Key Takeaways
- HCLSoftware will acquire Croatia‑based Robotiq.ai, a mature enterprise RPA platform.
- The deal is slated to close November 2026 and will integrate RPA execution into HCL’s AI‑driven orchestration suite, UnO Agentic.
- Robotiq.ai already serves dozens of large‑scale customers in banking, insurance and telecom, offering ISO‑27001‑certified security, full audit trails, and flexible deployment (on‑prem, cloud, hybrid).
- The combination expands HCL’s value chain from decision‑making AI to end‑to‑end task automation, especially where APIs are missing or limited.
HCLSoftware’s Strategic Move
Why the acquisition matters
HCLSoftware has reported a surge in enterprise demand for AI solutions that do more than analyze data—they must also act on insights across heterogeneous IT landscapes. By adding Robotiq.ai’s robotic process automation (RPA) engine, HCL can close the “execution gap” that has traditionally forced customers to stitch together separate AI and RPA tools.
- Unified orchestration: UnO Agentic’s reasoning layer will now hand off work items directly to Robotiq.ai bots, eliminating manual hand‑off and reducing latency.
- Broader market reach: The RPA market is projected to grow to $13.9 bn by 2027 (Gartner). HCL’s entry positions it among the top‑five vendors offering a combined AI‑plus‑RPA stack.
Timeline
- Announcement: 30 Sep 2026
- Regulatory review & shareholder approval: Q4 2026
- Closing: November 2026
Robotiq.ai – An Enterprise‑Grade RPA Platform
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 (Zagreb, Croatia) |
| Core Offering | Low‑code RPA studio, bot runner, AI‑enhanced OCR |
| Security | ISO‑27001, ISO‑9001, SOC 2 Type II |
| Auditability | Immutable audit logs, role‑based access control |
| Deployment | On‑premises, private cloud, public cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP) |
| Customer Base | 12 major banks, 8 insurance groups, 5 telecom operators (total > 2 000 bots in production) |
| Scalability | Up to 10 000 concurrent bots per tenant |
| Integration | Supports screen‑scraping, legacy terminal emulation, and limited‑API environments |
Robotiq.ai’s platform is purpose‑built for environments where APIs are unavailable or insufficient, a common scenario in legacy banking core systems and telecom OSS/BSS stacks. Its OCR and AI‑enhanced data extraction modules enable “human‑in‑the‑loop” automation without extensive coding.
How the Combined Solution Works
From Insight to Action
- Data ingestion – UnO Agentic consumes structured/unstructured data (e.g., CRM records, sensor feeds).
- AI reasoning – Machine‑learning models generate recommendations or trigger conditions.
- RPA hand‑off – The decision is passed to Robotiq.ai’s bot orchestration layer.
- Execution – Bots interact with target applications via UI automation, OCR, or API calls.
- Feedback loop – Execution results are logged and fed back into UnO for continuous learning.
Benefits for Enterprises
- Reduced mean‑time‑to‑resolution (MTTR) by up to 45 % for routine incidents.
- Operational cost savings of 15‑20 % on repetitive transaction processing.
- Compliance assurance via built‑in audit trails and ISO‑certified security.
Market Context
| Vendor | AI + RPA Offering | 2025 Revenue (USD) | Notable Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCLSoftware (post‑acquisition) | UnO Agentic + Robotiq.ai | $1.2 bn | End‑to‑end AI‑driven execution |
| UiPath | AI Center + RPA | $1.5 bn | Vast marketplace of pre‑built bots |
| Automation Anywhere | Bot Insight + RPA | $1.1 bn | Strong focus on hyper‑automation |
| Blue Prism | Cloud‑scale RPA | $0.9 bn | Low‑code citizen development |
The table illustrates that HCL’s integrated stack will sit competitively alongside the industry leaders, with a clear edge in AI‑first orchestration.
Bottom Line
HCLSoftware’s planned acquisition of Robotiq.ai represents a decisive step toward a single‑pane‑of‑glass automation platform that couples sophisticated AI reasoning with reliable, secure RPA execution. By bringing together UnO Agentic’s decision engine and Robotiq.ai’s enterprise‑grade bots, HCL can address the persistent “automation gap” in legacy‑heavy sectors such as banking, insurance, and telecom. With the deal expected to close in November 2026, customers can anticipate a tighter, more auditable workflow that reduces manual effort, accelerates response times, and safeguards compliance—all while positioning HCL among the top tier of AI‑plus‑RPA providers.
For additional details, visit hcl-software.com.