All businesses search for ways to reduce costs and maximize productivity. In order to achieve this, companies often need to get creative in just what kind of practices they implement. One of the methods that many companies turn to to achieve this goal is workload automation.
Workload automation is both a business practice and a process. As a practice it involves the use of software by organizations to fully automate their system’s handling of both task scheduling and management. This practice can also be thought of as a process that is meant to remove people as a factor in the day-to-day activities that are necessary for businesses to function. These activities can include the initiation and completion of transactions such as the filling orders. It can also aid in the management of employees’ workflows.
The use of workload automation software can have a number of benefits:
Workload automation software is extremely versatile. Any given piece of software can have any number of features. These are the most common features among the most effective programs:
There are many who view the term “workload automation” to be interchangeable with job scheduling. Despite the fact that on the most basic level they can both perform many of the same functions, they are not the same. There are many important distinctions that should be made between the two.
Job scheduling can schedule various types of events to take place in the system in question. However, that is part of the problem. Basic job scheduling is more limited in the number of systems that it is capable of dealing with. It can only run on a single machine at a time. If you want to run a complex event, there will be gaps that will require manual adjustments to be made. Ultimately, valuable time and manpower are tied up making all of these adjustments.
Workload automation takes the idea of job scheduling to the next level. This limitation of only running on a single machine that holds the job scheduling back does not apply to workload automation. It can synchronize events across multiple machines and systems to run the processes that it needs to run at any given time.
There are clear limits as to how far job scheduling software can go as far as setting up events. Regular job scheduling software does not have the ability to run processes based on web-based events. Anything that an organization that relies on this wants to do is going to have to be created manually. This is going to be a drain on time and resources.
One of the great features of workload automation is the fact that the system can be programmed with web-event-based triggers. Instead of being forced to create and dedicate a team to initiate crucial system processes, event creation protocols can be set up. Whenever something like the submission of data occurs online, the workload automation software will respond to it immediately. Corporate teams will now be able to have the system react in their place. Any necessary updates can now be made without administrators needing to set events themselves.
When it comes to being compatible with different system management solutions, old-school job scheduling software falls short. The capabilities of such programs are not advanced enough to allow for them both to schedule the events and allow them to connect to solutions that would manage those processes that they set into motion. This connects to one of the distinctions that was mentioned earlier. The fact that it can only run events on the single machine reveals its inability to work with or connect to programs outside of its self-contained environment.
Workload automation however, can reach outside of itself and works with management outside of whatever machine it is running on. The fact that it can work together with outside solutions to bolster its management capabilities sets it far apart from job scheduling software.
Information contained within a system being run by job scheduling software is effectively trapped within the system. These systems do not possess managed file transfer capabilities, which could enable them to securely and efficiently move data from this system to somewhere else. Therefore, an organization that values security and efficiency would be unable to transfer data if they were using such a system. This is an additional area where workload automation excels. It has built-in security protocols that allow it to safely and reliably transfer any data out of the system and into any other that an organization might require.
In an unpredictable business environment, routine tasks can rapidly escalate into overwhelming workload spikes. These sudden increases in demand pose a significant risk to IT infrastructure, potentially impacting deadlines and customer satisfaction. To mitigate these challenges, scalable automation software is essential, acting as a protective mechanism against operational disruptions.
Scalable automation allows for an adaptive response to workload changes. It ensures that servers and resources are efficiently scaled in response to demand, eliminating the need for emergency provisioning or addressing performance issues. Solutions like Control-M and Redwood's RunMyJobs offer critical features such as:
Users of Control-M and RunMyJobs have reported significant benefits, including cost reduction and enhanced performance due to these features. Scalable automation is not just a tool for survival; it's a strategy for thriving in a fluctuating business climate.
Workload automation tools are essential for businesses to streamline and optimize their operations by automating repetitive tasks and processes. These tools help organizations manage their workload efficiently, reduce errors, and improve productivity.
There are several types of workload automation tools available in the market, each catering to specific needs and requirements. Here are some of the different types of workload automation tools:
1. Job Scheduling Tools: Job scheduling tools are the most basic type of workload automation tools. They allow businesses to schedule and automate the execution of various tasks and jobs. These tools enable organizations to define dependencies, set priorities, and allocate resources for different jobs, ensuring smooth and efficient execution.
