Why should automation matter to you?
Automation revolves around efficiency and getting the most out of the resources available – it is about increased throughput and better return on investment. For organizations, this ultimately boils down to nickels and dimes invested, but it is not synonymous to cost cuts and the two must not be confused. Rather, it is about us and how we make the most out of our time. In fact, one can argue that each and every one of us stand to earn more from automation personally.
Automation – the technique of making an apparatus, a process, or a system operate automatically (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)
So, how is it that we personally stand to earn more from automation? Most of us have tasks that are tedious and repetitive. Tasks that need to be done and are of routine. These tasks are treacherous as they lull us into a false security that is error prone, making us spend even more time on these tasks. Through automation, we can marry personal goals with organizational ones and increase throughput as well as improve quality. As if ridding ourselves of the boring, repetitive tasks is not award enough, there is an added bonus – we have freed up time to spend on the interesting parts of our job which really excite us and bring additional value to our companies.
To exemplify, consider software development. Automation permeates development practices, e.g., through automated builds, automated and integrated testing, and automated deployment. In this context, automation means reduction of manual work. According to the 2017 State of DevOps Report, high-performing organizations spend 20-40% less time on manual work than their peers. Furthermore, they deliver at higher standards, as reflected by 20% less time spent on unplanned work and rework. At the end, this results in a staggering 45% more time spent on new development.
Thus, automation creates a win-win situation for us and our organizations. While the organization gets increased throughput and improved quality, we get to spend more of our time on tackling the interesting challenges. That is why automation matters to you!
