Business process automation (BPA) is the use of software to execute recurring business tasks or workflows with minimal human intervention. These processes often span multiple teams, systems, or decision points—think onboarding new hires, processing invoices, or managing customer requests.
The goal of BPA is straightforward: build business success, remove manual work, reduce errors, and allow employees to focus on more strategic initiatives. It’s about efficiency and scaling operations without creating unnecessary complexity.
What sets BPA apart from basic task automation is its focus on end-to-end workflow orchestration. Instead of automating a single task (like sending an email), BPA tools connect entire workflows across systems, triggering actions based on logic, conditions, or user input.
BPA often works alongside broader disciplines like digital process automation (DPA), IT process automation tools, and business process management (BPM), offering a technical foundation for building smarter, leaner business systems.
How do business process automation tools fit in?
Business process automation tools are the platforms and frameworks that make BPA possible. These tools act as the engine behind your automation—managing workflows, syncing data, and handling logic across systems.
Some tools are designed to support non-technical users with low-code or no-code interfaces. Others offer deeper integrations, custom scripting, and advanced API support for IT and engineering teams. Whether you're using them to handle internal workflows or customer-facing processes, their job is the same: automate what can be automated.
More importantly, BPA tools allow your business to adapt. As workflows evolve, platforms like ServiceNow and Salesforce offer the flexibility to adjust processes, add logic, or layer on automation without starting from scratch. This adaptability is key for businesses looking to future-proof their operations.
Ultimately, the best business process automation software is the one that fits your workflow, integrates cleanly with your existing systems, and supports the level of customization your business needs to grow.
Key features to consider for selecting a BPA tool
Not all automation platforms are built with the same strengths. The right tool depends on your goals, your systems, and how technical your team is. Choosing a tool with the right features will give your team the foundation to scale automation without constantly hitting roadblocks.
Here are the essential features to evaluate before making a decision:
Workflow builder or orchestration engine: A visual editor or logic-based system to map and automate business processes across tools and teams.
Integration capabilities: Native integrations, API access, and webhook support are critical for syncing your automation with existing systems like CRMs, ERPs, and HR platforms.
Role-based access controls: Ensure only the right people can view or edit workflows—especially when automating HR, finance, or compliance functions.
Error handling and logging: Real-time notifications, retry logic, and detailed logs make it easier to troubleshoot and maintain reliability.
Scalability and performance: Can the tool handle growing process volume, complex branching logic, or enterprise-level security?
User interface and UX: Automation should be easy to configure and understand—whether you're a business user or a technical team member.
Low-code or no-code functionality: Helpful for organizations that want to empower non-developers to build and maintain automations.
Analytics and reporting: Built-in dashboards or integrations with BI tools to track performance, identify bottlenecks, and optimize flows over time.
Security and compliance features: Especially important for regulated industries—look for audit trails, encryption, and compliance with standards like SOC 2, HIPAA, or GDPR.
RPA functionality: Supports robotic process automation (RPA) to mimic human actions and automate tasks across systems with no API access.
Document generation: Automatically produces templated documents (e.g., contracts, onboarding forms) as part of approval or task workflows.
Task tracking and visibility: Offers real-time insight into progress, deadlines, and ownership—key for transparency and accountability.
Top 10 business process automation tools to consider
Check out these top BPA tools and see what they have to offer.
1. ServiceNow
ServiceNow is one of the most comprehensive business process automation tools on the market, especially for enterprise environments. Originally known for IT service management, ServiceNow has expanded into a full digital workflow platform that supports everything from HR and finance operations to customer service and compliance management.
What sets ServiceNow apart is its ability to handle complex, cross-departmental workflows at scale. Its low-code platform allows business users and IT teams to build custom digital workflows, automate task routing, and integrate seamlessly with a wide range of existing business applications.
ServiceNow is particularly strong in the area of IT process automation tools, offering built-in support for incident management, change requests, asset tracking, and more—all tied into automated workflows that reduce manual handoffs and bottlenecks.
