A new report by Redwood Software shows that 73.2% of businesses increased automation investments in the past year, but a majority of 61.3% admit their automation tools are underutilized due to fragmented strategies, siloed implementation and the need for a trusted orchestration partner.
The report, “Enterprise automation index 2025,” was commissioned by Redwood to examine the current state of enterprise automation and artificial intelligence (AI) readiness. Representing data collected by a panel via independent research firm Leger Opinion, the report uncovers key trends, investment patterns and emerging gaps in enterprise automation maturity. It was based on a survey of 285 automation practitioners across industries, including manufacturing, retail and finance.
The #1 overall business priority for 2025 based on responses? Reducing costs. Supporting that priority, 36.6% say automation has reduced costs by at least 25%, and 12.7% say it’s reduced costs by more than 50%.
“This research confirms what we see across industries: Automation is no longer a nice-to-have — it’s mission-critical,” said Kevin Greene, Redwood Software CEO. “But there’s a growing opportunity. Investment is up, results are proven, yet adoption is stalling. Organizations that overcome these barriers — through the right tools, education and strategic support – are the ones that will unlock the full value of automation and be ready for what’s next with AI.”
Key findings from the “Enterprise automation index 2025”:
- 68.8% say automation is mission-critical or very important to business success
- 36.6% of organizations report automation has reduced costs by at least 25%
- 48.6% say automation has improved efficiency by 25% or more
- Fewer than 6% of businesses have achieved end-to-end autonomous automation in any core process
- 65.6% believe AI will significantly enhance automation but 40% feel unprepared to adopt it
The report also highlights outcomes unique to Redwood customers:
- 1.3x as likely to fully utilize automation solutions
- 1.6x as likely to see significant efficiency gains
- 2x as likely to reduce manual workloads by more than 50%
- More confident in their AI readiness
Download the report
Thanks for reading CPA Practice Advisor!
Subscribe Already registered? Log In
Need more information? Read the FAQs
