What is application release automation?
Application release automation (ARA) is the process of packaging and deploying new and updated applications across environments in an automated fashion, without dealing with manual and scripted processes. It provides IT teams with a consistent method of releasing new or updated applications in less time, with fewer manual tasks.
Processes previously requiring long hours, frustrating manual steps and scripts, and delays resulting from errors can be optimized with application release automation. The software delivery process is faster, higher quality, and more efficient.
Benefits of application release automation include:
- Streamlining processes
- Reducing timelines and decreasing manual tasks
- Increasing departmental agility and flexibility
- Improving productivity and collaboration while controlling risk
To experience these benefits, organizations must incorporate five critical application release automation components: orchestration and packaging, dependencies, approvals, CI/CD support, and application release automation tools.
What are release automation tools?
Application release automation functionality is primarily found in platforms with larger capabilities.
For example, DevOps platforms often contain application release automation functionality along with build, deploy, and release features that further enable CI/CD processes.
When shopping for ARA tools, consider all the elements required to reap the full benefits of application release automation.
Flexagon’s DevOps platform – FlexDeploy – provides a continuous delivery and application release automation platform to help IT teams deliver software faster while reducing manual processes, errors, cost, and risk.
