The $525 million process optimization market is in the midst of a massive shift. As automation vendors acquire pure-play process optimization companies, they promise to create a clear path from process insight to faster and easier automation deployments. These acquisitions also hold the promise of lower costs and wider deployments of process optimization tools. However, it comes at the cost of objectivity. The goals of process optimization should not always assume automation — and certainly not the automation solutions of a specific vendor. Application development professionals should read this document to understand how to navigate the opportunities and issues of this market shift.