7 Misconceptions About Automation

7 Misconceptions About Automation

© HelpSystems. Company Confidential.All trademarks and registered trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Ignore the Nasty Rumors and Set the Record Straight

© HelpSystems. Company Confidential. 2

Your Hosts

Chuck LosinskiDirector of Automation Technology

HelpSystems

Broadcasting live from Eden Prairie, Minnesota USA

Pat CameronDirector of Automation Technology

HelpSystems


1. Monitoring is automation2. Built-in is the best3. Vendor solutions are too complex4. Implementation time isn’t worth it5. Automate yourself out of a job6. Lights-out is set and forget7. Automation happens overnight

Let’s Bust Some Myths!


Crisis Mode

Missed SLA

Audit Nightmares

Staffing Issues

Why Automate?


Myth #1Monitoring is automationBuilt-in is Best

• Monitoring requires a human• Monitoring doesn’t do anything• Monitoring can’t make decisions• You’ve got documented procedures• You’ve got expertise; turn this into a rule• Rules need flexibility• Most companies can’t afford 24/7 staff• …and those humans can make mistakes


Myth #2Built-in is best

• You get what you pay for…• Not scalable• Doesn’t talk cross-platform• Technical support lacking or non-existent• Multiple dissimilar schedulers• Missing SLA tracking and notification• Sometimes application specific• Dependency processing lacking


• Feature is there when you need it...and you might need it!

• Lack of understanding = lack of training?• Vendors are experts • Spend time innovating, not inventing scheduling or

monitoring• Robust ≠ complex• Vendors keep up with technology

So you don’t have to!• Technical support

Answers your “how-to” questions

Myth #3Vendor solutions are too complex


Myth #4Implementation time isn’t worth it

• Gartner shows• Case studies• Professional services• Stop firefighting• Better resource utilization• Fewer errors• Position yourself for growth• Job satisfaction


Myth #5Automate yourself out of a job

• How many IT shops are overstaffed?• Automate or you’ll end up outsourced• Learn new technology for your career• Be a hero because everything is running smoothly• Become an automation analyst or expert• Other areas of the business could use automation


Myth #6Lights-out is set and forget

• Processes need to be audited• Constant change due to updates and new applications• As business changes, process flow may change• Technology improvements may require modification to

setup• May not have thought of everything during automation

project


Myth #7Automation happens overnight

• Some pieces may be easy• IT has a never-ending list of projects• Depends on your scope• Start with the daily and mundane• Automate manual tasks• Work your way up to month end• You’ll find other opportunities for automation• Automation is a journey


Automation Example


Automation Example

“We’re moving hundreds of thousands of files a day and will be adding to that... We couldn’t afford a solution that would slow down if it tried to handle more than 10,000 files.”


Modern Tools


Recap

• Monitoring isn’t automation• Built-in lacks robust feature set• Don’t reinvent, look for a vendor solution• Implementation time is a good investment• Become an automation analyst• Lights-out requires auditing and tuning• Automation is a journey, not a destination


What IT Problems Do We Solve?

• Enterprise Scheduling and Business Process Automation– IBM i, AIX, UNIX, Linux, Windows

• Monitoring (IBM i, Linux, AIX, Windows)• Security and Compliance (IBM i, AIX, Linux)• BI and Data Warehouse (IBM i)

– Modernize your data access• Document Life Cycle Management

– Electronic forms, signature, work flow, distribution• Network Monitoring• Backup and Recovery (IBM i)• SLA issues

© HelpSystems. Company Confidential.05/03/2023 17


Contact Information

Thank you for attending!

Chuck Losinski, HelpSystems+1 [email protected]

Pat Cameron, HelpSystems+1 [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Software

7 Misconceptions About Automation