Automation Anywhere in 2026: Powering the Autonomous Enterprise

By Raj Joshi, Robert Burgelman
2026 | Case No. SM411 | Length 14 pgs.

By early 2026, Automation Anywhere, a Robotic Process Automation (RPA) pioneer, had pivoted to lead the Age of the Autonomous Enterprise. In Q3 2025, the company reported record results, with AI bookings growing 45% YoY and representing over 70% of total business.

The core evolution was the shift from RPA to Agentic Process Automation (APA). APA utilized AI agents capable of reasoning and goal-oriented execution, automating up to 80% of end-to-end processes. This was anchored by the Process Reasoning Engine (PRE), which predicted workflow steps with 90% accuracy, and the Orchestrator, which coordinated humans, agents, and bots across siloed systems.

Early adopters of APA and PRE showed massive ROI: Petrobras saved $120M in three weeks, and Boston Children’s Hospital reduced administrative burdens by 80%. CEO Mihir Shukla argued this shift liberated humans from 150 years of “mechanical work,” returning them to “craftsmanship”. Despite success, challenges persisted, including a narrative shift from infrastructure to application and the need for constant learning. The case explored how Automation Anywhere aimed to augment a billion workers by reimagining operating models for an autonomous future.

Learning Objective

This case explores strategic evolution in the AI era. Students analyze the pivot from RPA to Agentic Process Automation. It teaches the “Autonomous Enterprise” framework, focusing on orchestration and usage-based economics. By discussing the “Five-Year Century,” students learn to navigate tech transitions and align AI with business outcomes, organizational restructuring, and human craftsmanship.
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