Regulatory compliance has always been synonymous with rigor, meticulous analysis, and slow adaptation. However, a quiet but powerful paradigm shift could redefine the rules of the corporate game in 2026.
Research points to a future in which Agentic AI and hyper-automation will shift from competitive advantages to survival requirements.
In this new scenario, the pressure for increasingly dynamic regulations (from strict ESG practices and the European Union’s AI Law to constant updates to the LGPD/GDPR and cybersecurity guidelines) is expected to be even greater. Consequently, organizations’ responsiveness will be tested to the limit.
The great revolution, however, lies not only in Artificial Intelligence’s ability to read and interpret these norms. The real turning point for 2026 lies in AI’s ability to help implement these standards.
In other words, we are entering an era in which leaders can create robust, complex workflows from simple natural-language commands. This can transform strategic intent into procedural execution within minutes, thereby driving agility, effectiveness, and savings.
Keep reading and see what your company needs to know to be part of this movement.
The New Compliance Landscape: From Checklist to Continuity
Compliance was once managed in cycles: annual audits, periodic reviews, and static checklists. In 2026, this model will be obsolete. One of the significant compliance trends for the future is continuous, real-time, integrated compliance within the company’s operational fabric.
The cost of non-compliance has never been higher, and we’re not just talking about financial fines. Market reputation and confidence have become volatile assets. Therefore, risk governance in AI is more of a concern for the coming year, reflecting an environment where technology is not only the tool, but also the object of regulation.
So, the traditional method, where a compliance officer reads a new guideline, manually draws a flowchart, submits it for approval, waits for development by IT, and only then implements it, will be too slow (and expensive) for the pace of 2026. Companies need the agility to translate “what should be done” into “how it will be done” instantly. This is where AI will transform this scenario by strengthening process automation.
Transforming AI from consultant to construction company
In the early years of Generative Artificial Intelligence, it was often used as a consultant: it produced summaries, text analyses, or email suggestions. Now technology evolves into a construction role.
In Business Process Management (BPM), this is manifested through the concept of “Text-to-Process”. The technical barrier that requires in-depth knowledge of Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) notation to design flows is being broken down.
In 2026, the compliance department will not need to depend on the IT priority queue to structure a new approval flow, for example. He himself will describe the need for AI, through a chatbot, and the process will be born ready, standardized, and executable. It is the democratization of technology at its most strategic level.
The benefits of this revolution for your company
For managers and leaders, this transition is not just about technology, but about ROI (Return on Investment) and risk mitigation. The adoption of tools that automate the creation of compliance processes brings three undeniable pillars of value:
- Agility in regulatory compliance: The time to adapt to new laws drops from months to days or even hours. If a new regulation requires an additional step of supplier verification, the process can be updated almost instantly using AI-powered process modeling.
- Operational efficiency: Highly skilled teams no longer spend time on operational tasks, such as designing processes in modeling software. They start to dedicate their energy, time, and expertise to risk analysis and business strategy.
- Standardization and error reduction: By using Artificial Intelligence to generate BPMN models, the organization ensures processes adhere to strict notation and logic standards. This avoids common human errors in manual modeling that could lead to future bottlenecks and even non-compliance—and, in turn, fines and sanctions.
How to use this technology in practice?
To have these advantages in your operation, it is essential to use the right tool. In other words, it is not enough to have an AI system; it is necessary that it be intuitive and, more importantly, connected to regulatory compliance activities.
For example, SoftExpert Suite integrates advanced AI capabilities, fusing the accessibility of an intelligent chatbot with the robustness of SoftExpert Process.
Imagine the following scenario in 2026: HR urgently needs to adapt its hiring process to comply with a new diversity and inclusion guideline from international partners.
Instead of calling multiple mapping meetings, all it takes is for one team member to access SoftExpert Chatbot. It can then enter the following prompt in natural language:
“Create a hiring process that includes a stage of blind validation of resumes and approval from the diversity committee before the final interview.”
In seconds, the Chatbot AI integrated into the Process interprets the command and automatically generates the complete BPMN model, with all swim lanes, events, decision gateways, and tasks correctly connected.
Even in cases where an adjustment is needed, just give a command like “add an automatic notification to the candidate in step 3 if they pass”, and Artificial Intelligence adjusts the model instantly.
What would have previously taken days of technical specification was resolved in a minute-long conversation through the integration of the Chatbot and Process. Most importantly, the result is not a static design but a flow ready to be automated and executed within the SoftExpert Suite. In addition, it can be updated as needed, ensuring continuous improvement.
Conclusion
Regulatory compliance in 2026 will not be about who has the largest compliance department, but about who has the best tools to operationalize compliance with speed and accuracy.
The era of automated process creation has arrived to empower business specialists, removing technical barriers and allowing strategy to flow unhindered. Your team needs to be prepared for this new paradigm to stay ahead of the competition.
Looking for more efficiency and compliance in your operations? Our experts can help identify the best strategies for your company with SoftExpert solutions. Contact us today!
FAQ about automated process creation
Compliance is moving from a static, periodic checklist (annual audits) to a continuous, real-time, and integrated into the company’s operational fabric.
These trends will no longer be competitive advantages; by 2026, they will become survival requirements for companies, driving the automation of tasks.
The big revolution lies in AI’s ability to help implement regulatory standards (such as ESG, EU AI Law, and LGPD/GDPR), and not just to read or interpret them.
Risk governance in AI is now the primary concern, reflecting an environment where technology is both the tool and the object of regulation.
AI is no longer used only for summaries, analyses, or suggestions (consulting) and starts to play an active role in the creation and structuring of workflows (construction).
It is the manifestation of Construction AI in Business Process Management (BPM). This allows leaders to create robust workflows (BPMN) from simple natural language commands.
It breaks down the technical barrier that required deep BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) expertise to design flows.
Time-to-Compliance: Reduction of the time to adapt to new laws from months to days or hours.
Operational Efficiency: Skilled teams focus on risk analysis and strategy rather than manual modeling.
Standardization and Error Reduction: AI generates BPMN models in strict compliance with standards, reducing human error in manual modeling.
SoftExpert Chatbot acts as the command interface. The user enters a natural-language prompt into the Chatbot, and the Process-integrated AI automatically interprets it and generates the complete BPMN model on the canvas.
Yes. The user can continue the interaction and give commands such as “add an automatic notification to the candidate in step 3 if he is approved”, and Artificial Intelligence adjusts the model instantly.