If your business needs to manage operations across multiple functions and systems, ServiceNow is a powerful foundation for BPA, digital transformation, and long-term scalability.
Key features this tool covers:
Workflow builder or orchestration engine
Integration capabilities
Role-based access controls
Error handling and logging
Scalability and performance
Analytics and reporting
Security and compliance features
Low-code functionality
Pros & cons:
Enterprise-ready with broad process coverage ✅
Excellent IT and operations support out of the box ✅
Strong governance, compliance, and audit trail capabilities ✅
Scalable for global organizations with thousands of users ✅
Powerful low-code development environment ✅
Requires significant setup and configuration ❌
Higher cost and complexity compared to SMB-focused tools ❌
Steeper learning curve for non-technical users ❌
Pricing: ServiceNow does not publish pricing publicly. Licenses are sold in modular packages and are priced based on users, features, and modules. Enterprise-level contracts typically start in the five-figure range annually.
2. Salesforce
Salesforce is best known as a market-leading CRM, but it has evolved into a powerful business process automation platform through tools like Flow, Process Builder, and Salesforce Platform. For organizations already using Salesforce, it's an obvious—and highly capable—choice for automating both customer-facing and internal workflows.
Salesforce supports digital process automation across sales, marketing, service, HR, and finance by allowing teams to create custom workflows that automate lead routing, contract approvals, onboarding steps, and more. Its low-code tools enable business users to design and launch automation quickly without relying on full development cycles.
What makes Salesforce particularly strong is its integration across the entire Salesforce ecosystem, from CRM to marketing automation to analytics. BPA can happen natively, across cloud apps, or extend via AppExchange and custom APIs to connect with external systems.
Whether you're looking to streamline revenue operations, reduce manual admin, or support a more cohesive customer experience, Salesforce offers the flexibility to build, test, and scale automation workflows that drive real business results.
Key features this tool covers:
Workflow builder or orchestration engine
Integration capabilities
Role-based access controls
Low-code and no-code functionality
Error handling and logging
Analytics and reporting
Scalability and performance
Security and compliance features
Pros & cons:
Deep integration with CRM, sales, and service operations ✅
Built-in low-code tools like Flow and Process Builder ✅
Strong support for sales and marketing automation use cases ✅
Scalable and customizable for various industries ✅
Access to AppExchange for additional integrations and automation tools ✅
Can get expensive as you scale users or feature sets ❌
Initial setup and customization may require outside expertise ❌
User interface can feel complex for non-technical teams ❌
Pricing: Salesforce pricing depends on the cloud products used (Sales, Service, Platform, etc.). Automation tools like Flow and Process Builder are included in most standard plans, but advanced platform customization and API usage may require additional licensing. Small business pricing starts at $25 per user/month for the starter package, but the overall cost will depend on what exactly you're using.
3. Zapier
User-friendly Zapier is a no-code automation platform designed for small to mid-sized teams. It connects over 7,000 apps—including Slack, Google Workspace, HubSpot, and Mailchimp—and allows users to automate workflows (called “Zaps”) without writing code. Zapier is perfect for quick wins: automating repetitive tasks like lead capture, email follow-ups, and calendar updates.
Key features this tool covers:
Integration capabilities
Workflow builder
Low-code/no-code functionality
Error handling and logging
Pros & cons:
Simple and fast to implement ✅
Huge app ecosystem ✅
Ideal for business users, not developers ✅
Limited support for complex logic ❌
Pricing: Zapier offers a free tier with limited usage. Paid plans start at $19.99/month, with pricing scaling based on task volume and feature access.
4. Make
Make offers powerful visual automation for teams that need more control than what simpler tools provide. Known for its clean drag-and-drop interface, Make allows users to build intricate workflows with branching logic, error handling, and multi-step sequences. It supports API-level integration and is a favorite among technically inclined users and growing teams that need more than basic automation without committing to enterprise platforms.
