UiPath State of the Automation Professional Report Highlights 2024 as the Year of AI Integration

Rhea-AI Summary

UiPath's 2024 State of the Automation Professional Report reveals significant trends in AI integration and automation growth. Key findings include:

- 90% of automation professionals are using or planning to use AI within the year
- 66% cite increased productivity as the primary motivation for AI integration
- 61% report increased automation team sizes in the past 12 months
- 81% expect additional automation hires in the coming year
- 70% of professionals plan to stay in the automation industry for the next 5 years
- 84% believe in the growth of software automation
- 60% of organizations have used automation for 5+ years

The report highlights the maturing automation landscape and the critical role of AI in enhancing productivity and career development for automation professionals.

Positive

• 90% of automation professionals are using or planning to use AI within the coming year
• 61% of respondents report increased automation team sizes in the past 12 months
• 81% believe their organization will hire additional automation professionals in the coming year
• 70% of automation professionals plan to stay in the industry for the next five years
• 84% of respondents believe in the growth of the software automation space
• 60% of respondents said their organization has used software automation for 5+ years, up from 47% last year
• 81% of respondents use AI products in their automation projects at least a few times per week

Negative

• None.

Insights

Market Research Analyst

The UiPath State of the Automation Professional Report reveals significant trends in AI integration and automation adoption. 90% of automation professionals are using or planning to use AI within the next year, primarily driven by the desire for increased productivity (66%). This widespread adoption signals a robust growth trajectory for the automation software industry.

The report highlights a maturing automation landscape, with 60% of organizations using software automation for 5+ years, up from 47% last year. This maturity, coupled with the expanding workforce (61% of companies increased automation staff), indicates a strong market demand for automation solutions.

For investors, these trends suggest positive long-term prospects for companies like UiPath in the automation sector. The high satisfaction rate (70%) among professionals and their belief in the industry's growth (84%) further reinforce the sector's stability and potential for sustained expansion.

Tech Expert

The integration of AI into automation processes is a game-changer for the industry. With 81% of respondents using AI products in their automation projects at least a few times per week, we're seeing a rapid transformation in how work is done. The widespread adoption of AI for tasks like code writing (67%), documentation creation (57%) and testing (47%) indicates a significant boost in efficiency and capability.

Interestingly, only 19% find it difficult to incorporate AI in automation, suggesting that the technology is becoming more user-friendly and accessible. This ease of adoption could accelerate the proliferation of AI-enhanced automation tools across various industries, potentially leading to a new wave of productivity gains and innovation.

The report's findings on the maturity of automation in organizations and the trust in its future suggest that we're moving beyond the early adoption phase. As AI becomes more deeply embedded in automation processes, we can expect to see more sophisticated and autonomous systems emerging, potentially reshaping entire business models and operations.

 Annual UiPath survey finds automation professionals are actively integrating AI into their work as the software automation industry continues to grow

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- UiPath (NYSE: PATH), a leading enterprise automation and AI software company, today published its annual State of the Automation Professional Report that uncovers the current reality, future, and perception of automation in the workplace.

The report, which is based on a global survey of 1,909 automation professionals and students within the UiPath Community, revealed 2024 was the year of integration and usage of AI, with 90% of automation professionals using or planning to use AI within the coming year. The report found that the primary motivation behind integrating AI into workflows is increased productivity (66%), and automation professionals are utilizing the technology in various ways including writing code (67%), creating documentation (57%), and testing (47%).

At a macro level, most professionals see that their automation teams are growing and maturing — 61% of respondents report their company has increased the number of people working in software automation in the past 12 months and 81% believe their organization will hire additional automation professionals in the coming year. With this market growth, training is more critical than ever so professionals can have a thorough grasp of automation tools and reap the benefits.

Other key findings from this year’s State of the Automation Professional Report include:

• Automation professionals are satisfied with their careers: 70% of automation professionals believe they will remain in the industry for the next five years. Regardless of the path they take, 86% think their current job in automation will help them with any future career moves they may make.
• There is trust in the future of automation: More than 84% of respondents believe in the growth of the software automation space, and 80% believe they will have an increasingly important role in their organization in the next year.
• Automation is maturing in organizations: 60% of respondents said their organization has used software automation for 5+ years, compared to 47% last year. Developers are creating automations for a range of departments, most commonly accounting and finance (67%), IT (53%), and operations (51%).
• AI is embedded in automation processes: 81% of respondents indicate they use AI products in their automation projects at least a few times per week, if not daily. As employees actively work to use more AI-based tools, only 19% find it difficult to incorporate AI in automation.

“In the past year, the data from our survey shows progress with technological discovery and preparation for AI and automation. Automation professionals are benefiting greatly from taking a leap forward with specialized AI and GenAI integrations in their automation projects, with even more capable agentic AI workflows on the horizon,” said Agi Garaba, Chief People Officer at UiPath. “The combination of business automation and AI holds incredible potential to transform organizations, increasing productivity while empowering these critical professionals to take their careers to the next level.”

To view the full findings of the report, download the complete 2024 UiPath State of the Automation Professional Report.

Methodology

UiPath conducted this research via a global survey that was fielded in May and June of 2024. There were 1,909 respondents from all regions that were recruited primarily through channels owned by UiPath. The UiPath Community is a vibrant ecosystem of automation professionals learning, supporting, and succeeding together in their careers. With more than 2.5 million users worldwide, this is a dedicated community for automation enthusiasts to look for innovative ideas, collaborate with peers in the industry, learn the latest in AI and automation, and upskill their abilities.

About UiPath

UiPath (NYSE: PATH) is on a mission to uplevel knowledge work so more people can work more creatively, collaboratively, and strategically. The AI-powered UiPath Business Automation Platform combines the leading robotic process automation (RPA) solution with a full suite of capabilities to understand, automate, and operate end-to-end processes, offering unprecedented time-to-value. For organizations that need to evolve to survive and thrive through increasingly changing times, UiPath is The Foundation of Innovation™.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240916401840/en/

Media Contact

Aileen Renteria

UiPath

pr@uipath.com



UiPath Investor Relations Contact

UiPath

investor.relations@uipath.com

Source: UiPath

FAQ

What percentage of automation professionals are using or planning to use AI in 2024 according to UiPath's report?

According to UiPath's State of the Automation Professional Report, 90% of automation professionals are using or planning to use AI within the coming year in 2024.

How many automation professionals expect their organizations to hire more automation staff in the next year?

The report states that 81% of automation professionals believe their organization will hire additional automation professionals in the coming year.

What is the primary motivation for integrating AI into workflows according to UiPath's survey?

The primary motivation behind integrating AI into workflows is increased productivity, cited by 66% of respondents in the UiPath survey.

How has the use of software automation in organizations changed compared to last year, according to the UiPath report?

The report shows that 60% of respondents said their organization has used software automation for 5+ years, compared to 47% last year, indicating a significant increase in long-term adoption.

What percentage of automation professionals in the UiPath survey believe they will remain in the industry for the next five years?

According to the UiPath State of the Automation Professional Report, 70% of automation professionals believe they will remain in the industry for the next five years.