By 2026, 30% of enterprises will automate more than half of their network activities, according to Gartner. By comparison, less than 10% of enterprises were automating more than half of their network activities in mid-2023.

The research firm also noted in its latest Hype Cycle for I&O Automation that during the same timeframe, 50% of enterprises will use AI functions to automate “day 2” network operations, compared with fewer than 10% in mid-2023. Day 2 operations include tasks that are performed following a software deployment and are focused on maintaining software reliability, availability, and performance—such as monitoring performance, installing upgrades, updating systems, and performing routine maintenance.

“Infrastructure and operations (I&O) leaders are increasingly looking to AI-based analytics and augmented decision making, including intelligent automation (IA), to improve operational resilience and responsiveness, address complexity, and process increasingly large amounts of data through automation,” said Chris Saunderson, senior director analyst at Gartner, in a statement. 

A few factors are driving the rise of I&O automation technologies, according to Gartner. For instance, genAI and other IA technologies can empower infrastructure and operations leaders to deliver expanded business capabilities by applying automation and orchestration. And today’s hybrid infrastructures pose significant challenges to the traditional, or conventional, approaches previously used by IT teams to deliver services and manage operations, according to Gartner.

Infrastructure platform engineering enables enterprise organizations to achieve self-service, security, compliance, and financial objectives. Gartner highlights skill acquisition and development as essential, as leaders in infrastructure and operations need to uphold increasing standards of reliability and performance.

“Automation serves as a critical accelerator in delivering business value. Infrastructure and Operations (I&O) leaders should treat automation as a vital skill, enhancing their ability to provide high-velocity, efficient, and high-performance services to their stakeholders,” states the Gartner report.

According to Gartner, implementing automation throughout infrastructure and operations will lead to substantial benefits. For example, by 2027, I&O chiefs focusing on comprehensive automation integration will double the benefits realized from service quality and cost reductions. Additionally, IT service desk analysts are projected to spend as much time interacting with AI as they do with business end-users, Gartner suggests.

“The incorporation of automation significantly changes the roles, skills, and expectations of I&O leaders and their teams. It continues to be a primary focus for our clients to implement, maintain, and expand automation within their mixed operational environments,” the Gartner report asserts.

Because automation plays a vital role in infrastructure and operations technology, Gartner advises IT leaders:

Gartner notes that Intelligent Automation (IA) in infrastructure and operations is increasingly employed to foster business agility and propel sophisticated service enhancements. With the advent of generative AI capabilities, there’s a growing need for intelligent automation platforms designed to provide advanced operations, efficiencies, and insights through analysis and automation.

“Technology providers specializing in AI for IT operations (AIOps), application performance monitoring, and generative AI will significantly influence the field,” stated Gartner’s Saunderson.

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