Automation has become one of the more consistent answers to challenges posed by novel trends in corporate computing, including reporting analytics, enterprise mobility and beyond. After all, the strain placed on IT departments when tasked with incorporating an entirely new framework of devices, systems, management frameworks and security requirements can be too much to handle without a little support. 

In many ways, automation has made the implementation of highly advanced technologies more feasible for a wider range of companies, especially with respect to size classifications and industries. Now, the next trend up appears to be the Internet of Things which, along with a greater demand for security and oversight, is expected to impact all forms of corporate computing strategies, including processing and analytics. 

What's to come?
Gartner recently released a statement regarding the identity and access management demands of the IoT trend, but also mused about the ways in which this movement will impact content and reporting methodologies in the average business. Remember, the IoT will pose a breadth of opportunities to companies that embrace it, such as the ability to dramatically expand analytics programs given the much higher volumes and wider diversity of data that will be generated. 

According to the analysts, businesses will no doubt have to deal with the devices themselves through a modernized management strategy, but will miss the mark if they stop there rather than overhauling the lion's share of their computing strategies. For example, the researchers argued that processing, communications, storage and analytics will all be transformed by the IoT, and leaders in the private and public sectors will need to know how to get the job done by way of optimization and capitalizing on relevant investments. 

It would be hard to deny that automation will play a major role in helping companies get into a strong position with respect to the IoT. 

Where to begin?
Business process management has already been the target of many automation strategies and deployments, and this will continue to be the case for years to come thanks to the IoT and other emerging trends. If officials automate reporting analytics and content management, taking on greater workloads when more data is being generated, stored and used will likely be a less strenuous task for the average IT department. 

By working closely with a vendor of robust automation software, the IoT can be embraced in stride.