In 2026, companies will experience one of the most significant transformations of the decade: the near-total elimination of manual processes in favor of digital workflows—fully digitalized flows that integrate automation, artificial intelligence, and collaborative systems.
This shift is more than just a technological upgrade; it represents a real change in how businesses organize, manage, and optimize their operations.
Why Manual Processes Are Becoming Unsustainable
Until recently, many business activities were still carried out with Excel sheets, paper forms, email approvals, or even verbal exchanges between departments. In 2026, this approach is now too slow and risky, especially in a context requiring:
- speed in decision-making
- precision in data
- immediate adaptability to market changes
- constant control and traceability
Every manual process inevitably introduces errors, delays, and high operational costs. That’s why companies are accelerating toward fully digitalized workflows.
What Are Digital Workflows?
Digital workflows are automated processes that connect people, software, and data within the same ecosystem.
They rely on:
- workflow automation platforms
- intelligent ticketing systems
- AI applied to decision-making
- API integrations between applications
- centralized collaboration tools
In a digital workflow, every step is tracked, automated when possible, and monitored in real time.
The Benefits Making This Transformation Inevitable
Adopting digital workflows brings tangible advantages that are pushing more and more companies to remove up to 90% of manual processes.
1. Drastic Reduction of Human Errors
By automating repetitive tasks (data entry, assignments, notifications, checks), inaccuracies and oversights are eliminated at the source.
2. Speed and Operational Continuity
Processes continue to run automatically even when people are unavailable, ensuring 24/7 continuity.
3. Greater Team Efficiency
Staff are freed from micro-tasks and can focus on strategic, creative, and high-value activities.
4. Better Data Control
Every step is recorded: timing, responsible parties, approvals, bottlenecks.
This enables accurate monitoring and data-driven decisions.
5. Process Standardization
Procedures become uniform across the company, reducing confusion and variability.
6. Instant Scalability
The company can grow without proportionally increasing personnel dedicated to operational tasks.
Which Processes Will Be Digitalized by 2026?
Virtually all processes that can be structured into a repeatable logical flow. In particular:
- internal request and ticket management
- document, budget, and contract approvals
- onboarding of employees or suppliers
- IT workflows (change management, incident management, asset tracking)
- administrative and accounting processes
- order management and logistics
- marketing and sales workflows
- cybersecurity control processes
Automation, combined with AI, allows these processes to become not only faster but also intelligent.
The Role of AI: From Digital Workflow to Autonomous Workflow
In 2026, AI does more than execute automated tasks—it optimizes them dynamically.
A digital workflow can:
- detect anomalies
- suggest alternative paths
- automatically classify documents and requests
- make decisions based on rules and AI evaluations
- learn from historical data
This leads to the natural evolution of workflows: from “digital” to “autonomous.”
Why Companies Will Eliminate 90% of Manual Processes
Because the tools to do so are now mature, cost-effective, and user-friendly.
Because competitors are already doing it.
And because the impact on efficiency is enormous: lower costs, fewer errors, faster execution, and higher quality.
In 2026, the question is no longer whether to digitalize, but how quickly to do it in order to remain competitive.
