* [Topics](/en/topics "Topics") * [Automation and management](/en/topics/automation "Automation and management") * What is business process automation? What is business process automation? ==================================== Published January 20, 2022•*3*-minute read Copy URL Jump to section --------------- OverviewWhat is a business process?How is BPA related to RPA?How is BPA related to BPM?Why Red Hat? Overview -------- Business process automation (BPA) is the use of software to automate repeatable, multistep business transactions. In contrast to other types of [automation](/en/topics/automation), BPA solutions tend to be complex, connected to multiple enterprise information technology (IT) systems, and tailored specifically to the needs of an organization. It’s common for organizations to apply BPA as part of a [digital transformation](/en/topics/digital-transformation/what-is-digital-transformation) strategy, in order to streamline their workflows and operate more efficiently. [Explore the automated enterprise](/en/engage/automated-enterprise-ebook-20171107 "SOLP: Ebook The Automated Enterprise") What is a business process? --------------------------- A business process can be any set of activities that help a business reach a specific goal. In the context of automation, it’s usually a repeatable transaction that involves a series of steps touching multiple IT systems. Business processes include fulfilling and invoicing a customer purchase order, approving a loan application, completing data entry, onboarding a new employee, and additional financial services, human resource tasks, and business operations. When managed ad hoc, these workflows typically involve multiple email threads, documents, and handoffs. Even minor human error can cause a cascade of inefficiency, with communication breakdowns, bottlenecks, and missed deadlines. These issues multiply at scale. [Automation](/en/topics/automation/what-is-it-automation) software aims to prevent these problems. By deploying a reusable and extendable [business automation](/en/topics/automation/whats-business-automation) strategy, an organization can regain control over business processes, improve communication, boost customer satisfaction, and reduce confusion. Automating a business process can free time and resources, allowing employees to focus on core work rather than tedious, repetitive, and often frustrating tasks. [Learn more about business automation](/en/topics/automation/whats-business-automation "article | what's business automation?") Recommended for you Masterclass Redefining Mid-Management: Connecting AI to Business Goals ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [Watch the webinar](https://www.redhat.com/en/events/webinar/masterclass-redefining-mid-management-connecting-ai-business-goals-2025?percmp=RHCTG0250000455235) How is BPA related to robotic process automation (RPA)? ------------------------------------------------------- [Robotic process automation (RPA)](/en/topics/automation/what-is-robotic-process-automation) uses software to automate specific repetitive tasks. RPA software is trained to mimic repetitive steps that humans take, like copying and pasting data into a field. BPA software tends to handle more complex tasks than RPA. Typically, an end user can train and deploy an RPA bot without the need for development skills. Many RPA solutions are easily installed prebuilt software tools that run on top of existing systems without connecting to databases or accessing [application programming interfaces (APIs)](/en/topics/api/what-are-application-programming-interfaces). BPA solutions are customized for a specific organization, typically integrated into data systems or connected to APIs. It’s possible for a BPA solution to incorporate some RPA software. Both BPA and RPA solutions increasingly use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies to better interpret unstructured data like emails, images, and audio files. This can lead to a personalized user experience as the technology can overcome ambiguity and interact with user needs. [Learn more about robotic process automation](/en/topics/automation/what-is-robotic-process-automation "article | what is robotic process automation") How is BPA related to business process management (BPM)? -------------------------------------------------------- [Business process management (BPM)](/en/topics/automation/what-is-business-process-management) is a collaboration between business and IT teams to model, analyze, and optimize end-to-end business processes to help meet strategic goals. BPM is a continuous process that leads to improvement over time. Both BPM and BPA attempt to improve tasks and processes that are repeated, ongoing, or predictable. Both aim to improve efficiency and to reduce costs and errors in order to deliver better products and services to customers. While BPM and BPA have similar goals, they have different ways of achieving them. BPM takes a wide view of the organization, while BPA is a strategy to improve specific processes. A BPA and BPM combination can be powerful, as BPM outlines and provides a template for all of the business processes to be mapped and automated. When applied within a BPM practice, BPA can be used to continually monitor and improve process efficiencies. But they can work separately, too. Decoupled from an [integrated](/en/topics/integration/what-is-integration) business