“Do you remember the V6? That was a great AE. Everything was simple and clear. If only there would be a stable V6. But after some years Automic and CA always stop maintaining and supporting the versions, forcing us to perform expensive upgrades.”
I often get such statements from Automic users – and have to chuckle every time.
The V6 is older than the first iPhone. Just imagine, your current smartphone would still have the same functionality as the first: No Youtube, no AppStore, not even Copy and Paste.
Like the iPhone, the Automation Engine has changed over the last 10 years. But many users still use the system exactly as they did with the old versions.
They have upgraded the system, but forgot to update its usage.
Upgrading Usage
What do I mean with upgrading the usage? I am concerned with two things: usability and integration. Most new features of the AE can be assigned to one or both categories.
With usability I mean not only the front-end (i.e. the Java User Interface or the Web Interface), but also the usability of automation: How easy is it to build, manage and maintain solutions. In short, it’s all about productivity.
With integrations I mean interfaces, the ability of AE to communicate with other system and applications.
However, the upgrade by itself will not let you benefit from these innovations! This is a no-brainer: you will not automatically get more athletic if you buy a new bicycle. You have to use the stuff.
In the case of the Automation Engine, you and your team must learn to use the innovations. And you need to spend a little time to adjust your automation to the new system.
If you do, the upgrade is no longer an annoying and expensive task, but a real asset to your business.
From „Marginal“ to „Holy Cow“
Let’s assume that upgrading from V10 to V12 will cost you around 50,000 euros – for staff, external professionals, and downtime.
And what do you get from it? Extending maintenance and support, some performance improvements, and support for 100,000 agents.
Your conclusion: Not exactly overwhelming.
If you leave it like that, I understand why you feel like new versions don’t do anything.
But there’s a different way. You can use an aditional 10,000 € to train your team on the V12 and the changes.
Your employees will use what they have learned during their daily work and you will realize that the new version suddenly shows its muscles.
Your colleauges learn to handle the AWI and they know what to be aware of. They use the new features and build faster solutions, which can be maintained with less effort. Your business gets more effective and the error potential decreases.
Your conclusion: Worth it.
Now, imagine you’re using another 5,000 euros to evaluate how to use the new features strategically. Your freshly trained employees are ready for it. They will find new ways to automate things that they had to deal with manually. This drastically reduces their workload.
This frees up time that your employees can use to integrate even more automation into other business processes that have not been possible with the old versions of the Automation Engine.
Your Conclusion: Holy Cow!
Well, I admit: The graphs may be exaggerated just a tiny bit.
But it is clear: Comparatively low investments in training and strategic considerations on the use of the new version make the blue curve climb upwards.
If you are reluctant to invest because you want to save money, you actually won’t save anything, but miss out on a good investment!
If you invest an additional 20% or 30%, you will no longer curse the upgrade, but look forward to the next one.
Need some training for the Upgrade? That’s my specialty!