How Does Workload Automation Work?
Workload automation is used more frequently and has greater advantages as systems become more heterogeneous and complicated. Workload automation is a centralized answer to repetitive, error-prone tasks that helps both the IT team and the company.
What is Workload Automation?
The process of using software solutions to organize and manage duties associated with company transactions and operations is known as workload automation (WLA). WLA does away with the necessity for manual intervention as a result.
WLA focuses on real-time processing in comparison to other automation methods, producing automated event-driven and situational activities. Workload automation automates corporate processes by integrating with diverse and heterogeneous technologies.
Skilled IT workers can concentrate on new areas rather than repetitive fault corrections in communication between systems and processes when automation includes data dependencies between systems and processes. The next section compares workload automation and other processes in a concise manner because there are numerous different automation options available.
Job Scheduling vs. Workload Automation
The comparison between work scheduling and WLA is provided here.
Job Scheduling
A simple form of workload automation called job scheduling uses a single system to automate batch processing. Every significant operating system includes some sort of work scheduler. For instance, Windows utilizes the Windows Task Scheduler while Linux uses cron jobs.
Jobs start up after an event or according to predetermined timetables (e.g., every Monday) (e.g., after a completed batch job). Platform-specific and restricted to a single environment, job scheduling.
To sum up, job scheduling necessitates human interaction, lacks OS synchronization, and calls for additional scripting and development resources to deal with irregularities.
Workload Automation
While addressing the issues with work scheduling, WLA automates batch jobs as well. Workload automation provides a centralized way to configure workloads rather than requiring users to switch between several servers.
A business-wide picture of software-controlled operations is provided by a single control point for numerous servers. There are consequently less manual interventions, mistakes, and scripting requirements. WLA helps to optimize staff time, increase process visibility, and speed up workload deployment by directly addressing the issues with job scheduling.
Robotic Process Automation vs Workload Automation
In the part that follows, RPA (robotic process automation) and WLA are contrasted briefly.
RPA (Robotic Process Automation)
In low-variance systems, robotic process automation (RPA) is a technique that automates repetitive and rule-based processes. Lightweight RPA software (bots) are designed to finish labor-intensive tasks that take a long time to perform manually. RPA is actually a group of scripts that don’t react dynamically to changes. The bots provide rudimentary automation and are programmed for specific GUIs.
User interfaces are destined to change as systems and businesses expand. A slight modification might have a significant impact and necessitate bot maintenance because RPA tools must manually respond to these changes.
Workload Automation
Workload automation integrates programmatically as opposed to on a user interface level to prevent frequent RPA issues. WLA is business application software that takes into account how organisations grow and develop over time.
Through a single job scheduler, WLA products automate business workflows from diverse entities. The solution eliminates the requirement for bespoke scripts while replacing a number of RPA tools with ease.
Advantages of Workload Automation
Workload automation has several benefits that can be used. Here are a few beneficial qualities to take into account:
Reliable
WLA systems’ accuracy and precision are relied upon by organizations. Workload automation systems consistently ensure that activities are finished on schedule and in accordance with corporate regulations.
Consistent
Any component of an enterprise system can be automated with the aid of workload automation, and by collaborating across many servers and systems, a uniform automation environment is produced.
Compatible
Regardless of platform, more recent solutions fully integrate with cutting-edge technologies and systems. The WLA system is straightforward to implement throughout a company thanks to features like API access.
Centralized
The system is simpler to control when there is a single point of control. Through a single interface, pipeline creation and management are possible across businesses, operating platforms, and third-party apps.
Economical
WLA tools scale up and continuously adapt to business needs without incurring additional costs.
Reduced Workload
Reduced manual intervention reduces skilled staff’s workload, improving employee productivity as a whole. Less human participation equals fewer mistakes, and setting up complex activities without additional scripting is simple.
Flexible
Real-time WLA system adaptation to business requirements. Without the need for additional personnel training and education, the solution scales up and down quickly.