2. Workflow Automation Tools: Workflow automation tools focus on automating complex business processes that involve multiple tasks and stakeholders. These tools enable organizations to define and automate the flow of work, ensuring that tasks are completed in the correct sequence and by the appropriate individuals or teams. Workflow automation tools often include features like task assignments, notifications, and approvals.
3. Event-Driven Automation Tools: Event-driven automation tools are designed to trigger actions based on specific events or conditions. These tools monitor various systems and applications for specific events or triggers and automatically initiate predefined actions or workflows. For example, an event-driven automation tool can automatically start a backup process when a specific file is modified.
4. IT Process Automation Tools: IT process automation tools focus on automating IT-related tasks and processes. These tools help IT teams streamline and automate routine tasks like server provisioning, software deployment, and system monitoring. IT process automation tools often integrate with other IT management systems to provide end-to-end automation and orchestration capabilities.
5. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Tools: RPA tools are designed to automate repetitive and rule-based tasks that were traditionally performed by humans. These tools use software robots or "bots" to mimic human actions and interact with various applications and systems. RPA tools can significantly improve efficiency and accuracy by automating tasks like data entry, data validation, and report generation.
6. Cloud Automation Tools: Cloud automation tools focus on automating tasks and processes related to cloud infrastructure and services. These tools help organizations provision and manage cloud resources, automate backups and disaster recovery, and optimize cloud costs. Cloud automation tools often integrate with popular cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure.
Today, teams often manage a wide range of tasks simultaneously, there are tight budgets, and AI is affecting many of our daily tasks. In this context, the importance of efficiency increases, and workload automation solutions play a crucial role in this shift.
Workload automation tools are designed to transform repetitive, manual processes into smooth, automated workflows. Imagine scheduling server backups, patching systems, or generating reports without manual intervention. Suddenly, your team is freed from tedious chores, empowered to tackle strategic initiatives and drive real business value.
But how does it work in practice? Let's delve into real-world examples:
Example 1: E-commerce giant slashes order processing time.
A leading online retailer relied on manual batch processing for orders, creating a bottleneck during peak hours. They automated the process, reducing order fulfillment time by 30%, boosting customer satisfaction and revenue.
Control-M user on Peerspot: "Control-M allows us to automate many tasks that were previously manual, reducing human error and increasing efficiency. We've also been able to achieve significant cost savings through resource optimization."
Example 2: Healthcare provider enhances patient care with streamlined tasks.
A busy hospital struggled to keep medical records updated efficiently. They automated record updates, freeing staff to focus on patient care. The result? A 25% reduction in data entry errors and improved patient data visibility.
Tidal Automation user on Peerspot: "The ability to schedule and monitor jobs across multiple platforms has greatly improved our efficiency and reduced errors."
Example 3: Manufacturing company minimizes downtime with proactive maintenance.
A production facility plagued by unexpected equipment failures. By automating preventive maintenance tasks, they reduced downtime by 20%, boosting productivity and saving on repair costs.
ActiveBatch user on Peerspot: "I really like the flexibility and ease of use of ActiveBatch. It's been a great tool for automating our scheduling and monitoring tasks, and it's helped us to improve our overall efficiency."
These are just a glimpse into the transformative power of workload automation. Tools like Rewood's RunMyJobs, JAMS (by Fortra), and others offer similar benefits, empowering your team to increase efficiency, reduce errors, boost productivity, optimize resource utilization, and improve compliance.
In today's competitive environment, efficiency is paramount. Workload automation software is not just a technological marvel; it's a strategic weapon. By embracing automation, you can unleash your team's full potential.
The importance of data management and compliance has increased, and accuracy and adherence to regulations are now more important than ever before. Automated auditing software is a critical tool in this context, highlighting discrepancies and ensuring compliance.
Automated auditing platforms offer comprehensive tracking and verification of tasks, proactively identifying potential issues. Solutions like Tidal Automation and ActiveBatch Workload Automation by Redwood provide features such as:
Users have noted the benefits of these features in enhancing data accuracy and ensuring regulatory compliance. Automated auditing represents a shift away from manual oversight, simplifying compliance management and ensuring data integrity. It offers a clear path through the complexities of regulatory compliance, providing peace of mind regarding data accuracy and operational integrity.