automation solution, BPM and BPA can function as standalone initiatives for improving efficiency and profitability. [Learn more about BPM](/en/topics/automation/what-is-business-process-management "article | what is business process management?") Why automate your business with Red Hat --------------------------------------- The focus of IT has shifted from serving internal needs, like efficiency and cost control, to engaging with external customers and creating new business opportunities. That’s why Red Hat believes the traditional business automation model needs to evolve. Instead of focusing solely on streamlining processes, businesses need to develop new strategies to automate the business itself. Red Hat works with the greater open source community on automation technologies. Our engineers help improve features, reliability, and security to make sure your business performs, with IT that remains stable and secure. Our solutions, services, and training give you the control you need to automate your business and free up the resources you need to build an innovative future. Hub The official Red Hat blog ------------------------- Get the latest information about our ecosystem of customers, partners, and communities. [Keep reading](/en/blog "The official Red Hat blog") All Red Hat product trials -------------------------- Our no-cost product trials help you gain hands-on experience, prepare for a certification, or assess if a product is right for your organization. [Keep reading](/en/products/trials "All Red Hat product trials") Keep reading ------------ ### What is IT service management (ITSM)? IT service management (ITSM) refers to the activities IT teams perform to ensure that IT services meet customer needs and contribute to business goals. [Read the article](/en/topics/automation/what-is-it-service-management-itsm "article | what is IT service management (ITSM)?") ### What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC)? Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the managing and provisioning of infrastructure through code instead of through manual processes. [Read the article](/en/topics/automation/what-is-infrastructure-as-code-iac "article | What is Infrastructure as Code?") ### What is a configuration management database (CMDB)? A configuration management database (CMDB) is used to manage information about IT components, including their attributes and relationships between them. [Read the article](/en/topics/automation/what-is-a-configuration-management-database-cmdb "article | what is a configuration management database (CMDB)?") Automation and management resources ----------------------------------- ### Related content * Blog post [Introducing the Red Hat Ansible Lightspeed intelligent assistant](/en/blog/evolution-red-hat-ansible-lightspeed) * Blog post [Slash VM provisioning time on Red Hat Openshift Virtualization using Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](/en/blog/accelerate-it-service-delivery-red-hats-integrated-toolset) * Blog post [Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform: Measuring Business Impact with Dashboard and Analytics](/en/blog/red-hat-ansible-automation-platform-measuring-business-impact-dashboard-and-analytics) * Datasheet [Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](/en/resources/ansible-automation-platform-datasheet) ### Related articles * [What is DevOps automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-devops-automation) * [What is IT service management (ITSM)?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-it-service-management-itsm) * [What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC)?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-infrastructure-as-code-iac) * [Ansible vs. Kubernetes: how they work together](/en/topics/automation/Ansible-vs-Kubernetes) * [What is a configuration management database (CMDB)?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-a-configuration-management-database-cmdb) * [What is cloud migration? And how can automation help?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-cloud-migration) * [What is a software-defined data center (SDDC)?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-a-sddc) * [What is IT automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-it-automation) * [Why choose Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform as your AI foundation?](/en/topics/automation/automation-and-ai) * [How to build an IT automation strategy](/en/topics/automation/build-an-automation-strategy) * [What is access control?](/en/topics/security/what-is-access-control) * [What is virtual infrastructure management? And how can automation help?](/en/topics/automation/virtual-infrastructure-management) * [What is IT migration?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-it-migration) * [How to automate migrations with Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](/en/technologies/management/ansible/automate-migrations-with-red-hat-ansible-automation-platform) * [Why use Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform with Red Hat OpenShift?](/en/technologies/cloud-computing/openshift/ansible-on-openshift) * [What is CloudOps?