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For those navigating the complexities of AI implementation, one key aspect is data management.
Businesses need to assess which data is valuable for AI initiatives, identify where it’s located, ensure its security, determine who has access, and establish how it can be efficiently organized and formatted for AI application. Additionally, understanding how data flows within and outside of the organization is crucial. Companies should also evaluate which existing processes could benefit from the automation that AI offers.
These considerations are particularly challenging, given that the average organization utilizes approximately 112 different software tools and applications globally, as reported by Statista in 2023.
To address these challenges, 8flow, a startup established in 2022 by former ServiceNow experts, has secured $10 million in a funding round aimed at enhancing its capabilities in automating complex workflows through AI.
“Every enterprise operates with its unique array of business applications—ranging from hundreds to thousands,” explained Boaz Hecht, co-founder and CEO of 8Flow, during a recent interview with VentureBeat. “There needs to be a system in place to organize all of this and give AI the necessary context to operate efficiently across these platforms.”
The funding round was led by Caffeinated Capital, with notable participation from ServiceNow Ventures, Okta, HNVR, and other angel investors.
Preparing Businesses for AI
8Flow’s solution offers enterprises the capability to map and analyze their internal workflows effectively.
By establishing a structured foundation, the company’s technology allows AI agents to oversee tasks that have traditionally been performed by human staff, with a specific focus on back-office and support operations.
This investment reflects a growing trend towards agentic AI applications—intelligent systems that can autonomously handle tasks, particularly in expansive and diverse enterprise landscapes.
Hecht articulated the idea that agentic AI naturally evolves from contemporary automation tools but emphasizes the necessity of adding enterprise context for effectiveness.
“Agentic AI development will continue to advance. However, as it reaches a point where it can autonomously execute workflows—while reasoning throughout the process—it will require contextual information specific to each enterprise.”
8Flow’s focus is not on developing the AI capabilities themselves, as offered by companies like OpenAI or AWS, but rather on enhancing their operational effectiveness within corporate environments.
“Our goal isn’t to create AI functions; instead, we are building the intelligence that guides AI on what actions to take and the reasons behind those choices.”
Aligning AI Potential with Business Needs
The platform developed by 8Flow processes and captures data from real-world operations to effectively guide AI agents through established business workflows.
By analyzing and optimizing human behavior, 8Flow assists enterprises in training and deploying AI agents with minimal disruption, tackling one of the major challenges in enterprise automation: making workflows comprehensible and actionable for AI solutions.
Raymond Tonsing, managing partner at Caffeinated Capital, highlighted that while many organizations are excited about adopting AI, they struggle with preparing their operations adequately for automation. He characterized 8Flow as optimally positioned to facilitate this transition.
Mapping Workflows and Data
8Flow draws parallels to Waze, the GPS application known for transforming navigation by utilizing driver behavior and routing data. In a similar fashion, 8Flow intends to scrutinize, arrange, and enhance enterprise workflow data to bolster intelligent automation.
Hecht further reinforces this analogy by comparing 8Flow’s role to the contextual mapping necessary for vehicles operating autonomously.
“Consider Tesla’s self-driving cars. Without Waze, those cars would lack the necessary navigation context—starting points, endpoints, and handling various points of interest. Enterprises require a similar framework.”
8Flow differentiates itself by specializing in applied AI tailored for specific enterprise needs rather than generic automation solutions. With over 600 million workflow events tracked and approaching one billion, the platform provides actionable insights for various tasks, including password resets and comprehensive customer support management.
According to Hecht, the philosophy guiding the company’s products is about providing actionable insights for AI tools without attempting to duplicate existing capabilities.
“The assumption is that cloud providers will supply the action capabilities. Our contribution is the mapping and the reasoning behind actions at scale within enterprises.”
Industry Applications
Clients are already recognizing the advantages of 8Flow’s services. Sam Collier, CIO of OP360, noted the significance of achieving real-time visibility into agent workflows, which were previously dependent on slow, manual analyses. Collier believes that collaborating with 8Flow will unveil new pathways for enhancing efficiency and conceptually reshaping intelligent automation.
With integrations into major systems like ServiceNow and Salesforce, 8Flow’s platform helps businesses keep track of both human and AI-related activities within their support and operational frameworks. Support from industry leaders such as ServiceNow and Okta further solidifies 8Flow’s role in the evolving landscape toward AI-centered business infrastructures.
As more organizations opt for autonomous agents to oversee internal workflows and customer engagements, the backing of 8Flow indicates a rising demand for intelligent, data-oriented automation solutions that can navigate the complexities inherent in enterprise systems.
Source
venturebeat.com