ensures compliance with GDPR, and can use a local server infrastructure for added security.

Read more ▸

→ MTV moved from point-to-point integrations to Frends

MTV moved 95% of its integrations to Frends iPaaS, centralizing its services, simplifying processes, and reducing technical debt.

With Frends, MTV aligned its sales management with Swedish TV4, making the deployment of Salesforce as their new CRM system seamless. The low-code integration platform allowed MTV to reuse existing Microsoft integrations.

As a central hub for all integrations, Frends eliminated point-to-point dependencies, providing MTV with a flexible architecture for scalable integration and automation.

Read more ▸

"With Frends, we can easily introduce new technologies to our ecosystem and remove old ones without risk. Frends works as a hub or an integration layer, which sets no limitations for the future. We can build various APIs and processes and use automation capabilities for increased efficiency."

Jere Karhunen, System Architect at MTV

As we can see from Sandviken's and MTV’s stories, iPaaS is more than just a tool for connecting systems — it’s a way to build a foundation for flexibility and growth. By reducing technical debt and supporting new technologies, iPaaS brings clear benefits to enterprises across all industries.