Key features this tool covers:
Workflow builder
Integration capabilities
Error handling and logging
Analytics and reporting
Pros & cons:
Supports advanced multi-step workflows ✅
Flexible interface with visual logic paths ✅
Excellent API support for custom integrations ✅
Can be overwhelming for new users ❌
Pricing: Make offers a free tier with limited operations. Paid plans start at $9/month, scaling based on execution time, complexity, and team size.
5. Microsoft Power Automate
Microsoft Power Automate is a cloud-based automation tool that’s part of the Microsoft Power Platform. It’s designed for teams already using Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Teams, and Dynamics. Power Automate allows users to create flows that connect apps, trigger actions, and automate tasks using a low-code interface. It supports both attended and unattended workflows, making it suitable for both business users and IT teams.
The platform shines in environments where Microsoft products are already deeply embedded. It also offers robotic process automation (RPA) capabilities, AI integration, and hundreds of connectors, allowing businesses to automate everything from document approvals to complex IT processes.
Key features this tool covers:
Workflow builder
Integration capabilities
Low-code functionality
Error handling and logging
RPA support
Pros & cons:
Seamless integration with Microsoft ecosystem ✅
Offers RPA and AI-based automation ✅
Affordable entry-level pricing ✅
Limited flexibility outside Microsoft tools ❌
Can feel complex for first-time users ❌
Pricing: Power Automate offers per-user and per-flow plans starting at $15/month. RPA features and premium connectors may require higher-tier licenses. They do offer a 30-day free trial so you can check it out before you commit.
6. UiPath
As one of the leading RPA providers, UiPath is a platform built for enterprises that want to automate high-volume, rules-based tasks. It excels at mimicking human interactions across legacy systems, desktop software, and web applications—making it ideal for finance, legal, operations, and IT departments. UiPath also supports unattended bots, attended automation, and AI-based decision-making.
While it’s more technical than low-code platforms, UiPath offers extensive training resources and a strong developer community. For companies looking to integrate automation into their core systems at scale—especially when modern APIs aren’t an option—UiPath provides both power and precision.
Key features this tool covers:
RPA functionality
Error handling and logging
Integration capabilities
Analytics and reporting
Security and compliance features
Pros & cons:
Powerful enterprise-grade RPA engine ✅
Great for automating legacy systems ✅
Strong support and learning ecosystem ✅
Higher complexity and technical learning curve ❌
Premium pricing may limit SMB access ❌
Pricing: UiPath offers customized enterprise pricing. Community edition is free for individual use; paid plans are quote-based and scale with usage and deployment model.
7. Pipefy
Pipefy is a low-code business process automation tool built for teams that need structured workflows without relying heavily on IT. It allows users to create customized “pipes” for processes like procurement, employee onboarding, help desk requests, and more—streamlining collaboration, task tracking, and process visibility across departments.
What makes Pipefy unique is its form-based process automation. Users can collect data through embedded forms, route tasks automatically, and ensure each step follows business rules—all within a visual interface. This makes it particularly effective for operations, HR, finance, and customer service teams looking to standardize internal processes without custom development.
Pipefy also integrates with key platforms like Slack, Salesforce, and Google Workspace, and offers API access for more advanced use cases. It’s a great fit for growing companies that want scalable process automation with built-in governance and transparency, especially when managing high-volume, approval-driven workflows.
Key features this tool covers:
Workflow builder
Integration capabilities
Role-based access controls
Analytics and reporting
Low-code functionality
Pros & cons:
Easy to deploy and use across departments ✅
Built-in forms streamline data collection ✅
Ideal for non-technical teams ✅
May lack deep customization for technical users ❌
Pricing: Pipefy offers a free plan for small teams. If you need more you’ll have to contact sales and get a quote, but they do offer a special plan for small businesses.
8. Kissflow
Kissflow combines workflow automation, project tracking, and case management into one unified platform.
