Automation can be fantastic. It has transformed how businesses operate, taking over repetitive tasks, reducing errors, and enabling people to focus on more creative and strategic work. But let’s not oversimplify it. Automation isn’t magic—it’s built on technology, written in code, powered by servers, and maintained by people.

This technology evolves. The code behind automation requires updates and patches, applications get upgrades, servers expand their memory and storage, and the entire infrastructure adapts as needs grow. Are logs being saved? Are outputs being archived? These things take space and planning. And then there are the APIs and ETLs—those connections that extract, transform, and load data between systems. Each of those systems evolves too, requiring adjustments to keep integrations running smoothly.

Yet, technology doesn’t maintain itself. It needs people. Skilled people who can troubleshoot when things break, update documentation, and plan for the inevitable scaling of processes. Without them, the best automation can fall apart, leaving companies scrambling when the inevitable happens: something changes.

The Realities of Automation

I’ve seen both sides of the automation coin. On one hand, it can be a game-changer—streamlining workflows and scaling efficiency like nothing else. On the other hand, I’ve seen companies set up great systems, only to watch them falter. Why? Because they underestimated the ongoing care these systems require.

People leave. Documentation doesn’t get updated. Volumes increase, and systems slow down. New fields need to be added, new processes need to be integrated, and the patches and upgrades pile up. Without a strong team to manage all of this, what started as a shiny, efficient system can become a bottleneck that hinders growth.

The Hidden Costs of Ignoring the Basics

Let’s talk about technical debt. It happens when companies focus so much on getting something bright, shiny, and new out the door that they neglect the foundation. Documentation is incomplete, processes aren’t built to scale, and corners are cut to meet deadlines or budgets. Over time, this debt grows, and it gets expensive.

I’ve seen companies stumble because they didn’t plan for the basics:

• Storage: They didn’t consider how much space logs, archives, and data would require.

• Speed: They didn’t design systems to handle increased traffic or complexity.

• Knowledge Transfer: When key people left, their understanding of the system left with them.

The result? Systems break. Companies struggle to scale. Growth is slowed because the underlying automation can’t keep up.

Balancing Planning, Execution, and Maintenance

The key to successful automation is balance. You can’t spend all your time planning—you’ll miss the opportunity to execute. But you also can’t skip planning or you’ll end up with something rushed and unsustainable.

I’ve seen companies get so lost in planning that they run out of budget before they can execute. On the flip side, I’ve seen rushed implementations that skip over maintenance, leaving teams to fix problems that should have been addressed from the start.

Automation isn’t just about building something great—it’s about keeping it great. That means continuous integration, continuous development, and continuous improvement. It means balancing the excitement of innovation with the diligence of maintenance.

The People Factor

Here’s the truth: automation isn’t a people problem, it’s a people solution. Yes, automation can replace repetitive tasks and reduce human error, but only if there are skilled teams behind the scenes. These are the people who make sure the automation works as it should, who fix it when it doesn’t, and who improve it as the company grows.

Investing in those teams is critical. Fund their work, empower them to learn, and give them the resources they need to keep systems running smoothly. A well-maintained system isn’t just a technical achievement—it’s the result of people who know how to plan, execute, and adapt.

Making Automation Work for the Long Term

Automation is at its best when it’s supported by strong teams, thoughtful planning, and the willingness to adapt. Companies that succeed with automation do so because they:

• Invest in their IT and product teams.

• Keep documentation updated and accessible.

• Address technical debt before it becomes unmanageable.

• Balance innovation with maintenance.

It’s not enough to focus on what’s new and exciting. You have to maintain what’s already in place, scaling it for growth and ensuring it doesn’t become a liability.

Automation can be a powerful tool for growth, but it’s not self-sustaining. It requires people—skilled, experienced, and empowered people—to keep it running. When you invest in the technology and the teams behind it, you create a system that not only works but thrives.

And that’s what automation should be: fantastic, efficient, and built to last.

Cheers,

Gage