The discussion about artificial intelligence has received a new boost in recent months. In addition to chatbots and automation, two terms are increasingly appearing side by side: AI workflows and AI agents. At first glance, the two sound similar – but in practice, there are key differences. In the upcoming fall release on 19.11.2025, we will present how we bring both worlds together for our customers in aiSuite.
Read more in this blog post:
- How AI workflows differ from AI agents
- Which method approach is suitable for which use case
- And when it makes sense to combine both methods
AI workflows vs. AI agents
AI workflows are clearly structured, predefined processes in which artificial intelligence is integrated at certain points. They work like an assembly line: every step is defined and the AI ensures that routine tasks are completed faster, more reliably and more intelligently. Typical areas of application include automatic invoice processing, email routing in customer service or applicant screening in HR. However, AI workflows should not be confused with RPA (robotic process automation). This is because AI workflows go beyond purely rule-based automation by being able to understand and react to texts, images and patterns.
Example: Applicant management
1. automatically sort applications and recognize skills
2 AI creates candidate profiles & ranking
3. automated appointment suggestions for interviews (calendar synchronization)
4. dispatch of rejections, contracts and onboarding information
The field of application of AI agents is broader: AI agents are autonomous, adaptive actors that understand a goal and decide for themselves how to achieve it. Instead of a fixed process, they follow a dynamic logic – similar to an employee who improvises, researches and finds creative solutions. AI agents are particularly valuable when the goal is clear, but the path to get there remains variable or unpredictable. Examples include customer service agents that process complex inquiries, research agents that bundle and consolidate data from various sources, or HR agents that not only search applicant pools and compare skills profiles, but also conduct initial interviews.
AI architectures at a glance
Find out in our expert webinar how to develop agent and multi-agent systems
for your AI use cases.
aiSuite: The best of both worlds
As an expert in conversational technologies, we have built a powerful platform with aiSuite that combines the advantages of AI workflows and agentive AI. In the upcoming fall release, we will set the course for even more flexible and precise AI automation with an AI workflow editor. We want to offer our customers the opportunity to automate simple processes quickly and easily. At the same time, you can dynamically realign your working environment with AI agents.
