Unlocking the Power of AIOps: Beyond the Checkbox Approach.

It’s a hot topic right now, with tenders even requiring system compliance to AIOps, as if it's just a box to tick. It makes me cringe! One of the challenges we face when discussing AIOps with clients is the lack of strategy. It's not a simple checkbox feature, although it's sometimes marketed that way.

We need to consider the practical implementation of AIOps, as well as future, ambitious visions of what it can become. Achieving lofty goals requires careful planning, integration, and implementation, with incremental gains along the way. The ultimate aim is to automate systems to replace mundane tasks performed by employees or to save costs by implementing a more affordable system.

Returning to strategy: we enjoy these conversations with our clients because they require thoughtful consideration. What specific tasks need automation? Where? There are various areas within organizations that may benefit. Do these tasks require intelligence based on specific inputs? Are these inputs available as data feeds from a system to ingest? How efficient is the current process? What are the current bottlenecks? Are there volume issues delaying processes? What process are we trying to improve?

There's much more to consider, but you get the idea.

Often, process automation should not be confined to a specific system but applied across multiple systems. If you think about the number of systems you access to complete your work, it's similar. Yes, certain systems could benefit from better features, but imagine if they were all integrated, allowing you to build a process model across all systems to streamline your work.

When companies request "AIOps" as a checkbox feature, many can tick that box because they have elements of automation built into their system. However, until we start truly considering automation elements within our businesses and specifically requesting them, we won't comply with well-thought-out strategies.

Other points to consider when formulating your AIOps strategy include:

·??????? Machine Learning: Determine if and where it fits into your strategy.

·??????? Human capital training investment: Ensure your staff is adequately trained to make AIOps effective.

·??????? Data collection: Consider where your data is coming from, its format, etc.

·??????? Data standards, enrichment, staging, and storage: Address the need for multiple data feeds and data normalization.

·??????? APIs, integration, and collaboration: Review all systems' APIs and integration capabilities.

·??????? Architecture: Maintain a flexible, well-documented design when integrating systems or extracting data.

·??????? Cost and return on investment: Target significant changes that justify the investment.

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If you're seeking an automation partner, don't just ask for compliance. Share your strategy and allow vendors to understand your short- and long-term goals.