How DevOps and Agile are influencing automation in business

Source- knowtechie.com

From its humble beginnings in the software development world, Agile has now grown into the gold standard for project management and product development. Originally, Agile was a useful technique used in the IT and operations space to break down larger projects into smaller, more manageable components.

As a result, the methodology has yielded shorter production times, reduced risk, and high-quality products. Agile formed the foundation upon which the world of DevOps emerged. Many people look at DevOps vs Agile as if these two concepts are mutually exclusive. While DevOps and Agile are not the same things, one is essentially a continuum of the other.

Indeed, Agile management training forms the basis for implementing DevOps. By breaking down a larger project into manageable and measurable pieces, a framework for continuous delivery (DevOps) can be easily implemented.

Drawing the connection between DevOps and Agile

By definition, DevOps is a development process that seeks to combine product development, testing, and deployment under a common umbrella. Such streamlining allows for faster delivery of applications and services.

As Agile practices focused on helping teams to work smarter and more efficiently, the process slowly evolved into a framework of continuous development. Companies began streamlining and automating significant portions of the production process.

For example, during software development, the entire team tested each piece of code that was programmed before it moved downstream. In line with this goal, a DevOps framework involves sharing such data under a common pool on a frequent basis. This makes it easier for all stakeholders to test and develop separate components of the entire project, and to share information in real time.

 Effects on Automation

Agile and DevOps are part of a continuum that has fuelled automation in businesses. Indeed, the ability for Agile to simplify and streamline complex projects has made it easier for businesses to increase efficiency and reduce human error. In addition, the integration, efficiency, and practicality that is fuelled by DevOps have provided a platform for automation to take center stage in businesses.

Here’s a look at how Agile and DevOps are driving automation.

• Shortening Production Times

A key element of business automation is the ability to significantly shorten production times. Machines can be programmed via Artificial Intelligence to carry out certain functions effectively and with minimal downtime.

Agile is at the heart of this process because machines can be programmed to carry out specific operational steps along the production chain. In other words, Agile breaks down the functions of automated machines into smaller, easily programmable components.

In addition, DevOps allows for the operational team to monitor automated processes and to evaluate how effective they are to the overall production framework. The end result is shorter production times and higher quality products.

• Increasing customer satisfaction

Agile and DevOps are also driving automation by improving customer satisfaction. Indeed, businesses need to quickly adapt to evolving customer needs and expectations. In line with this goal, automation makes it easier for businesses to provide standardized, customized, and competitively priced products to customers.

Luckily, Agile practices provide an operational framework that meets the needs of customers. How so? Breaking down product development into manageable chunks has made automation more practicable to implement and quality control easier to manage. And because the entire process is part of a continuous development framework, DevOps also ensures customer satisfaction.

Because DevOps involves a combined input from multiple personnel within the business, it’s easier for you to refine your end product for quality and usability.

• Building Products at a Larger Scale

Scaling up the development and delivery of products is at the heart of Agile and DevOps. Scalability is also the mother of automation. Therefore, these two processes have fuelled automation in businesses by providing a useful framework for scalability.

With a comprehensive, relevant and measurable development process, more products can be built on a larger scale. This improves the bottom line of most businesses by increasing demand and meeting customer expectations.