INTRODUCTION TO AGENTIC AUTOMATION TRAINING

In this course, we’ll explore agentic automation—the kind that doesn’t just

follow a script but actively learns, decides, and takes action.

You’ll learn how to sort out fact from fiction so you’re not stuck believing

every rumor that “the AI is coming for us.” You’ll also see how AI can

actually empower human talent instead of replacing it.

By the end, you’ll have the insights you need to confidently push past the

clichés and harness the real potential of agentic automation, all while

keeping a human-centric approach at the heart of every decision.

So, buckle up. Let’s explore how agentic automation works, clear up the
myths, and figure out how to make it truly work for you—without leaving
humanity behind.

Agentic automation emerged as a response to the growing need for more

flexible, self-directed, and intelligent automation solutions—especially as

organizations handle increasingly complex workflows.

Traditional, rule-based automation often struggles when scenarios

change, exceptions appear, or new integrations are introduced.

Agentic automation addresses these challenges by equipping agents with

the autonomy to learn, adapt, and make decisions on the fly. Here are

some of the key challenges it set out to solve:

1. 1

Limited adaptability of traditional RPA: Early robotic process

automation (RPA) solutions typically followed strict, predefined rules. Any

process change—like a new user interface layout, an extra approval step,

or a change in business logic—would break the existing automation.

Agentic automation aims to handle these dynamic elements more

gracefully by making robots capable of decision-making and real-time

adaptation.

2. 2

High maintenance costs and complexity: Frequent updates and

constant oversight often inflate the cost of legacy automation solutions.

By combining agents with robots to holistically understand processes and

dynamically adapt their actions, agentic automation reduces the

maintenance burden.

3. 3

Need for end-to-end automation: Organizations often have multiple

disconnected processes that require human intervention to link them

together. Agentic automation moves closer to seamless end-to-end

workflows, with automated agents able to collaborate, hand off tasks, and

handle variations. This reduces bottlenecks and manual handoffs.

4. 4

Rapid scaling and faster time-to-value: As organizations grow and

processes evolve, scaling traditional automation can become complicated.

Agentic automation through agentic orchestration allows for more plug-

and-play capability. Companies can expand or modify automated

operations without needing to rebuild entire workflows from scratch.

By addressing these pain points, agentic automation helps organizations

avoid the pitfalls of rigid automation setups and empowers them to

manage more complex, changing, and intelligent workflows. We’ll discuss

in the following lessons examples of use cases that agentic automation

can solve.

So, what is an agent?

In the Introduction to automation(opens in a new tab) course, we talk

about what a robot is. We define it as the executor of the automations
people build—a piece of software that strictly follows the steps we give
it. Notice the emphasis on “strictly follows,” which is a critical point. This
deterministic approach means the robot needs complete information and
a predictable environment to function.

If you haven’t yet, check out the “How do I identify automation

opportunities?” lesson in the same course. It walks you through
evaluating which processes are stable, rule-based, and therefore a good
fit for automation.
Now, let’s talk about agents, which come into play because our world is
full of uncertainty and constant change. Applications, processes,
technology, information, people, and business objectives can shift at any
moment. Trying to create or update an entire automation each time
something changes just isn’t scalable.
That’s why we leverage AI. Yes—an agent is still a robot in the UiPath
ecosystem, just an advanced one. It’s a piece of software capable of more
than following a static script—it can make decisions, plan, and learn as
conditions change. However, humans remain an integral part of the
process.

They provide validation, define objectives, and handle exceptions or

complex decisions that require human judgment.

Here are the four defining traits of an agent:

 Context grounding (Knowledge Base) - Just like a new employee

needs access to policies, reports, and past decisions, an automation

agent needs to "learn" from available data before making decisions.

  Prompting (Decision making) - Similar to how employees rely on

guidelines and past experience to make the right decisions, an

agent follows instruction guidelines to ensure accuracy.

 Tools (Task execution) - Just as employees use software and

automation tools to complete tasks, an agent executes its actions

seamlessly with use of robots.

 Escalations (Human validation) - When agent is unsure of the

next actions, it will ask for help or specific instructions from a

human for deciding on next actions.

Are agentic AI and agentic automation the same?

