Make Automation
About Make Automation
Make Automation refers to the broad adoption and advancement of automation platforms and tools that enable users to build automated workflows without heavy coding. The trend encompasses visual scripting, API integrations, and robotic process automation to streamline business processes, data flows, and personal productivity.
Trend Decomposition
Trigger: The rising need to accelerate repetitive tasks, reduce human error, and integrate disparate software systems.
Behavior change: People design and deploy end to end automated workflows across apps with low code interfaces, shifting from manual data handling to automated data routing and decisioning.
Enabler: Accessible integration platforms, scalable cloud services, and marketplace ecosystems that provide prebuilt connectors and templates.
Constraint removed: Technical barriers to connecting SaaS tools and automating processes without bespoke development.
PESTLE Analysis
Political: Data privacy and cross border data transfer considerations influence automation deployments and vendor selection.
Economic: Lowering of automation costs and pay as you go models enable broader adoption by SMEs.
Social: Increased demand for 24/7 operations and enhanced customer experiences through consistent automation.
Technological: Growth of API first architectures, cloud native services, and AI enabled automation capabilities expand what can be automated.
Legal: Compliance, governance, and auditability requirements shape how automations are designed and recorded.
Environmental: Automation reduces manual workloads and can lower energy usage through optimized processes, but also increases data center activity; net effect depends on implementation.
Jobs to be done framework
What problem does this trend help solve?
Automates repetitive, error prone tasks across tools and teams to save time and improve accuracy.What workaround existed before?
Manual data entry, file transfers, and bespoke integration development with custom code.What outcome matters most?
Speed and consistency of operations, followed by cost savings and reliability.Consumer Trend canvas
Basic Need: Efficient and reliable workflow automation across tools.
Drivers of Change: Accessibility of low code platforms, increasing tool ecosystems, and demand for operational resilience.
Emerging Consumer Needs: Transparent process automation, auditable workflows, and scalable automation templates.
New Consumer Expectations: Quick deployment, low maintenance, and measurable ROI from automations.
Inspirations / Signals: Widespread templates, marketplace integrations, and user success stories demonstrating time savings.
Innovations Emerging: AI assisted workflow design, autonomous decisioning within automations, and smarter error handling.
Companies to watch
- Make (formerly Integromat) - Automation platform enabling visual workflow design and API integrations.
- Zapier - Low code automation platform connecting thousands of apps with workflows called Zaps.
- Microsoft Power Automate - Enterprise grade automation within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem enabling complex workflows.
- IFTTT - User friendly automation service focusing on consumer and small business integrations.
- Tray.io - Integration and automation platform targeting developers and IT teams with a flexible workflow builder.
- Automation Anywhere - Robotic process automation platform for enterprise grade automation and intelligent bots.
- UiPath - Leading RPA platform enabling automated workflows and process orchestration.
- Workato - Automation platform focusing on enterprise integrations and intelligent workflows.
- Notion (Automate.io acquisition lineage) - Note taking and collaboration platform with automation ecosystem; Automate.io integration lineage influences automation capabilities.
- Founded in automation market: Zapier-connected alternatives - Market alternatives highlighting competitive automation platforms and ecosystems.