In this article
Australian and New Zealand mid-sized businesses are at a turning point. Many are ready to move beyond spreadsheets and manual workarounds but are unsure how AI fits into their next stage of growth. MYOB’s Autonomous Business Model helps leaders understand how ERP systems, large language model (LLM) copilots, and AI agents can progressively automate, connect, and scale their operations safely and sustainably.
From spreadsheets to self-driving businesses
A decade ago, self-driving cars were an ambitious idea. Today, they’re navigating real roads, by blending human judgement with intelligent automation. Businesses are on a similar path, moving from manual control to technology-assisted operations that anticipate, adapt, and act.
Before we explore the details, here’s a few things we’ll discuss in this article:
Why autonomy matters now for mid-sized organisations
The six levels of the Business Autonomy Model
How ERP, LLMs, and AI agents work together to unlock efficiency
How ERP platforms, like MYOB Acumatica, support the journey safely and locally
Just as vehicles evolve through stages of automation, businesses do too. You can’t accelerate to full autonomy overnight, but with the right foundations and strategy in place, progress can happen faster than you might think.
Why autonomy matters for business
For mid-sized companies, growth is often slowed by complex operations, disconnected systems, manual processes, and rising compliance demands. Leaders face the challenge of maintaining control while, at the same time, making sure the business keeps pace with market change.
With ongoing economic uncertainty, talent shortages, and rising operational costs, teams are being asked to do more with less. The good news: AI and automation can now shoulder repetitive, low-value work, freeing people to focus on innovation, service, and strategy.
Research supports this shift. MYOB data shows that 34% of Australian and New Zealand mid-sized businesses are prioritising AI for innovation. Meanwhile, Avanade’s AI Value Report 2025 found that over half of Australian mid-sized companies have already implemented AI, expecting returns up to four times higher within the first year.
Autonomy is about empowering people to work smarter, faster, and with greater confidence.
The Autonomous Business Model
Inspired by the evolution of self-driving vehicles, the Autonomous Business Model maps how organisations move from manual management to fully autonomous operations. Each stage builds capability, confidence, and control.
Level 0: No autonomy (manual driving)
Cars: Human at the wheel
Businesses: Spreadsheets, emails, and disconnected tools that don’t talk. Every process requires manual input. People push data, not progress.
Level 1: Driver Assistance
Cars: Cruise control and lane alerts support the driver.
Businesses: Basic automation (invoices, reminders). ERP keeps the books, but people still call the shots. Data remains siloed.
Level 2: Partial Autonomy
Cars: Adaptive cruise and lane-keeping assistance.
Businesses: ERP automates core workflows (like payroll or order-to-cash). AI drafts reports, emails, and recommendations, while humans review and approve.
Level 3: Conditional Autonomy
Cars: Self-drives on highways but still needs human takeover.
Businesses: AI agents close the loop on defined tasks (reconciliation, scheduling). Humans step in only for exceptions or approvals.
Level 4: High Autonomy
Cars: The vehicle drives itself in most conditions, humans simply monitor.
Businesses: AI agents orchestrate multi-system workflows across finance, CRM, and inventory. Leaders steer strategy, not day-to-day operations.
Level 5: Full Autonomy (Self-driving business)
Cars: No steering wheel required.
Businesses: A fully autonomous enterprise. AI agents price, supply, and serve automatically while leaders focus on vision, innovation, and growth.
Key insights for mid-sized leaders
You don’t jump to Level 5 overnight: Autonomy evolves step by step.
ERP is the foundation: Without accurate, connected data, AI tools can’t perform reliably.
Humans remain in control: Leadership judgement will always guide values, strategy, and exceptions.
Practical progress pays off: Each stage brings measurable ROI, reduced admin, faster reporting, and more strategic focus.
Adoption curve:
ERP → Connected workflows → LLM copilots → AI agents → Business autonomy.
Each phase builds confidence, control, and capability.
How MYOB Acumatica supports the journey
For mid-sized businesses, platforms like MYOB Acumatica provide the secure, connected foundation needed to adopt AI safely and effectively. Think of ERP as the engine powering your road to autonomy.
MYOB Acumatica delivers:
Unified data: Finance, operations, and supply chain insights all in one place.
Local compliance: Built for Australian and New Zealand tax, payroll, and reporting standards.
Real-time visibility: Empowering leaders with insights, not spreadsheets.
AI-ready architecture: Seamlessly integrates with LLMs and AI agents as technology evolves.
Proven ROI: Fast implementation, local support, and measurable efficiency gains.
MYOB Acumatica’s AI-powered capabilities help leaders make better, faster decisions, preparing them for the next era of autonomy while staying grounded in data they can trust.
The bottom line
Just as autonomous vehicles evolved through well-defined stages, so too will modern businesses. The best path toward autonomy is a controlled progression that builds resilience and efficiency over time.
Those who start now gain productivity, and will position their business for long-term, sustainable growth.
Ready to take the next step?
Explore how MYOB Acumatica can help your business move from spreadsheets to self-driving operations, safely, locally, and with measurable ROI.
Glossary of key terms
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning): Software that unifies finance, inventory, sales, and operations into one system for better visibility and control. Example: MYOB Acumatica provides a single source of truth instead of multiple spreadsheets.
AI in ERP: Artificial intelligence built into ERP systems to automate processes and deliver predictive insights. Example: Automatically flagging spending anomalies or forecasting stock shortages.
Generative AI: AI that creates content — text, images, or code — based on data it’s trained on. Example: Generating executive summaries from detailed reports.
Predictive Analytics: Uses historical data and algorithms to forecast outcomes. Example: Predicting sales demand or maintenance needs.
Machine Learning: A form of AI that learns from data and improves over time. Example: A system that refines demand forecasting with each production cycle.
LLM (Large Language Model): Advanced AI trained on vast text data, capable of understanding and generating human-like language. Example: ChatGPT summarising business insights.
AI Copilot: A supportive AI tool that assists users by drafting outputs or recommending actions. Example: Drafting a financial summary for CFO review.
AI Agent: An autonomous system that performs multi-step tasks across tools with limited human input. Example: Reordering inventory automatically when stock levels drop.
Business Autonomy: The ability for a business to manage routine processes with minimal human effort, freeing people to focus on innovation and strategy.
Information provided in this article is of a general nature and does not consider your personal situation. It does not constitute legal, financial, or other professional advice and should not be relied upon as a statement of law, policy or advice. You should consider whether this information is appropriate to your needs and, if necessary, seek independent advice. This information is only accurate at the time of publication. Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of the information contained on this webpage, MYOB disclaims, to the extent permitted by law, all liability for the information contained on this webpage or any loss or damage suffered by any person directly or indirectly through relying on this information.
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MYOB Subject Matter Experts
MYOB General Manager, Product and Product Marketing