ThinkAutomation is a platform that allows users to automate processes using AWS Lambda functions. ThinkAutomating Amazon EC2 instances, Azure virtual machines and other servers makes cloud computing more accessible for business owners without the need of hiring additional staff or training new hires. The company provides consultations in areas like DevOps, automating website development & hosting and general IT automation needs while they develop their projects
ThinkAutomation is an automation company that offers automation solutions to companies of all sizes. Their products are used in various industries, including manufacturing, facilities management, and healthcare. They offer a wide range of products from simple to complex. Read more in detail here: things to automate.
Isn’t it ideal to have a workshop where you can develop automated processes using rule-based logic? Perhaps you have an application that needs to be alerted when a data source matches a query, or you need to transmit data to a certain application if it arrives on Thursday.
The ThinkAutomation automation platform may be right for you if you’re searching for a self-service automation workflow solution that enables you to automate hundreds of different operations.
Automation’s Difficulties
Many automated processes consist of a collection of unrelated scripts or procedures. These scripts and routines may be inadequately documented, if not completely undocumented. This circumstance causes a lack of clarity about what’s going on, which is a huge issue for the IT staff tasked to support these procedures.
Automation is a script library with hundreds of scripts in many languages in numerous IT settings. Many of you may be guilty of this, and you’re well aware that it fails in two ways: managing at scale and giving self-serve automation capacity to non-IT departments.
You’ll Need the Following Prerequisites
You’ll need a Windows Server system to install ThinkAutomation and give it a try. The following configuration was used to get ThinkAutomation up and running in this tutorial.
- With 2 vCPUs, 8 GB RAM, and a 60 GB HDD, VMware Workstation 16 runs a single VM running Microsoft Windows Server 2022 Standard Version 21H2.
- The database utilized in the lesson was Microsoft SQL Server 2017 Express.
Components for ThinkAutomation
The ThinkAutomation platform is made up of a number of different components that all function together. It employs a client/server architecture, as seen below.
ThinkAutomation is the source of this information.
Three key services are used by the server (or node):
- Main Server Service – Maintains the message process queue, Message Archive database & metadata and serves data to ThinkAutomation Studio is a studio dedicated to automating processes. users.
- Message Reader Service — Reads messages from the Sources of Information that have been specified.
- Automations are carried out through the Message Processor Service.
Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) tool that enables you to establish Sources of Information and automation as part of the platform. Studio is a software program that may be installed on one or more computers.
How to Setup ThinkAutomation
When you download ThinkAutomation, one of the first things you’ll notice is that it’s a no-hassle 30-day trial. There is no necessity for a credit card, which is rather pleasant.
ThinkAutomation may be downloaded here.
To begin, the installation does not need much. You choose a directory, agree to the EULA, and then click “Install”:
The installation procedure for ThinkAutomation is as follows:
It simply takes a few minutes to finish the installation. After the installation is complete, you may begin using ThinkAutomation:
The installation procedure for ThinkAutomation is as follows:
Don’t be fooled by this. While ThinkAutomation has been deployed, it is not yet operational. The configuration step begins when you click Start ThinkAutomation.
How to Set Up a ThinkAutomation Node
ThinkAutomation is built on a Node, which is a server that contains all of the product’s components. You are invited to setup the node after installation and given three options:
- Installs all services as well as Studio for editing workflows.
- To install just the ThinkAutomation IDE, choose Studio Only.
- Distributed Services — To choose which components to deploy on this node selectively.
Configuration of ThinkAutomation
If this is your first time installing the program, the Full option is chosen by default and includes everything you’ll need to get started.
A few last tests are performed by the setup wizard.
Configuration of ThinkAutomation
After you click Finish, you’ll be sent to a registration page. To activate the 30-day trial, fill out the information and leave the Serial Number field blank.
Process of ThinkAutomation Registration
Then you’ll need to establish a normal account and specify a password for the system administrator.
Password Configuration
Finally, you’ll be asked to construct a database for the message storage. To store messages utilized in the automation process, you’ll need a SQL database. The installation makes a minor detour at this point. One of the supported databases must be installed independently. The options are shown below.
Each incoming message from a message source is saved in the Message Archive by ThinkAutomation. Each incoming message processed is copied into the Message Archive. The ThinkAutomation Studio is a studio dedicated to automating processes. may be used to examine the Message Archive.
Messages are stored in a SQL database.
