In this Article
Creating stability: Reducing dependencies in the IT team
Making everyday life easier: Using automation in IT
A key remedy for staff shortages and greater IT resilience is the automation of tasks, especially routine work such as administrative tasks. According to a micro study by Regneri and Kertelge for the Otto Group, automation generally increases efficiency significantly: routine tasks such as patch management, server and software updates, and log analyses can be performed by the system instead of being checked manually.
“The time saved is often invested in improving the quality of work and tackling more demanding tasks. Fourth, automation offers the opportunity to increase efficiency, reduce errors, and increase flexibility. RPA can also improve communication by taking over rule-based tasks. Fifth, the study recommends decentralized implementation of automation projects to minimize dependencies. Employees should be empowered to actively participate in shaping automation.”
AI-supported tools allow performance data and network traffic to be monitored in real time – failures can be detected and countermeasures often initiated automatically. Errors also occur less frequently because standardized processes are less prone to human error.
Practical experience shows that automation not only reduces the workload on IT teams, it also increases system availability. One example is automated backups and emergency processes that kick in automatically in the event of malfunctions. This frees up experts to focus on more complex tasks.
- Less manual work:
Routine tasks such as patching, configuration, and data backup are performed automatically. - AI-supported monitoring:
Intelligent systems collect network or system data in real time and automatically prioritize critical traffic. - Higher stability:
Automated processes reduce human error and lead to faster problem detection and resolution.
With each automated step, the IT team becomes less dependent on available personnel and the infrastructure becomes more resilient. Nevertheless, many companies are still hesitant to use AI for reasons of cybersecurity and compliance. But whether AI-supported or not, automation reduces the workload for all employees.
Employee motivation and retention through automation
This contributes to employee retention: a digitized, modern working environment signals that a company is investing in its own people. At the same time, employees perceive that their expertise is being used to operate intelligent systems – rather than simply serving as a “spare wheel” to cover shortcomings. In short: less frustration, more responsibility. Overall, an automated environment gives employees security and time for further training – both important factors in retaining skilled workers in the long term.
Practical tips for getting started with automation
- Document and prioritize processes: Identify recurring tasks that take up a lot of time or frequently cause errors (e.g., software updates, user provisioning, backup checks). Document these processes within the team.
- Standardize workflows: Define standardized checklists and templates for routine tasks. Standardized processes (e.g., for deployments or approvals) are easier to automate later on.
- Involve the team: Involve your employees in the planning process. Ask for feedback: Which tasks bother them the most? Encourage them to suggest improvements. Training courses or workshops on automation tools can help to achieve initial successes.
- Iterate continuously: Start with a pilot project: for example, automate the inventory of a smaller sub-area. Use the feedback and expand gradually.
These steps do not require technical expertise, but rather pragmatic project management and clear objectives. Consistent documentation of workflows and knowledge of manual processes is the first step toward automation.
Standardized processes as the key to resilience
Automation tools alone do not create resilience – processes must be standardized and scalable. This is precisely where SEAL Systems’ core concept comes in: uniform, automatable workflows in output and document management can effectively cushion the impact of skills shortages. When workflows are clearly defined and mapped using appropriate software, fewer individual interventions are required.
We support all departments with automated processes. This is evident, for example, in the automated distribution of business-critical expenses from SAP, in the compliant generation and forwarding of documentation, and in the secure, uniform printing and dispatch of technical documents. When workflows are clearly defined and mapped using appropriate software, fewer individual interventions are required. At the same time, IT departments benefit from fail-safe solutions, sophisticated error and fault monitoring, and reliable support.
In summary, automation does not solve the problems of skilled labor shortages, but it does make organizations significantly more resilient. Companies that invest in standardized and automatable processes (in output management, for example, for data distribution or document generation) gain flexibility. They move away from isolated solutions toward integrated, scalable systems. In practice, this pays off: those who protect their team by reducing routine tasks and establishing clear processes remain capable of acting even when human resources are scarce.