It’s designed for teams that need both structure and flexibility—especially in HR, finance, and operations. With drag-and-drop workflow builders, rule-based triggers, and a clean UI, Kissflow is ideal for streamlining everything from employee onboarding to budget approvals. It also includes tools for collaboration, making it more than just a backend automation engine.
Kissflow’s strength lies in how approachable it is for non-technical users, while still offering customization for power users. For teams looking to digitize and automate business operations without heavy IT involvement, it hits the sweet spot between simplicity and scalability.
Key features this tool covers:
Workflow builder
Low-code/no-code functionality
Integration capabilities
Analytics and reporting
Pros & cons:
Combines workflows and project tracking ✅
Strong UI for non-technical users ✅
Quick setup with minimal IT support ✅
Limited depth for highly technical workflows ❌
Pricing: Kissflow pricing starts at $1500 per month for their basic plan. It does include up to 50 users, but it really is tailored towards enterprise companies.
9. Nintex
Another mature, enterprise-grade BPA tool is Nintex. They are built for organizations that need robust workflow design, document automation, and compliance support. It’s widely adopted in industries like finance, legal, and government, where process control and auditability are critical. Nintex integrates seamlessly with Microsoft tools (like SharePoint and Office 365) and includes visual process mapping, advanced rule-based workflows, and e-signature capabilities. It's ideal for teams that need governance, documentation, and scalability—but it comes with a higher learning curve and pricing that reflects its enterprise positioning.
Key features this tool covers:
Workflow builder
Integration capabilities
Document generation
Compliance and security tools
Pros & cons:
Excellent for regulated industries ✅
Strong process mapping and documentation tools ✅
Deep integration with Microsoft environments ✅
Higher cost and complexity than SMB-focused platforms ❌
May require IT involvement for advanced use ❌
Pricing: Nintex offers custom pricing based on workflow volume and user count. To start you’ll have to request a demo.
10. Workato
Workato is a powerful integration and automation platform built for both business users and IT teams. It excels at connecting cloud applications, databases, and APIs through advanced workflows that support real-time triggers, conditional logic, and multi-step automation. With strong governance features and enterprise-grade scalability, Workato is a go-to for organizations that need complex cross-functional automation without sacrificing security or flexibility. It’s ideal for mid-market to enterprise teams with technical oversight and a need to bridge business and IT workflows.
Key features this tool covers:
Integration capabilities
Workflow builder
Role-based access controls
Analytics and reporting
Security and compliance features
Pros & cons:
Enterprise-level scalability and reliability ✅
Strong data and app integration capabilities ✅
Built for both business and IT teams ✅
Pricing geared toward mid-to-large companies ❌
Pricing: Workato offers usage-based pricing tailored to your workflow volume and integration needs. No public pricing; plans are quote-based.
How to develop your own BPA tool
Sometimes, off-the-shelf business process automation tools won’t cut it. Maybe your workflows are too unique, your industry too niche, or your systems too integrated to rely on third-party platforms alone. In these cases, building your own custom BPA tool gives you full control over how automation fits into your business.
Developing a custom solution means you can design processes around the exact way your teams work—rather than bending your operations to fit a rigid system. You get to define the rules, the logic, and the user experience. Whether you're replacing spreadsheets, stitching together legacy systems, or building automation into your product itself, the result is a BPA solution that’s aligned with your business model, data flow, and future goals.
Of course, developing your own tool doesn’t mean going it alone. The most successful outcomes happen when you partner with a high-performing development team that collaborates with you. Not just on the build, but on the process strategy behind it. That means working with a team that digs into your business, understands your operations, and helps you prioritize what to automate first for the greatest ROI.
At DevSquad, that is how we operate. And once development is complete, your internal team won’t be left in the dark. We don’t just deliver a product—we train your team, transfer knowledge, and provide the documentation and support needed to manage and scale the automation tools long after handoff.
Ready to build your own BPA tool? Learn more about our business process automation service.