Agentic AI is the autonomous artificial intelligence systems that

can perceive, reason, and act independently to achieve specific goals.

These AI-driven agents are self-sufficient decision-makers capable of

adapting to real-time changes, learning from interactions, and making

informed choices without predefined rules.

Agentic Automation is the application of Agentic AI within automation

workflows to enhance operational efficiency.

Processing vendor invoices

With RPA and Specialized AI

This process begins when a new invoice is created. The robot

automatically reviews the vendor invoice, matches it with the purchase

order using a trained document processing model, and extracts key

details like the invoice number, amounts, and supplier data. If everything

checks out, the invoice moves forward. But if there’s a mismatch—such as

an incorrect amount—the robot escalates it for human review.

At this stage, a finance specialist steps in to investigate. If needed, they

contact the supplier for clarification or additional documents, which can

take time and distract from other tasks. Once the issue is resolved—

whether through corrected information or negotiation—the robot updates

the ERP system to ensure accurate records.

By combining robotic speed and accuracy with human judgment for

complex decisions, this process becomes faster, more reliable, and more

efficient..

 Processing vendor invoices

With agentic automation

In an agentic approach, the robot still reviews invoices, but when there’s a

mismatch, an agent steps in to investigate. Instead of just following a set

script, the agent checks policy documents, exceptions, and past cases to

understand the issue. If needed, it consults a finance specialist for

guidance.

The agent also communicates with suppliers directly, reducing the need

for manual back-and-forth. Once the issue is resolved, the robot

completes the financial tasks.

This smart teamwork between robots and agents makes invoice

processing faster, more flexible, and requires minimal human effort.

What is agentic orchestration?

As seen in the example above, agents were integrated into the existing

workflow rather than replacing the entire process.

This is achieved through Agentic Orchestration, which, as you learned

in the previous lesson, enables rapid scaling. Instead of rebuilding entire

processes from scratch, this approach focuses on identifying key steps

that can benefit from agentic automation, making the transition more

efficient and less time-consuming.

Let's look at two more examples:

 Purchase-to-pay process

With agentic automation

 The process starts with a purchase requisition, where

a robot pulls data and a human reviews it. Once approved,

the robot converts it into a purchase order and sends it to

the supplier after a final check.

 For receiving goods, an agent tracks deliveries and resolves

standard discrepancies, escalating only complex cases to a

human.

 During invoice processing, the agent performs a three-way

match, flags discrepancies for review, and schedules

payments. A robot then executes payments, escalating

unresolved issues as needed.

  Purchase-to-pay process

With RPA and Specialized AI

In this scenario, anything that requires judgment, context, or flexible

decision-making would usually fall to a person. Specifically, in the

purchase-to-pay flow shown:

 Monitoring deliveries – Robots can’t track delays or handle

supplier emails, so humans follow up on missing items.

 Resolving discrepancies – Three-way matching is

automated, but humans step in for mismatches like partial

shipments or incorrect pricing.

 Scheduling payments – Robots handle fixed terms, but

humans decide on discounts or adjust for cash flow.

 Handling exceptions – Unclear policies or unconventional

supplier requests require human intervention.

 Order-to-cash process
With agentic automation
 The order-to-cash process starts with customer
onboarding, where a robot creates records, and
an agent runs credit checks, escalating issues to a human
when needed.
 In order management, a robot verifies orders, while
an agent checks credit terms, involving a human only for
special cases.
 During fulfillment, humans handle logistics, a robot updates
inventory, and an agent manages exceptions like backorders
or customer inquiries.
 For invoicing, a robot generates invoices, and
an agent validates them, flagging discrepancies for finance
review.
 In payment collection, a robot tracks payments, and
an agent follows up on delays, escalating complex disputes to
a human.
 Finally, in accounts receivable, a robot compiles reports,
and an agent analyzes trends, notifying finance managers of
recurring issues.

