Gartner Retires the Workload Automation Magic Quadrant

Gartner has retired its Workload Automation Magic Quadrant, signalling consolidation within the IT Automation space.

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Workload automation is key to optimizing data warehouse processes

Evolution of Workload Automation

Last month Gartner announced the retirement of the Magic Quadrant for Workload Automation. The announcement has created significant buzz among various social media channels, such as LinkedIn’s Enterprise Job Scheduling & Workload Automation group. Here’s the opening summary courtesy of the Gartner announcement: 

“Since workload automation is becoming part of a wider systematic approach to automation, Gartner is retiring the Magic Quadrant for workload automation. IT operations leaders must evaluate workload automation in the context of broad data center or application and process automation efforts.” 

Gartner’s opening comments sum up the whole story. IT automation is undergoing a period of digital transformation and consolidation. Within that, workload automation is becoming one key component that teams seek to optimize. IT and DevOps teams are managing increasingly complex business processes that are codependent on one another. This level of process automation requires IT environments and architectures to rely on automation platforms. These IT process tools require sophisticated integrations, on-premises and multi-cloud workflow management, and real-time, self-service dashboards. Dashboards will provide IT teams with access and control they haven’t had previously.

In light of the current sophistication of IT initiatives, the time is right for vendors and consumers to look at their workload automation solutions end to end. Rather than looking at automation projects as discrete initiatives…such as batch processing, runbook automation, application release automation, the data center…IT organizations have to step back and understand the big-picture impact that implementing silos of process automation can have on the IT organization and SaaS business as a whole. Gartner predicts that by 2025, 80% of organizations delivering workload automation will use service orchestration and automation platforms (SOAPs) across IT and business domains.

We’re seeing this evolutionary shift taking place within the marketplace by IT organizations that have recognized the advantages of consolidating multiple workload automation tools into a unified solution. Doing so lays the foundation for a policy-driven automation strategy and thoughtful orchestration that drives governance, visibility, and control, and as a result, improved service levels to the business.

See how IT can overcome the critical challenges of IT operations

Explore ActiveBatch Workload Automation Solutions

I&O Leaders and IT Teams: Get More From Your Workload Automation Investment, Get in touch with us to ask questions, view case studies, and explore which automation platforms are right for you. If you need to replace MagicQuadrant by Gartner for cloud automation or WLA, and you’re considering other providers, consider ActiveBatch.


Frequently Asked Questions

Why is workload automation an important component for IT and DevOps teams?

IT and DevOps teams manage complex business processes with dependencies and alerts that make things difficult to prioritize. This stalls progress. To optimize these processes, IT environments and architectures are relying more on automation platforms, including workload automation and service orchestration and automation platforms (SOAPs).

Empower your DevOps and IT teams with workload automation.

What are the top Gartner-rated workload automation tools?

Gartner used to publish the Magic Quadrant for Workload Automation to evaluate and rate the top vendors in this market. However, they have discontinued that quadrant in favor of Service Orchestration and Automation Platforms (SOAPs). Here are some of the top Gartner-rated workload automation and IT process automation (IPTA) tools:

1. ActiveBatch by Redwood: This tool is an easy to use, robust workload automation and job scheduling tool that works across on-premise and cloud environments. It has flexible APIs, handles secure file transfers, and includes drag-and-drop and customization with little to no coding required. 
2. OpCon: This is an extremely robust tool for complex workflows. 
3. Micro Focus Operations Orchestration: This workload automation tool provides a variety of features, including job scheduling, workflow automation, and workload optimization. 

See why customers prefer ActiveBatch over other Gartner tools.

What do IT and DevOps teams require for managing complex business processes?

IT and DevOps teams require automation platforms that provide sophisticated integrations, on-premises and multi-cloud workflow management, and real-time, self-service dashboards. With this benefits suite, teams can take control or take a backseat – with a combination of birds-eye single-pane access and reliable, time-scheduled automation functions.

See what ActiveBatch has built for developers.

Should my team be using more sophisticated workload automation tools? 

The marketplace is experiencing an evolutionary shift, with IT organizations recognizing the advantages of consolidating multiple workload automation tools into a unified solution. Teams of any size will benefit from the increase in reliable and consistent jobs management, the end-to-end error reduction of automating certain tasks, and the organizational improvement of adding AI intelligence to their workflow planning process.

Demo our intelligent automation tools, anytime.

How can consolidating multiple workload automation tools into a unified solution benefit IT organizations? 

Consolidating multiple workload automation tools into a unified solution lays the foundation for a policy-driven automation strategy and thoughtful orchestration that drives governance, visibility, and control, and improved service levels to the business.

Consolidate and unify for better orchestration across teams.

What should I&O leaders and IT teams do to get more from their workload automation investment?

I&O leaders and IT teams should be researching and implementing the best automation solutions for their unique workflows and needs. Get in touch with us at ActiveBatch to ask questions, view case studies, and explore which automation platforms are right for you.

Make business process automation simple and successful.

Colin Beasty was a contributor to IT Automation Without Boundaries, covering workload automation, data center automation, cloud management, and more.