If there is one innovation that defines 2017 it is intelligent automation (IA) – and all it entails. New intelligent automation technology, which accesses data, processes it and then initiates actions – all the while "learning while doing" – is supporting enterprise decision-makers by providing a significantly improved quality of support services. Apart from improving overall decision-making speed and supporting smarter decision-making, the artificial intelligence underpinning IA also accelerates solutions for large-scale enterprise challenges by complementing human performance. IA's impact reaches from the private sphere of our personal decision-making … across corporate processing … to the far reaches of our solar system. While robotic operations have been used on the factory floor for decades, the adoption of similar capabilities in the "back office" processing environment is a trend that has only recently emerged.

Every year, SSON invites global innovators to the stage to share their views on trends that are disrupting the way we do business. The idea is to inspire you to think outside the box – and maybe get to your own next "big idea". Right now, one of the most significant trends is the rise of robotics across all elements of the enterprise, transforming the way business is done. The implications will impact enterprises beyond what many of us can comprehend today. Martin Ford is a futurist and New York Times best-selling author perhaps best known for his book "Rise of the Robots".