06 March 2025
Nimit Shishodia, Network Automation Engineer, CACI Ltd
UK businesses find themselves at a pivotal moment. Enterprise-wide IT automation is emerging as a critical enabler of competitive advantage, operational agility, and innovation. With the UK leading Europe in adoption, automation is no longer a supplementary tool — it is the foundation of future-ready enterprises.
A recent survey highlights that 27% of UK businesses have achieved enterprise-wide automation, outpacing Germany (18%), Spain (16%), and France (12%). This leadership reflects the UK’s status as a global financial hub, with its industries leveraging automation to integrate Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as AI and IoT.
Benefits driving automation adoption
Enhanced strategic creativity is one of the primary benefits, with 36% of UK businesses citing strategic and creative freedom as the top advantage of enterprise-wide IT automation. By automating repetitive tasks, teams can redirect their focus to high-impact, innovative initiatives.
In the face of escalating cyber threats, automation enhances security protocols, ensuring swift responses and robust defences. 28% of UK IT leaders identify automation as critical to mitigating cyber risks.
Organisations are adopting automation to enhance workflow efficiency, minimise downtime, and achieve operational excellence. For instance, NHS Digital implemented automation to streamline patient data management, significantly reducing administrative workload and improving patient care. Similarly, Tesco utilised robotic process automation (RPA) to optimise supply chain operations, resulting in faster restocking and reduced waste. These examples underscore the transformative impact of automation across various sectors.
Automation has also enabled companies like NatWest to deploy AI-powered assistants, improving customer service and engagement through real-time responses.
What’s holding businesses back?
Despite the benefits, several challenges hinder the widespread adoption of automation. 29% of UK businesses cite a lack of skilled talent as the top barrier. Bridging this gap requires not only upskilling existing teams but also fostering a culture that embraces technological change.
With 28% of respondents reporting inadequate IT infrastructure, many businesses struggle with integrating automation into existing systems. Upgrading tech stacks is essential to unlock the full potential of automation.
Over 90% of IT leaders acknowledge employee reluctance as a barrier to implementing automation. Transparent communication about the benefits of automation and active involvement of teams in the process are key to overcoming this resistance.
Strategic recommendations
UK businesses must adopt a holistic and strategic approach to automation. Establishing a unified platform ensures seamless integration, governance, and scalability.
Cultivating a culture of innovation is crucial. Employees should be encouraged to innovate and adapt, viewing automation as a tool for empowerment, not displacement.
Leveraging APIs and Packaged Business Capabilities (PBCs) enables rapid deployment of reusable automation solutions. This approach has been instrumental for companies like Revolution Beauty and TikTok in transforming their business operations.
Automation in action: a snapshot of success
DWP Digital managed unprecedented demand for social benefits by implementing scalable automation through API integration. Revolution Beauty slashed product launch cycles and maintenance costs by embracing an API-driven approach. Barclays deployed AI-driven automation for fraud detection, enhancing security and reducing financial losses.
The business mandate
Enterprise-wide IT automation is no longer a future aspiration but a present-day necessity, serving as the foundation for innovation, resilience, and growth. By strategically implementing automation, organisations can streamline operations, reduce errors, and free employees to focus on creative and strategic tasks that drive competitive advantage. Automation strengthens cybersecurity, ensures operational continuity, and enhances customer experiences by enabling agility and faster responses to market demands. As the digital economy evolves, businesses that lead with automation will not only meet rising expectations but set the pace for industry transformation, futureproofing their operations and positioning themselves as trailblazers in a rapidly advancing world.
Let automation be the catalyst for change — and the bridge to a sustainable, competitive future.