Workload Automation Tool Types
The different kinds of workload automation tools and the issues they solve are listed below.
Scheduling Tools
The most basic type of job automation technologies are scheduling tools. These solutions concentrate on job scheduling and minimize human involvement.
Advantages
Suitable for basic scheduling and automation, and frequently free to use
Disadvantages
Lacks sophisticated functionality, necessitates extensive writing, and lacks infrastructure and platform integration.
Point Workload Automation Tools
Tools for automating workloads at the point have more functionalities than job schedulers. The solutions are integrated into a certain platform or application and are only concerned with automating tasks within that system.
Advantages
An integrated solution that is specially tailored for a certain platform
Disadvantages
Does not support cross-enterprise workloads and does not have external integration or support.
Universal Workload Automation Tools
Tools that can automate any workload are appropriate answers. The solution operates across numerous infrastructures, operating systems, and applications, and it automates any software task.
Cloud infrastructure deployment and management are included in universal workload automation technologies through event-driven automation.
Advantages
Most platforms and solutions are managed by a single, centralized tool, making them simple to understand and keep up.
Disadvantages
Expensive and less effective for specialized use cases than point tools.
Best Workload Automation Tools
Examples of the best universal workload automation tools are provided in the next section. There are many solutions available, and we advise you to look into your alternatives for task automation to determine which one is ideal for your environment.
Redwood
Redwood is a workload automation and task scheduling solution that runs in the cloud. Processes in hybrid cloud, on-premises, and in-cloud systems are readily automated by the solution.
The following characteristics apply to redwood:
API wizards for fast integrating REST and SOAP services
Management and planning of the data pipeline through interface with big data platforms like Hadoop or Snowflake.
Automaton orchestration is simple with integrated connectors.
Redwood is a great SaaS task automation solution with a pay-per-use price model.
IBM Workload Automation
IBM Workload Automation uses centralized administration, predictive business intelligence, and analytics to improve decision-making. A strong integration between containers, workload automation, and monitoring from many devices are essential characteristics.
IBM Workload Automation also has the following features:
A robust and user-friendly automation dashboard
Jobs and job streams are organized in a hierarchical directory with identification and access control.
Deployment of containers for all elements of workload automation
For both small and large enterprises, IBM Workload Automation is the best solution because it supports batch and real-time workload management.
ProActive
Workload automation, job scheduling, and orchestration are all capabilities of ProActive. The simple scheduling system has event-based execution, priority structure, and error handling.
The following are some extra ProActive features:
Capabilities for extensive logging for monitoring and analysis
Advanced error management using granular and global policies and intermediate results
Supports HPC, hybrid cloud, on-premises data centres, public and private clouds, and cloud services.
ProActive also offers scalability control and integration with current CI/CD workflows.
JAMS Scheduler
JAMS is a workload automation and job scheduling application for businesses. The solution allows for the direct installation of intelligent automation and supports operations across a range of operating systems.
JAMS’s features include:
Functionalities and automation for batch processes
Application managers to facilitate the integration of corporate applications
Various on-premises, in-cloud, and hybrid cloud environment types are supported.
For both small and large enterprises, JAMS is a great option for processes with complicated settings and procedures.
ActiveBatch
A clever WLA tool that can adjust to changing circumstances is ActiveBatch. The solution provides extensive integration support for numerous third-party platforms, apps, and databases.
The following are additional features of ActiveBatch:
No extra charge access to the largest no-code library with prebuilt integrations.
Accessibility to multiple API types and services for loading and running
Intelligent queue management for fewer bottlenecks in distant contexts using machine learning
For medium- to large-sized businesses, there is a solution called ActiveBatch that is adaptive and customized.
Conclusion
Modern systems are intricate networks of different hardware and software. WLA is a centralised solution that is essential in modern commercial settings. Workload automation should continue to develop, with more support for multi-cloud and hybrid cloud scenarios.
