The development and application of technologies to produce and deliver goods and services with minimal human intervention is referred to as automation. The use of automation technologies, techniques, and processes improves the efficiency, reliability, and/or speed of many previously performed by humans.
Automation is used in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, transportation, utilities, defense, facilities, operations, and, more recently, information technology.
Why use automation?
Generally, automation is used to reduce labor or to replace humans in the most menial or repetitive tasks. Automation can be found in almost all industries and niches, though it is more prevalent in manufacturing, utilities, transportation, and security.
Most manufacturing plants, for example, use some form of automated processes, such as robotic assembly lines.
The only human input required is to define and supervise the processes, while the assembly of the various components is left to the machines, which automatically convert raw materials into finished goods.
Automation is having a rapid impact in the technology domain, both in the software/hardware and machine layers. The adoption of new artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies is currently accelerating the field’s evolution.
Examples of Automation
A software script in the information technology domain can test a software product and generate a report. There are also a variety of software tools on the market that can generate code for an application. The only thing users need to do is configure the tool and define the process.
Another new type of high-quality automation is advanced business intelligence in applications. Automation has greatly improved productivity in other industries over the last few decades, saving time and money.
Automation can take many forms in our daily lives, ranging from the most basic to the most complex. Household thermostats controlling boilers, the first automatic telephone switchboards, electronic navigation systems, and the most advanced algorithms underlying self-driving cars are all examples.
- Home automation is the use of a combination of hardware and software technologies to control and manage appliances and devices in the home.
- Network automation is the process of automating a computer network’s configuration, management, and operations.
- Office automation entails the use of computers and software to digitize, store, process, and communicate the majority of routine tasks and processes in a typical office.
- Website testing that is automated streamlines and standardized website testing parameters for configuration changes that occur during the development phase.
- Data center automation enables software programs to perform the majority of data centre operations. Included in this category are automated system operations, also known as lights-out operations.
- Test automation means that software code is tested for quality assurance (QA) automatically using scripts and other automation tools.
Automation trends
With the introduction of BPM in 2005, the modern era of workflow automation began. With the introduction of Apple’s Siri in 2011, the trend shifted away from physical robots and toward automation software.
Workflow and machine learning
Machine learning is responsible for initiating new processes, rerouting existing processes, and making actionable recommendations.
Hyperautomation
The combination of machine learning, software, and automation tools to increase the number of automation processes is known as hyperautomation.
Intelligent Automation
AI systems will be able to automate robot configurations and learn and interact using predictive and probabilistic processing.
Intelligent Industrial Robots
Robots will be able to perform a variety of tasks, make decisions, and work autonomously, including self-diagnosis and maintenance.
Workflow with low-code or no-code
Workflow software that requires little or no coding will be prioritized in order to make process automation accessible to the organization.
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