Hyperautomation: The foundation for agentic AI in autonomous enterprises

The future of business isn't just automated, it's autonomous. At KPMG in Belgium, we see a clear trajectory where the strategic application of hyperautomation today is actively laying the groundwork for the transformative power of agentic AI and the emergence of the truly autonomous enterprise.  While many organizations are focused on automating tasks, the true competitive advantage lies in building an enterprise that can operate, adapt, and innovate on its own. This is the promise of agentic AI, and it's closer than you think. 

At KPMG we’re able to achieve value with agentic AI right now, thanks to the solid foundation from the hyperautomation toolbox, mindset, and governance we have already installed for our clients and our own organization. 

From automation to autonomy: The evolution of intelligent operations

For years, businesses have leveraged Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to streamline repetitive, rule-based tasks. This evolved into "intelligent automation" with the integration of AI capabilities like Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP), enabling systems to handle more complex scenarios and unstructured data. However, these still largely operated within predefined boundaries, requiring human oversight for exceptions and continuous training.

Enter Hyperautomation. Coined by Gartner a few years ago, but ever more relevant and powerful thanks to the revolution that LLM’s and AI-powered functions are bringing to the hyperautomation toolbox.

Hyperautomation is about orchestrating a blend of advanced technologies – RPA, AI, ML, process mining, intelligent document processing, and more – to automate entire end-to-end business processes.

It's about looking at the bigger picture, connecting disparate systems, and driving data-driven intelligence across the enterprise. This holistic approach is crucial, as it builds the interconnected, intelligent infrastructure that agentic AI thrives on.

Now, we stand at the cusp of agentic AI. Unlike traditional AI that simply processes inputs, agentic AI systems are designed to perceive their environment, set goals, plan, execute actions autonomously, and continuously learn and adapt. They move beyond automating tasks or even processes; they automate outcomes. Imagine AI agents autonomously managing supply chains, optimizing customer interactions, or even designing new products, all while learning from real-time data and making independent decisions. This is the promise of the autonomous  enterprise, where systems work together with minimal human intervention to achieve strategic objectives.

Why Hyperautomation is the essential accelerator

The journey to agentic AI and the autonomous enterprise is not a leap but a carefully planned ascent. Hyperautomation provides the critical foundation for several reasons:

1. Process understanding and optimization: Before you can empower AI agents to act autonomously, you need a deep understanding of your existing processes. Hyperautomation initiatives, often driven by process mining, force organizations to map, analyze, and optimize workflows. This clarity is invaluable for designing effective AI agents and ensuring their actions align with business objectives.
2. Data readiness and integration: Agentic AI is only as good as the data it consumes. Hyperautomation compels organizations to address data silos, improve data quality, and establish robust data pipelines. This consistent, high-quality data fabric is non-negotiable for AI agents to make informed decisions and learn effectively.
3. Scalability and orchestration: Hyperautomation platforms provide the tools and frameworks for orchestrating complex workflows across multiple systems. This inherent capability for seamless integration and scalable deployment is precisely what agentic AI requires to operate effectively across the enterprise, enabling agents to collaborate and execute multi-step interventions.
4. Mindset shift: Embracing hyperautomation requires a significant cultural shift – a move towards a mindset of continuous improvement, automation-first thinking, and a willingness to rethink how work is done. This forward-looking perspective is crucial for preparing your workforce and leadership for the even more profound changes that agentic AI will bring.

Navigating the autonomous frontier: The importance of trust and operating models

While the opportunities presented by agentic AI are immense, so are the risks. At KPMG in Belgium, we emphasize that moving towards autonomy requires a proactive and strategic approach, particularly concerning:

• Trusted AI: The autonomous nature of agentic AI amplifies the need for robust ethical AI frameworks. Questions of bias, fairness, transparency, and explainability become paramount. Can we trust the decisions made by autonomous agents? How do we ensure they align with our values and regulatory requirements (like the upcoming EU AI Act)? Establishing clear guardrails, audit trails, and human-in-the-loop interventions for critical decisions is essential to build and maintain trust with customers, employees, and regulators.

• Operating model transformation: The autonomous enterprise fundamentally redefines roles, responsibilities, and organizational structures. The "human-in-the-loop" model evolves to a "human-on-the-loop" model, whereby humans provide oversight, strategic direction, and manage exceptions, rather than executing routine tasks. This requires a rethink of skills, training, and talent development. A well-defined operating model ensures clear accountability, effective governance, and a smooth transition to an AI-augmented workforce. Risks like cascading hallucinations, intent breaking, and security vulnerabilities like memory poisoning or tool misuse also demand careful consideration in the operating model and technical safeguards.

Your journey to autonomy starts now

The path to the autonomous enterprise powered by agentic AI is not a distant vision, it's a strategic imperative. Organizations that fail to embrace this evolution risk falling behind.

At KPMG in Belgium, we are uniquely positioned to guide you through this transformative journey. We understand that every organization is different and a one-size-fits-all approach simply won't work. That's why we offer tailored engagements to help you identify your unique opportunities and challenges. We support you in practical roll-outs of technical AI solutions, from preparing the data environment and AI platform, to integrating third party solutions, to building and deploying tailored AI algorithms. Our data science approach targets tight integration with strategic goals and concrete business needs, aiming to generate value that is sustainable long after the first project build.

Are you ready to unlock your potential?

This article has hopefully given you a better picture of hyperautomation. Perhaps you are already using some automation tools in your organization, maybe even running end-to-end automation. Yet, the anticipated return on your investments either has not materialized or is not at the level you expected. The key thing to remember here is that hyperautomation is not only about the technology involved. Important components like strong governance and effective change management are essential to success.

Moreover, a truly efficient approach to hyperautomation should be customized based on your specific organizational needs, rather than implementing a one-size-fits-all solution. This might raise questions such as where to begin and how to uncover opportunities within your organization. 

We invite you to schedule a value discovery workshop with our experts. During this interactive session, we will:

• Explore your current automation landscape and strategic objectives.
• Identify high-value use cases for hyperautomation and potential applications for agentic AI.
• Discuss the critical considerations for trusted AI and operating model implications.

As an output of this workshop, you will receive a customized maturity assessment, providing a clear roadmap and actionable recommendations for your journey towards an autonomous future. Our approach is pragmatic and interactive and could be done at any pace, size, or scope that would fit your organization.

Don't wait for the future to arrive. Contact KPMG in Belgium to start building it today.

Authors: Simon Hochepied, Manager Advisor & Ferdi Kriel, Director