In a world where speed, intelligence, and agility separate the leaders from the laggards, hyperautomation is no longer a “nice to have”—it’s business critical.
In May 2025, my colleagues and I attended the Africa Automation Technology Fair (AATF Connect 2025), where prominent speakers such as Johan Steyn (Chair, Special Interest Group on AI and Robotics, IITPSA), Yanesh Naidoo (Innovations Director, Jendamark), and Brendan van Staaden (Chief AI Officer, moData) made one thing clear: we’ve entered the era of intelligent automation.
These thought leaders emphasised that while automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are transformative, one vital question must precede any automation effort: Can a human do this better or faster?
Johan Steyn drew a clear line between automation and AI:
And he’s not alone in this thinking. Elon Musk, whose factories are now global case studies in innovation, once pursued automation at all costs—until it backfired. Today, his approach is more measured, following these five principles outlined in his 2023 biography by Walter Isaacson’s:
Every requirement should have a name (person’s name) attached to it. Challenge all assumptions — even your own — and eliminate unnecessary complexity.
If you don’t reintroduce at least 10% of what you deleted, you haven’t deleted enough. Simplicity is key.
Don’t waste time improving something that shouldn’t exist. Remove it entirely before refining.
Only speed up a process once it’s been validated as necessary and efficient.
Automation should be the final step. Automating inefficiency only scales the problem.
Hyperautomation goes beyond task-based automation. It combines AI, Machine Learning (ML), Robotic Process Automation (RPA) , and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), like SAP Business One, to automate entire workflows, creating intelligent systems that learn, adapt, and improve.
It’s the brainchild of AI and the backbone of a future-ready business.
AI is the backbone of hyperautomation. It enables systems to detect patterns, analyse data, and make decisions with minimal human input. This adds adaptability and intelligence to automation.
ERP Systems as Enablers
ERP systems consolidate business functions (e.g. finance, HR, supply chain). Integrated with AI and RPA, they enable cross-functional process automation with real-time data, driving accuracy and agility.
Business Process Automation (BPA) as a Foundation
Hyperautomation builds on traditional BPA but enhances it using AI and RPA. It doesn't just free up human resources from repetitive tasks—it optimises end-to-end workflows across departments.Together, these intelligent technologies deliver a connected, self-improving digital fabric across your organisation.
Hyperautomation helps manage inventory, analyse consumer behavior, and personalise customer experiences in real time.
RPA bots handle billing and admin, while AI predicts health trends and supports clinical decisions—allowing professionals to focus more on patient care.
Smart systems predict maintenance, reduce waste, and optimize production schedules—leading to lower costs and higher productivity.
As AI matures and systems converge, hyperautomation will become as foundational as the cloud. Those who embrace it today will lead tomorrow—operating smarter, faster, and with far less friction.
Hyperautomation is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s the next step in business evolution. Organisations that adopt it strategically will unlock new levels of efficiency, innovation, and resilience. The only question is: Will your business use it to evolve—or fall behind?
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