Top 12+ IT Automation Software in 2024: Vendor Benchmarking

61% of IT operation employees identify reliance on manual processes as the reason behind low productivity. ¹ In the same survey, IT Ops staff claim to spend their day coordinating teams and executing routine activities such as monitoring, tuning, or general maintenance (See Figure 1). 

One way to overcome this challenge is to adopt IT automation software to automate IT operations. However, 68% of IT professionals who participated to the survey mentioned above also complain about the lack of time to investigate solutions within this complex landscape of tools.

Considering the complex landscape of tools, businesses should identify the right IT automation software for their business by:

1. Shortlisting market leaders
2. Identifying the type of IT automation their business requires
3. Evaluating key capabilities of these tools

In this article, we aim to help your review process by providing a list of leading IT automation market leaders and categorizing them according to 4 types of IT automation. We also explain 5 core features to help you identify the most suitable IT automation software for your business.     

Criteria for selecting IT automation market leaders

Once businesses specify the subset of IT automation they are interested in, they must compare a set of vendors to identify the most appropriate tool. However, the variety of players in the market complicates the reviewing process. 

Therefore, we shortlisted vendors based on 3 factors:

1. The number of employees on LinkedIn: We considered vendors that have over 10 employees listed on LinkedIn since a smaller vendor is unlikely to be able to support enterprises.
2. Reviews: Vendors without reviews on any platforms were excluded as the absence of feedback may suggest a low adoption rate.
3. Focus: We included vendors that offer specialized tools for IT automation.

For more comprehensive vendor lists, you can check out our data-driven and constantly updated IT automation software lists.

Shortlisted IT automation software comparison

Here are the deep dives for each vendor:

The IT automation software comparison table above covers all information from major B2B review platforms (such as G2 and TrustRadius). Vendors with provided links are sponsors of AiMultiple.

1. ActiveBatch

ActiveBatch is an enterprise job scheduling and workload automation solution that helps organizations manage and streamline their IT and business processes through a centralized platform. It offers features such as advanced scheduling, event-driven automation, and cross-platform integration capabilities.

Pros:

• Low-code: User reviews show that ActiveBatch is a low-code platform.

Cons:

• Learning curve: Some reviewers evaluated ActiveBatch slightly difficult tool for beginners (See Figure 3).

Discover all ActiveBatch WLA features, pros and cons.

2. Redwood RunMyJobs

Redwood RunMyJobs is a cloud-based job scheduling and workload automation platform that enables organizations to automate and optimize their batch processing and data integration tasks. It provides features like intelligent scheduling, workload monitoring, and self-service capabilities for end-users.

Pros:

• Scheduling features: Redwood RunMyJobs provides all job scheduling features, which obtains 9.8 out of 59 reviews on G2. Specifically, event-based triggering and job dependency features have been mentioned by users on Trustradius.³
• Error loggings and alerts: For both loggings and error notifications, Redwood has 9.4 average score from 21 ratings on Trustradius (See Figure 4).
• Integration: Redwood RunmyJobs offers API connectors to integrate with various systems and applications.

Cons:

Format issues: Some users complained about the difficulty with converting the reports and data file formats. ⁴

Learn more on features and advantages of Redwood RunMyJobs.

3. Stonebranch UAC (Universal Automation Center)

Stonebranch’s Universal Automation Center (UAC) is an all-encompassing workload automation solution equipped with batch scheduling features. It allows control over workflows spanning multiple systems and business applications, regardless of where the data is situated. With its drag-and-drop interface, users can craft workflows and manage the whole operational spectrum of their organization.

Pros:

• Integration: Stonebranch provides seamless connections with a variety of systems and applications. On the G2 platform, users have given a score of 9.0 for app integrations and 8.9 for API integrations. ⁶

Cons:

• Analytics and visualization: Some users on PeerSpot have suggested enhancements in the analytics and reporting functionalities. ⁷

Discover top Stonebranch alternatives to assess pros and cons of each tool against each other.

4. BMC Control-M

BMC Control-M is an industry-leading workload automation solution that enables organizations to schedule, manage, and monitor their batch processing and business workflows across various systems and applications. It offers advanced features like predictive analytics, self-service capabilities, and integrations with IT operations tools.

