What is Agentic RPA? The New Era of Smart Automation

11 September 2025 Cem Solmaz

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has been part of our business world for years, and it is now being applied with different products and methods. Yet, a new trend has been making waves lately: Agentic RPA. To understand this concept, we first need to look at the term behind it—Agentic AI.

What is Agentic AI?

Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that can not only follow instructions but also:

Set goals on their own,
Plan how to achieve those goals,
Take initiative without waiting for human input,
And learn from experience to adapt to new situations.

In short, it’s not just an assistant waiting for commands—it’s an intelligent partner that can make decisions to reach a target.

Where Does Classical RPA Stand?

Traditional RPA systems can only follow the rules you give them. If rules change, the robot gets stuck. These systems are successful in so-called “happy path” scenarios where everything goes smoothly. But when things deviate even slightly, they cannot adapt.

The Rise of Agentic RPA

This is where Agentic RPA comes in. By combining the autonomous decision-making capabilities of Agentic AI with the structured workflows of RPA, it creates systems that are far more flexible and powerful.

Imagine a robot that:

Can automatically notice when a rule has changed,
Adjusts its workflow accordingly,
And even develops new ways of handling exceptions.

That’s exactly what Agentic RPA offers.

Why Does It Matter for Companies?

For businesses, this means:

Greater efficiency: Processes continue even when unexpected changes occur.
Scalability: It can adapt to new tasks with minimal configuration.
Resilience: Work doesn’t come to a halt just because a small rule changed.

Beyond efficiency, Agentic RPA also creates space for employees to focus on more creative and strategic work.

But Are There No Challenges?

Of course, there are. We are still in the early days of this technology. Security, ethics, and compliance are major discussion points. For example, how transparent can an AI’s decision-making process be? While some explanations exist, many companies still don’t find them fully satisfying.

Conclusion

Agentic RPA represents a major leap forward. This is no longer just a technology that “speeds things up”—it’s a smart partner that ensures goals are achieved.

In the coming years, the real difference will be made by companies that implement this technology at the right time and in the right processes. The true winners will not be those who simply follow trends, but those who select solutions that best match their business needs.