Australian business leaders see automation as vital

Nearly all (99%) Australian business leaders agree that improving automation will be vital to meeting their business goals, but automation initiatives are being held back by data security and governance concerns, new research indicates.

A survey released by MuleSoft found that 66% of Australian businesses are worried that data and security challenges are preventing the organisation from successfully implementing automation.

More than 70% of automation initiatives are being hindered by security concerns and data
silos, the company said.

According to the survey, globally 95% of organisations have implemented or are in the process of implementing automation initiatives — such as streamlined employee onboarding processes — to improve productivity.

Nearly all (96%) respondents see automation as a means to create better connected customer experiences, and almost as many (94%) see it as a way to improve operational efficiency.

According to the research, Australian respondents specifically are overwhelmingly concerned that security and governance issues are slowing down the pace of innovation (87%) and preventing non-technical employees from integrating their data sources (85%).

MuleSoft CEO Brent Hayward said the results demonstrate that IT and business alignment has become essential to meeting digital imperatives such as the adoption of automation.

“Delivering innovation fast requires reusable, secure assets the business can self-serve to quickly launch new digital experiences, products and services,” he said.

“As IT and business teams drive automation initiatives forward, empowering more people — developers and non-developers alike — to connect data and apps in a secure yet frictionless way will be key to organisations’ future success.”

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