Pros:

• Job scheduling: According to reviewers on G2, the job scheduling feature performs well so it receives the highest score with 9.4. ⁸ 
• Ease of use: In all B2B review platforms, Control-M software is identified as user friendly by 15%. Also, 4% of users mention drag and drop capability. 

Cons:

• Integrations: API and integration to other applications are the most criticized feature by reviewers. ⁹ 
• Error logging: This feature has the lowest score for Control-m software on Trustradius (See Figure 4). Also, alert and notifications are not evaluated as strengths either.

Learn Control-M pros and cons as well as its alternatives in-detail.

5. Microsoft System Center

Microsoft System Center is a suite of management tools that provides organizations with a comprehensive solution for managing their IT infrastructure, including servers, clients, and applications. It offers features such as monitoring, configuration management, automation, and service desk capabilities.

Pros:

• Scheduling: The platform allows automation update scheduling by specifying platform, product and date.

Cons:

• Integration: Microsoft system center users criticized the limitations with integrating to other ecosystems. ¹⁰

6. Ninjaone

Ninjaone is a cloud-based IT service management (ITSM) platform that offers a range of features to help organizations streamline their IT operations and support processes. It includes features like incident management, change management, asset management, and self-service portal for end-users.

Pros:

• Ease of use: Ninjaone users evaluate UI as intuitive, responsive, and modern, facilitating adoption and ease of use. ¹¹

Cons:

• Reporting: Users recommend improving robustness of reporting. ¹²

7. Atera

Atera is a cloud-based remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform designed for managed service providers (MSPs) and IT departments. It offers features like remote access, patch management, ticketing system, and reporting tools to help organizations efficiently manage and support their clients’ IT infrastructure.

Pros:

• Service management: Atera service management capability which includes easy ticketing, remote access and service management performs above the average. ¹³

Cons:

• User interface speed: Although most of the users find it easy to work with the user design, many complained about its speed. ¹⁴

8. ServiceNow ITSM

ServiceNow ITSM is a leading IT service management platform that helps organizations deliver IT services efficiently and effectively. It includes features like incident management, problem management, change management, and service catalog to streamline IT service delivery and support processes.

Pros:

• ITSM asset management: ServiceNow ITSM has the highest score for configuration management feature (See Figure 5).

Cons:

• Ease of use: Reviewers express their struggle while trying to set-up, customize and integrate the tool due to complicated user interface and lack of instructions for the new users. ¹⁵ The tool receives 8.0 which is under the average for its category on G2. ¹⁶

9. SolarWinds Service Desk

SolarWinds Service Desk is a cloud-based IT service management (ITSM) platform that offers features like incident management, problem management, change management, and asset management. It provides organizations with the tools to effectively manage and resolve IT issues and deliver IT services.

Pros:

• Ease of use: SolarWinds Service Desk scores 9.0 for ease of use. Most of the reviewers consider the user interface design intuitive and easy for IT staff and end users. ¹⁷

Cons:

• Integration: Although tool seems to remain under average for change and IT asset management, the major complains from users is about problems that they encounter with integrations to other apps and systems. ¹⁸

10. ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus is an IT service management (ITSM) software that helps organizations streamline their IT support and service delivery processes. It offers features like incident management, problem management, change management, and asset management, along with a self-service portal for end-users.

Pros:

• Change management: ManageEngine receives the highest scores for changing request repository, calendar change and service-level management features compared the top three ITSM tools (See Figure 5).

Cons:

• Customization: On PeerSpot, ManageEngine ServiceDesk users complained about the limitations of customization capability. ¹⁹ 

11. dbt

dbt (data build tool) is an open-source command-line tool that helps data analysts and engineers transform and analyze data in their data warehouses. It provides a way to define data transformations using SQL and manage the data transformation workflow.

Pros:

• Modularity and Reusability: DBT users rated modular and reusable coding as major strength since this capability allows them to maintain and update data transformation logic easily. ²¹

Cons:

• Limited ETL Functionality: DBT primarily focuses on data transformations so it may not be the best tool if your business requires more ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) automation.²²

12. Oracle Autonomous DWH

Oracle Autonomous Data Warehouse (ADW) is a cloud-based data warehousing solution offered by Oracle. It leverages artificial intelligence and automation to handle database administration tasks and optimize performance. ADW provides a scalable and secure environment for storing and analyzing large volumes of data.