 Order-to-cash process
With RPA and Specialized AI
Without agents, robots handle rules-based tasks,
but humans must manage anything requiring judgment, policy
interpretation, or flexible decisions:
 Credit checks & approvals – Robots fetch credit scores, but
humans assess borderline cases.
 Complex orders – Robots verify orders, but humans approve
exceptions or special pricing.
 Fulfillment exceptions – Robots update inventory, but
humans handle backorders or special shipping requests.
 Invoice discrepancies – Robots generate invoices, but
humans correct pricing or stock mismatches.
  Payment issues – Robots process payments, but humans
handle disputes and negotiations.
 Accounts receivable – Robots generate reports, but humans
analyze trends and adjust collection strategies.
Without agentic automation, human intervention remains high for
nuanced tasks.
Agentic automation delivers value across different
industries
Although agentic automation is still an emerging technology, it has broad
application across industries, departments, and processes across all
sectors. The following use cases illustrate the successful implementation
of agentic automation. However, more applications are expected to
emerge rapidly in the future.

TALENT ACQUSITION & RECRUITMENT

Challenges: Recruiters spend a significant amount of time manually reviewing

resumes, conducting initial screenings, and ensuring consistency in candidate
evaluations. This process is time-consuming, prone to bias, and inefficient,
often leading to hiring delays and mismatches.
How agents can help: Agents review job applications and resumes, screen
candidates based on key criteria such as credentials, job changes, location,
industry experience, and age, and generate tailored interview questions based on
application details and industry requirements. They support the interview
process by recording and transcribing conversations, evaluate candidates using
predefined criteria and transcripts, and generate detailed evaluation reports with
recommendations for recruiters.
Business impact: Agents significantly enhance the efficiency and accuracy of
candidate screening. They reduce the time and effort required for initial
evaluations, ensure consistent assessment criteria, and help recruiters to quickly
identify the most suitable candidates

MARKETING & ADVERTISING

Challenges: Marketing campaigns require multiple steps, from ideation and
content creation to execution and performance tracking. Manual processes can
slow down execution, create inconsistencies, and make it difficult to optimize
campaigns in real time.
How agents can help: A marketing manager submits a campaign idea, and the
agent creates a record in the CRM platform. Next, the agent analyzes customer
data and market trends to generate a business case for review. Once approved,
the agent develops campaign content such as videos and email templates, which
the marketing team can review and refine.
Then, the agent automates campaign execution, syncing with the CRM platform
for lead tracking. It conducts automated A/B testing to optimize performance
and continuously display key metrics, enabling ongoing improvements.
Business impact: Agents accelerate marketing execution by significantly
reducing manual effort per campaign. It minimizes content revisions, automates
testing, and enhances market responsiveness. This results in faster go-to-market
strategies, increased revenue opportunities, and improved profitability, giving
businesses a competitive edge.

IT OPERATIONS
Challenges: IT teams spend a lot of time manually monitoring logs, detecting
issues, and searching for fixes. Delayed responses can lead to system downtime
and business disruptions. Creating detailed tickets is also time-consuming,
making it harder to resolve problems quickly.
How agents can help: The agent continuously monitors and downloads log
files from application servers, uses an LLM (Large Language Model) to analyze
log files for critical issues, searches resources (web/documentation) for possible
fixes, and automatically creates tickets with error details and potential solutions.
It also notifies IT staff of issues before they escalate.
Business impact: The agent prevents downtime and reduces IT support costs,
allowing IT teams to focus on strategic tasks rather than reactive problem-
solving. This leads to improved system reliability, reduced business disruptions,
and enhanced overall IT performance.

PROCUREMENT
Challenges: Procurement teams often struggle with manually reviewing and
comparing quotations from different vendors. This process is time-consuming,
prone to human errors, and lacks real-time price validation. Keeping up with
internal rules and market standards makes things even more difficult. This can
cause problems and cost overruns.
How agents can help: Agents automate the entire price validation process by
extracting item details from quotations, researching market prices through APIs,
and checking compliance with internal policies. They ensure accuracy by cross-
verifying prices against external sources and internal benchmarks. The results
that are confirmed are then given to the procurement officer. This lets them
make faster and better decisions while reducing the work they have to do
manually.
Business impact: The agent speeds up quotation reviews, ensuring accurate
price validation and policy compliance. It reduces processing time, minimizes
errors, and helps secure cost-effective purchases, leading to optimized
procurement and significant savings.

