Ad Hoc Trigger
Manual initiation of an automation process when needed.
Automation Power Playbook
Automation Glossary
Understand automation terminology with a searchable collection of public definitions, from workflow basics to orchestration and evaluation.
67 terms
Apache Airflow
Open-source platform to programmatically author, schedule, and monitor workflows.
API Integration
Connecting different software systems through their APIs for data exchange and automation.
API Trigger
Automation invoked via an API call.
AutoHotkey (AHK)
Windows scripting tool for automating keystrokes, mouse clicks, and repetitive actions.
Automation
The use of technology to perform tasks with minimal human intervention increases efficiency, reducing errors, and enabling scalability.
AWS Lambda
Event-driven, serverless compute platform for running automation without provisioning servers.
AWS Managed Workflows for Apache Airflow (MWAA)
AWS-hosted orchestration for Airflow pipelines.
AWS Step Functions
Serverless workflow orchestration for AWS services.
Azure Data Factory
Data integration service with scheduling and orchestration capabilities.
Azure Logic Apps
Low-code workflow automation connecting services, data, and systems.
Bash
Unix shell and scripting language for automating commands in Linux, macOS, and other Unix-like systems.
Batch Files
Windows-based scripting for executing sequences of commands in `.bat` files.
Business Process Automation (BPA)
Automation focused on optimizing end-to-end business processes across departments.
CI/CD Pipelines
Automated software development workflows (e.g., GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps Pipelines).
Containerized Automation
Running automation in Docker containers for portability and scalability.
Cron Job
Time-based job scheduler in Unix/Linux systems.
Dagster
Orchestration platform focused on data-aware pipelines.
Data Warehouse
A centralized repository for storing structured data from multiple sources, optimized for analysis and reporting, often used in automation pipelines.
Digital Transformation
Organizational shift to integrate digital technology into all areas of business, often powered by automation.
Direct Savings
Measurable cost reductions (e.g., labor hours saved, software replaced).
Directus
An open-source data platform and headless CMS with built-in automation features (Flows) for triggering actions and workflows based on system events.
Docker
A platform for developing, shipping, and running applications in containers, enabling consistent automation deployment across environments.
ETL (Extract, Transform, Load)
Automation for moving and processing data between systems.
Event Hook
A system-provided mechanism for subscribing to specific events (similar to a webhook but often internal to the application), triggering automation when those events occur.
Event-Based Trigger
Automation starts when a specific event occurs (e.g., file uploaded, email received).
GitHub
A platform for hosting and collaborating on code repositories, with built-in automation features like GitHub Actions for CI/CD.
Google Apps Script
Cloud scripting for automating tasks within Google Workspace.
Google Cloud Composer
Managed Airflow orchestration service.
Google Cloud Workflows
Orchestration service for integrating Google Cloud and external services.
Google Workspace Macros
Automation built into Google Sheets, Docs, and other Google tools.
IFTTT (If This Then That)
Simple automation connecting apps, devices, and services based on conditional logic.
Indirect Savings
Harder-to-measure benefits like reduced errors, compliance costs, or turnover.
Integration
The process of connecting two or more software systems so they can exchange data and work together seamlessly. In automation, integrations allow workflows to pass information between apps, services, and databases without manual intervention. They can be native (built into a platform), custom-coded (via APIs, SDKs), or middleware-based (using tools like Zapier, Make, or n8n).
Internal Rate of Return (IRR)
The annualized return generated by automation investment.
Local Server Automation
Automation executed on company-owned hardware within a private network.
Low-Code / No-Code Automation
Platforms that allow automation building through drag-and-drop interfaces and prebuilt connectors, minimizing programming.
Luigi
Python module for building complex pipelines with dependencies.
Make (formerly Integromat)
Visual, scenario-based automation platform for multi-step workflows.
Manual Trigger
A user-initiated action that starts an automation, often from a button click, dashboard, or command-line input.
Microsoft Azure Automation
Service for automating cloud and on-prem tasks, with runbooks, schedules, and hybrid worker support.
Microsoft Excel Automate (Office Scripts)
TypeScript/JavaScript-based scripting for Excel Online to automate repetitive spreadsheet tasks.
Microsoft VBA (Visual Basic for Applications)
Macro-based automation in Excel, Word, and other Microsoft Office applications.
Microsoft Word Mail Merge
Automating document generation by merging templates with datasets (e.g., personalized letters or labels).
Middleware
Software that acts as a bridge between different applications, services, or databases, enabling them to communicate and work together. In automation, middleware often handles data transformation, protocol translation, and workflow routing between systems.
Monitoring & Logging
Tools for tracking automation performance and troubleshooting (e.g., Prometheus, ELK Stack).
n8n
Open-source, self-hostable automation platform with customizable workflows and integrations.
n8n Scheduler
Built-in scheduling for n8n workflows.
Net Present Value (NPV)
The value of future savings in today�s dollars.
Opportunity Cost
The value of opportunities gained or lost when choosing automation over manual work.
Payback Period
How long it takes for automation savings to equal its cost.
PowerShell
Microsoft’s task automation and configuration management framework, used heavily in IT administration.
Prefect
Modern workflow orchestration platform for Python automation with scheduling, monitoring, and retry logic.
Process Automation
Applying automation to repeatable business tasks (e.g., invoice processing, lead assignment).
Python Scripts
General-purpose programming scripts for automation, data processing, and integration.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
Software robots (bots) that emulate human actions to interact with digital systems and applications.
ROI (Return on Investment)
A measure of the profitability of an automation initiative, calculated as the net gain from the project divided by its total cost, often expressed as a percentage.
RPA On-Prem
Self-hosted robotic process automation software for environments with strict compliance needs.
Secrets Management
Secure storage and retrieval of API keys and credentials for automation processes.
Sensor-Based Trigger
Physical or IoT sensor initiates an automation sequence (e.g., motion detection).
Serverless
A cloud computing model where automation code runs in response to events without the need to manage underlying servers (e.g., AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, Google Cloud Functions).
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
The full cost of developing, maintaining, and running an automation.
Version Control
Managing automation scripts with Git to track changes and collaborate.
Webhook
HTTP-based callback that sends real-time data to trigger automation in another system.
Windows Task Scheduler
Native Windows scheduling tool for running scripts and applications.
Workflow
A defined sequence of steps or tasks in a business process, often automated to ensure consistency and speed.
Zapier
A cloud-based platform connecting apps through "Zaps" that trigger actions across services.