The Emergence of BOAT: Business Orchestration and Automation

In the ever-evolving landscape of enterprise technology, Gartner has introduced a new concept called Business Orchestration and Automation Technology (BOAT). This emerging market aims to unify and streamline various automation technologies into a cohesive platform, enabling organizations to orchestrate end-to-end business processes more effectively. Let's delve into what BOAT entails, how it compares to previous technologies, and who the key players in this space are.

What is BOAT?

BOAT represents a significant shift in how businesses approach process automation. Unlike traditional automation technologies that often operate in silos, BOAT integrates multiple automation tools into a unified framework. This integration includes Business Process Management (BPM), Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS), and intelligent automation technologies[1][2]. The goal is to provide a more holistic solution that can handle complex workflows and deliver adaptive, intelligent automation.

Parallels with Other Analysts' Terminologies

While Gartner refers to this emerging market as BOAT, other analysts have their own terminologies. For instance, Forrester often discusses "Digital Process Automation" (DPA), which emphasizes the use of digital technologies to automate business processes. IDC, on the other hand, talks about "Intelligent Process Automation" (IPA), focusing on the integration of AI and machine learning to enhance automation capabilities. Despite the different names, the core idea remains the same: integrating diverse automation technologies to create a more efficient and intelligent business process management system.

The Evolution from Previous Technologies

The journey to BOAT has been paved by several generations of automation technologies:

1. Business Process Management (BPM): BPM has long been the backbone of process automation, providing tools and methodologies to model, automate, and optimize business processes. However, BPM systems often required significant manual intervention and lacked the flexibility to adapt to rapidly changing business needs[3].
2. Robotic Process Automation (RPA): RPA brought a new level of efficiency by automating repetitive tasks through software robots. While RPA excelled at task automation, it struggled with more complex, end-to-end process orchestration[4].
3. Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS): iPaaS solutions enabled organizations to integrate various applications and data sources, facilitating smoother data flow across systems. However, iPaaS alone couldn't provide the comprehensive automation capabilities needed for complex workflows[4].
4. Intelligent Automation: Combining AI and machine learning with automation technologies, intelligent automation aimed to enhance decision-making and process optimization. Yet, the lack of a unified platform often led to fragmented implementations[5].

BOAT aims to address these limitations by providing a unified platform that integrates BPM, RPA, iPaaS, and intelligent automation technologies. This integration allows businesses to automate and orchestrate end-to-end processes more effectively, leveraging AI to drive continuous improvement and adaptability[1][2].

Top Vendors in the BOAT Space

Several vendors are leading the charge in the BOAT market, offering comprehensive solutions that integrate various automation technologies:

1. UiPath: Known for its robust RPA capabilities, UiPath has expanded its platform to include process mining, AI, and machine learning, making it a strong contender in the BOAT space.
2. Automation Anywhere: Another RPA leader, Automation Anywhere, has integrated AI and analytics into its platform, providing end-to-end automation solutions.
3. Blue Prism: Blue Prism focuses on intelligent automation, combining RPA with AI and machine learning to deliver a unified automation platform.
4. Microsoft Power Automate: Part of the Microsoft Power Platform, Power Automate offers a comprehensive suite of tools for process automation, including RPA, AI, and integration capabilities.
5. IBM Cloud Pak for Automation: IBM's solution integrates BPM, RPA, AI, and analytics, providing a holistic approach to business orchestration and automation.

Conclusion

BOAT represents a significant evolution in the field of business process automation. By integrating diverse technologies into a unified platform, BOAT enables organizations to orchestrate end-to-end processes more effectively, leveraging AI to drive continuous improvement. As the market continues to evolve, we can expect to see more vendors entering the BOAT space, offering innovative solutions to meet the growing demand for intelligent automation.

[1]: https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/5810215

[2]: https://www.gartner.com/en/webinar/621105/1385624

[3]: https://www.processmaker.com/blog/boat-the-next-evolution-or-just-another-term-for-bpm/

[4]: https://www.xentity.com/navigating-automation-and-ai-comparing-rpa-ipaas-microservices-and-advanced-ai-integration/

[5]: https://ejaet.com/PDF/10-10/EJAET-10-10-55-59.pdf

What aspects of BOAT are you most interested in exploring further?

References

[1] Do We Need Business Orchestration and Automation Technology ... - Gartner

[2] The Future of Business Orchestration and Automation: Beyond ... - Gartner

[3] BOAT: The Next Evolution or Just Another Term for BPM?

[4] Navigating Automation and AI: Comparing RPA, iPaaS, Microservices, and ...

[5] The Fusion of Generative AI in Business Process Management (BPM ...