Pros:

Fully Managed Service: Oracle ADW is a fully managed data warehouse service, with no requirement for infrastructure management and maintenance. ²³

Cons:

Vendor Lock-in: Some users warned new adopters that the tool may not migrate to other platforms outside of Oracle ecosystem.²⁴

13. TimeXtender

TimeXtender is a data management platform that helps organizations automate and simplify their data integration and preparation processes. It offers features like data modeling, ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) automation, and data lineage tracking, allowing organizations to accelerate their data projects and make data-driven decisions.

Pros:

Self-Service BI: TimeXtender users mentioned self-service capabilities to explore and analyze data easily. ²⁵

Cons:

Learning Curve: TimeXtender users consider tool slightly harder for new users.

Check out for a more comprehensive comparison of data warehouse automation tools.

What are the different types of IT automation?

IT automation can cover automating various operations, tasks, and processes. These different types of IT automation have specific focus areas and objectives. Knowing each type or category of IT automation can help organizations to:

• Assess their current level of automation in each area and identify areas that require further investment
• Prioritize and focus their automation efforts on the areas that are most critical to their business operations
• Choose a tool that aligns with their goals and resources
• Allow teams to remain focused on their expertise area.  

Disclaimer:

We present a categorization here to structure this crowded market. However, the categorization is far from perfect and some of these categories partially overlap. In addition, a solution can deliver several types of IT automation. For example, remote monitoring and management RMM platforms typically contain most of these solutions under a package. 

1. Workload automation & Job scheduling

Workload automation is a specific type of IT automation with a focus on the automation of job scheduling and execution, such as: 

• Running batch processes
• File transfers
• Database backups.

Job scheduling software allows IT teams to automate the scheduling and execution of tasks and workflows, such as backups, maintenance tasks, and software updates.

Learn more about workload automation by checking out:

• Workload automation tools benchmarking
• Top workload automation case studies

Check out our comprehensive workload automation guide to compare more workload automation and job scheduling platforms.

2. ITSM automation

ITSM automation refers to the automation of IT service management (ITSM) processes to improve IT service delivery, quality, and compliance with IT policies and procedures.

ITSM automation tools automate processes, such as:

1. Incident management: The process of logging, tracking, and resolving IT incidents, such as system outages or performance issues.
2. Change management: The process of managing IT changes, including assessing the impact of changes, obtaining approvals, and implementing changes.
3. Service request management: The process of handling service requests from end-users, such as software installations or hardware upgrades.
4. Self-service portals: Accessing IT services and information without human intervention, such as password resets or status updates.

3. Remote monitoring and management (RMM)

RMM, also known as remote IT management or network management, proactively monitors and remotely manages software, networks, hardware and client endpoints. RMM platforms automate several tasks and IT operations, including: 

• Configuration management automation automatically handles software and hardware configurations across an organization’s IT infrastructure, such as file management and software deployment.
• Patch management automation detects, tests, deploys, monitors and reports software patches. 
• Network automation manages and operates computer networks, such as network configuration and troubleshooting. 

4. Data warehouse automation 

Data warehouse automation designs, develops, and maintains data warehouses with minimum involvement of developers and data engineers. These tools consist of several features, such as: 

• ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) 
• Data modeling
• Data quality and testing
• Deployment
• Maintenance

5 critical capabilities of IT automation software 

We created a vendor shortlist by considering market leaders and IT automation types. While evaluating these vendors, there are two major aspects to consider:

1. Your company’s IT automation priorities (goals and objectives)
2. 5 critical features.  

1. Low-code

Low-code IT automation tools allow IT teams to create and deploy automation workflows and processes using visual interfaces and drag-and-drop pre-built automation components, without extensive coding skills. Market leaders in IT automation often provide low-code tools. 

2. Integration 

Integration capabilities allow automation tools to connect with other systems and applications in the IT environment, including ITSM platforms, cloud platforms, monitoring and alerting tools, and configuration management tools. 