HANDLING PUBLIC COMPLAINTS

Challenges: Handling public complaints efficiently is a critical yet time-
consuming task for the public sector organizations. Complaints come from
multiple channels, requiring manual triaging, investigation, and resolution.
Ensuring policy compliance, tracking case history, and maintaining
transparency add further complexity. Delays in responding and fixing problems
can make people unhappy and lose trust.
How agents can help: The robot extracts complaint details from multiple
channels, categorizes them, and sends acknowledgments. The agent
investigates, gathers evidence, and refers the policies. Agent summarizes case
history for reopened complaints. It then presents findings to the human for
validation. The robot notifies the customer of the decision and updates records.
Business impact: The agent enhances efficiency by reducing manual effort,
speeding up response times, and ensuring regulatory compliance. It minimizes
rework, helps meet strict SLAs, and improves overall accountability. This leads
to faster resolutions, increased customer satisfaction, and a more effective
complaint management process.
FINANCIAL FRAUD DETECTION
Challenges: Detecting financial fraud manually is time-consuming and prone to
human error. Large volumes of transactions must be analyzed to identify
suspicious patterns, making it difficult for financial institutions to keep up with
evolving fraud tactics. Delayed detection can lead to financial losses,
compliance violations, and reputational risks.
How agents can help: The agent automates fraud detection by analyzing
transactions against pre-defined fraud schemas. It flags potential fraudulent
activity for human review, ensuring faster and more accurate identification of
suspicious transactions. The agent gathers relevant information for reporting to
authorities and monitors flagged accounts for further investigation. This reduces
manual workload, enhances compliance, and improves fraud prevention
efficiency.
Business impact: Agents enhance compliance, reduce financial losses, and
build trust in the financial system. Their adaptive approach improves fraud
detection, strengthening prevention while lowering operational costs.

PROCESSING INSURANCE CLAIMS

Challenges: Processing insurance claims manually is time-consuming and
prone to errors. Validating documents, checking reimbursement history, and
ensuring compliance with policy rules require significant human effort. This can
lead to delays, inconsistencies, and increased workload for employees,
impacting overall efficiency and customer satisfaction.
How agents can help: The agent automates claim processing by classifying
documents, extracting key information, and validating requests against policy
rules. It leverages the knowledge base to check reimbursement history and
match requirements. The system updates records and notifies customers with
approval or rejection, allowing human agents to focus only on complex cases,
improving speed, accuracy, and efficiency.
Business impact: The agent reduces operational costs and decreases claim
handling time significantly. It achieves high data extraction accuracy, improving
customer satisfaction and employee retention.
Automation and AI are evolving rapidly, and it’s natural to have questions. If
agents can handle more tasks, what does that mean for our jobs? Who takes
responsibility if an AI makes a mistake? How do we ensure data remains
secure? And what about decision-making—can we trust AI to be fair and
accurate?
These are important considerations as businesses integrate AI into their
workflows. Let's discuss these concerns one by one.
1. 1
If automation can do everything, what happens to our jobs?
Just like earlier waves of automation reshaped the business landscape and gave
rise to new roles, agentic automation will bring similar transformations.
Consider how your own work has been influenced by RPA and the latest AI
developments. You probably rely on RPA to handle repetitive tasks, and AI to
help process knowledge.
But have any of these tools fully replaced your position?
Most likely, they’ve replaced or enhanced certain parts of your job, making you
more efficient, and letting you focus on higher-value activities. It’s important to
remember that agents still rely on developers and business users to build and
refine them—they aren’t running the show on their own.
1. 2
Who's responsible if an agent makes a bad call?
The simple answer is that developers program the rules for when and how
agents should involve human supervision. As we saw in the previous lesson,
agents have taken over parts of the process that used to need human input, but
critical decisions still land with people. That safeguard remains in place to
ensure accountability.
1. 3
How safe is our data once we hand over control to a machine?
With UiPath, your data is just as secure as it’s always been. Agents handle
information with the same protections and standards that govern traditional
RPA.
1. 4
What if those decisions are biased, or downright wrong?
Enter context grounding, a key concept for agentic automation. Context
grounding means giving AI the right frame of reference—think policy
documents, standard operating procedures, and other internal guidelines—so it
can make decisions that align with your business’s specific needs and values.
Business leaders and process owners make sure these documents are available
to “train” the AI, reducing the risk of biased or incorrect decisions.