A voice bot that can create an AWS EC2 instance – IBM RNA and IBM Watsonx Assistant demo of consumable automation
View the demo here.
As Infrastructure and Operations (I&O) leaders seek to extend beyond simple task automation, they increasingly look toward tools that enable orchestration across diverse environments. According to the 2024 Gartner Market Guide for Infrastructure Automation and Orchestration Tools, the future lies in workflows that unify tools, practices, and deployment targets into scalable, standardized solutions.
Enter IBM Rapid Network Automation (RNA) – a visual workflow development IT orchestration tool.
IBM Rapid Network Automation (RNA) represents this next evolution in automation. Designed as a visual development and orchestration platform, RNA allows organizations to move from isolated task-based automation toward end-to-end, streamlined workflows. RNA’s extensive integration library (spanning over 250 vendors) connects multiple platforms and teams, consolidating complex workflows across an organization. This versatility enables I&O teams to automate complex tasks across different systems which was once riddled with manual intervention and handovers.
Making automation more accessible and consumable
IBM RNA stands out not only for its powerful orchestration capabilities but also for making automation accessible and usable for a broad range of teams within an organization. This focus on the ability to consume means that automation can extend beyond specialized IT roles, making complex automation tasks achievable for teams across different technical levels.
RNA's API gateway, with an API and endpoint available for every workflow created, makes automation accessible to any product in your IT Ecosystem or team. This flexibility transforms automation into a consumable service that can be easily requested and utilized by multiple functions within the business. No more tickets logged!
IBM Watsonx Assistant and RNA in Action – consuming pre-built automation workflows via API
View the demo here.
In the demo, I show how Watson Assistant, IBM’s conversational AI platform, serves as a friendly interface for triggering various automated tasks, such as creating AWS instances, generating service tickets, or offering IT troubleshooting advice. The assistant communicates user requests to RNA, which then executes the requested actions behind the scenes.
This shows the versatility and extendibility of automation that is easily consumable for systems and teams.
How the Platforms Integrate
IBM Watsonx Assistant is a conversational AI platform for building chat and voice assistants that can automate customer self-service and deliver exceptional experiences powered by generative AI capabilities.
Watson Assistant provides an intuitive front end, enabling users to make requests and receive updates quickly. When a request is made (e.g., “Create an AWS instance”), Watson Assistant sends an API call to RNA, which then performs the task, whether it’s provisioning resources or logging a ticket.
The future of IT Operations with IBM RNA
IBM RNA and Watson Assistant highlight the immense potential of automation to drive efficiency within IT operations. As organizations embrace digital transformation, tools like IBM RNA offer a pathway to faster, more flexible automation, positioning businesses to remain agile in an ever-evolving landscape.
By making automation more consumable across departments, IBM RNA allows organizations to scale automation and maximize its impact across the business. The combination of low-code development orchestration, accessible automation services, and conversational AI is just the beginning of what’s possible in the future of IT automation.