Enterprise systems typically incorporate many components, inter-dependencies, processes, and workflows, and interacting with or delivering on these manually can consume a great deal of time. Automation allows organizations to manage these processes and configurations using consistent, repeatable steps, initiated or orchestrated through automation engine, tool or layer. This frees organizations to spend time building new features, capabilities, and experiences rather than completing the same backend workflows, setup procedures or data edits using manual processes.
ArcGIS supports a variety of automation approaches, from infrastructure and software deployment through application automation and workflow-based automation with webhooks. Common automation processes might include:
Well-architected systems rely on automation throughout their operations – deploying software in a consistent and repeatable fashion, but also automating workflows that do not need manual intervention, and monitoring the automation tasks to ensure consistent completion.
This architecture pillar and section provide an overview of automation topics and practices, including:
To elaborate on the automation approaches that are available with specific ArcGIS software components, these three sections provided guidance and recommendations:
In addition, Workflow automation systems are described, in several different levels of detail covering ArcGIS Workflow Manager and other external workflow automation platforms.
Another important topic often related to automation is the use of Webhooks, which is discussed extensively in the Integration pillar.