Integration typically involves using APIs to enable different systems to communicate and exchange data. IT automation tools may offer pre-built integrations or allow users to build custom integrations using APIs.

3. File and data transfer

File and data transfer for IT automation refers to the automated transfer of files and data between different systems and applications in the IT environment. This feature streamlines the flow of large volumes or complex data and reduces manual data entry and transfer tasks.

IT automation tools can automate file and data transfer tasks in two most common ways:

1. SFTP/FTP transfers: IT automation tools can use Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) or File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to transfer large files between systems. 
2. API-based transfers: IT automation can automate data transfer between different systems and applications using API. For example, the IT team wants to share customer data with the customer analytics team. 

4. Error logging

Error logging is an essential process of recording and storing information about errors that occur during IT automation workflows or processes. It enables IT teams to monitor automation workflows and processes in real-time, troubleshoot issues, and improve automation processes by identifying error trends and patterns. 

Many IT automation tools include built-in error logging functionality, and third-party log management tools can aggregate and analyze error logs from multiple systems and applications to identify trends and patterns across the IT environment.

5. Scheduling feature

IT automation tools offer scheduling options, including one-time, recurring, and trigger-based scheduling to automate backups, maintenance tasks, and software updates. Scheduling combined with other features like notifications and error handling ensures tasks are executed consistently and reliably. 

Transparency statement

AIMultiple serves numerous technology vendors, including Redwood which provides Active Batch, RunMyJobs, and Tidal.

Further reading

Learn more on different types of automation, such as workflow automation, robotic process automation (RPA) and business process automation (BPA):

• What is RPA? Robotic Process Automation Tech Guide
• Guide to Business Process Automation: Types, Use Cases & Best Practices
• Automated Workflow Management: A Comprehensive Guide

Check out our comprehensive and data-driven IT automation software and workload automation tools lists if you want to compare other solutions.

If you still have questions about IT automation software, we would like to help:

Find the Right Vendors

External links

• 1. “The Impact of Automation on IT Operations.” Freeform Dynamics Ltd. July 2017. Revisited May 23, 2023.
• 2. “ActiveBatch Reviews.” G2. Revisited January 1 2023.
• 3. “Redwood Reviews.” Trustradius. Revisited January 1 2023.
• 4. “Redwood Reviews.” PeerSpot. Revisited January 1 2023.
• 5. “Comparison for ActiveBatch, Control-M and Redwood RunMyJobs.” Trusteadius. Revisited January 1 2023.
• 6. “Stonebranch reviews.” G2. Revisited June 7, 2023.
• 7. “Stonebranch reviews.” PeerSpot. Revisited June 7, 2023.
• 8. “Control-M user reviews.” G2. Revisited June 5, 2023.
• 9. “Control-M user reviews.” G2. Revisited June 5, 2023.
• 10. “Microsoft system center user reviews.” G2. Revisited January 1 2023.
• 11. “Ninjaone user reviews.” Trustradius. Revisited January 1 2023.
• 12. “Ninjaone user reviews.” G2. Revisited January 1 2023.
• 13. “Atera user reviews.” G2. Revisited January 1 2023.
• 14. “Atera user reviews.” Trustradius. Revisited January 1 2023.
• 15. “ServiceNow ITSM reviews.” PeerSpot. Revisited January 1 2023.
• 16. “ServiceNow ITSM reviews.” G2. Revisited January 1 2023.
• 17. “SolarWinds ServiceDesk user reviews” G2. Revisited January 1 2023.
• 18. “SolarWinds ServiceDesk user reviews” PeerSpot. Revisited January 1 2023.
• 19. “ManageEngine ServiceDesk reviews.” PeerSpot. Revisited June 5 2023.
• 20. “Comparison for ITSM tools.” Trusteadius. Revisited January 1 2023.
• 21. “dbt user reviews” G2. Revisited January 5, 2023.
• 22. “DBT user reviews” Trustradius. Revisited June 5, 2023. 
• 23. “Oracle ADW user reviews.” G2. Revisited January 5, 2023.
• 24. “Oracle Autonomous Data Warehouse Reviews.” Trustradius. Revisited January 5, 2023.
• 25. “TimeXtender user reviews” G2. Revisited January 1 2023.