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-cloudops) * [Red Hat Satellite on Red Hat Enterprise Linux](/en/technologies/management/satellite/satellite-for-rhel) * [What is role-based access control (RBAC)?](/en/topics/security/what-is-role-based-access-control) * [Which Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform deployment option is right for you?](/en/technologies/management/ansible/ansible-deployment-options) * [What is an Ansible module—and how does it work?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-an-ansible-module) * [How to manage and automate applications at the edge](/en/topics/edge-computing/how-to-manage-automate-applications-edge) * [How to build an automation Center of Excellence](/en/topics/automation/how-to-build-automation-center-of-excellence) * [What is orchestration?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-orchestration) * [How to adopt Automation as Code: Extending Infrastructure as Code into Policy as Code](/en/topics/automation/how-to-adopt-automation-as-code) * [What is a webhook?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-a-webhook) * [Learning Ansible basics](/en/topics/automation/learning-ansible-tutorial) * [Red Hat Lightspeed data and application security](/en/topics/management/data-application-security) * [What is an Ansible Role—and how is it used?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-an-ansible-role) * [What is data management?](/en/topics/data-services/what-is-data-management) * [Gain security with Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](/en/technologies/management/ansible/gain-security-with-red-hat-ansible-automation-platform) * [What is NetOps?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-netops) * [What is an Ansible Rulebook?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-an-ansible-rulebook) * [What is an Ansible Playbook?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-an-ansible-playbook) * [What is configuration management](/en/topics/automation/what-is-configuration-management) * [What is event-driven automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-event-driven-automation) * [Zero-Touch Provisioning and telco automation with Red Hat](/en/topics/telecommunications/zero-touch-provisioning-and-telco-automation-at-red-hat) * [What is infrastructure automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-infrastructure-automation) * [What is YAML?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-yaml) * [What is provisioning?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-provisioning) * [What is compliance management?](/en/topics/management/what-is-compliance-management) * [Understanding Ansible, Terraform, Puppet, Chef, and Salt](/en/topics/automation/understanding-ansible-vs-terraform-puppet-chef-and-salt) * [What is cloud orchestration?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-cloud-orchestration) * [Ansible vs. Chef: What you need to know](/en/topics/automation/ansible-vs-chef) * [What is security automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-security-automation) * [Ansible vs. Salt: What you need to know](/en/topics/automation/ansible-vs-salt) * [What is a configuration file?](/en/topics/linux/what-configuration-file) * [Ansible vs. Puppet: What you need to know](/en/topics/automation/ansible-vs-puppet) * [Ansible vs. Terraform, clarified](/en/topics/automation/ansible-vs-terraform) * [Why choose Red Hat for automation?](/en/topics/automation/why-choose-red-hat-for-automation) * [Ansible vs. Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](/en/technologies/management/ansible/ansible-vs-red-hat-ansible-automation-platform) * [What is cloud automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-cloud-automation) * [What is network automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-network-automation) * [What are managed IT services?](/en/topics/cloud-computing/what-are-managed-it-services) * [What is business process management?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-business-process-management) * [What is patch management (and automation)?](/en/topics/management/what-patch-management-and-automation) * [What is the Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform automation controller?](/en/technologies/management/ansible/automation-controller-product-feature) * [What is SOAR?](/en/topics/security/what-is-soar) * [What is IT process automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-it-process-automation) * [Automating Microsoft Windows with Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](/en/technologies/management/ansible/automate-microsoft-windows-with-ansible) * [What is deployment automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-deployment-automation) * [What is business optimization?](/en/topics/automation/business-optimization) * [What is Kubernetes cluster management?](/en/topics/containers/what-is-kubernetes-cluster-management) * [What is SRE?](/en/topics/devops/what-is-sre) * [What is risk management?](/en/topics/management/what-is-risk-management) * [What is an SOE?](/en/topics/management/what-is-an-soe) * [What is IT system life-cycle management?](/en/topics/management/it-system-life-cycle-management) * [What is robotic process automation (RPA?)](/en/topics/automation/what-is-robotic-process-automation) * [What is network management?](/en/topics/management/what-is-network-management) * [What is cloud management?](/en/topics/cloud-computing/what-is-cloud-management) * [What's business automation?](/en/topics/automation/whats-business-automation) [More about this topic](/en/topics/automation "More about this topic")