By default, Microsoft SQL Server (local) is chosen. You’ll need to fill out the Instance, Authentication, and Database Name boxes if you already have a Microsoft SQL Server (local or remote).
Microsoft SQL Server Express is the simplest way to get started. To do so, start the installation by clicking the download button integrated into the installer.
Creating a Database
It’s time to establish the Message Archive once you’ve installed a database.
When you click Create, the ThinkAutomation message storage and services are created:
Creating the Message Archive for Configuration
Investigating ThinkAutomation
After you’ve installed ThinkAutomation, go to the ThinkAutomation Studio is a studio dedicated to automating processes. and create an automation process.
ThinkAutomation Studio is a studio dedicated to automating processes.
After logging in, you are presented with a modern, intuitive ThinkAutomation Studio is a studio dedicated to automating processes. interface. The interface stands out with a familiar tabbed menu similar to many modern Microsoft applications.
Interface for ThinkAutomation
The Explorer Window
Under The Explorer Window you’ll see two components critical to ThinkAutomation; Sources of Information and Automations.
Sources of Information
When you choose the New Message Source button, you’ll be presented with a number of options for triggering automation processes. When evaluating whether or not to initiate a process, ThinkAutomation looks at the message source, which is a trigger or service.
Button to Store Messages is now available.
Automations
When you choose New Automation, you’ll be given the choice of creating a new automation, editing existing automations, or selecting an existing example from the library.
New UI for Automation
Drag and drop rule-based logic processes for anything from HTTP GET / POST API queries, flow logic, Azure services, and your own scripts to create a workflow. The example below shows how to move the HTTP-Get automated process into a workflow so you can start customizing it.
Creating a Process
These Process Template (Included)s may be used to create unique, sophisticated processes. A sample process using rule-based reasoning is shown below.
Process Template (Included)
Message Archive
The Message Archive tab is where you will see processed messages from your Sources of Information. This tab is where ThinkAutomation orchestrates Automations.
Message Archive
Logs
You’ll have logs, just like any other client/server application. The Logs tab allows you to track activities by date/time, message severity, and message source. Admins may use logs to debug workflows and the ThinkAutomation platform in general.
Logs Tab
Actions that can be customized
By default, ThinkAutomation comes with many actions built-in. It also allows you to create Actions that can be customized under the Actions that can be customized tab. In this area is where you can create Actions that can be customized in C# or download new actions from the ThinkAutomation Online Library.
Actions that can be customized
Investigating Custom Action
Costs
After the 30-day trial period, you have a few alternatives for purchasing this useful tool. Three yearly memberships are available for ThinkAutomation.
Typical ($1299 USD)
The bulk of SMB use cases would be covered with a Standard subscription.
- Each baked-in feature and activity requires a separate license.
- Use of the ThinkAutomation studio is unrestricted. is a studio dedicated to automating processes.
- Message processing is unlimited.
- There are no limits to the number of automations that can be
Professional ($2599 USD)
Small to medium-sized firms would benefit from the Pro membership since they are more likely to have committed IT personnel to meet numerous department automation requirements.
- Everything you’d expect, plus a fully functional code editor
- Build Actions that can be customized via a built-in IDE
- Scripts written in.NET, C#, or VB.NET are executed.
- External Reference Assemblies
Entrepreneurship (call for quote)
An Enterprise membership is necessary if you desire extra customisation behind the hood or professional assistance from ThinkAutomation.
- Everything in the pro package is included, plus you have access to our technicians.
- High availability and redundancy
- Extensive assistance and services are available.
- Pay just for the extras you need.
Final Thoughts and First Impressions
Having never used nor heard of the ThinkAutomation product until writing this article, here are some Final Thoughts and First Impressions from a sysadmin perspective.
Overall, the speed and ease with which one might set up a ThinkAutomation instance in a lab is excellent. With the exception of installing a Microsoft SQL server, there were little sophisticated setup choices necessary. Given that most production systems already have dedicated SQL servers, this isn’t a concern for our evaluation.
The interface is clean, modern, and intuitive to understand without diving headfirst into the documentation. I spent a few minutes checking out options available for Sources of Information and the processes available in Automations. It didn’t take long to figure out how to build a basic automated workflow.
According to ThinkAutomation’s marketing, it is an open-ended automation system that offers a workshop for designing and automating unique processes. Based on my observations, this is correct.
After some investigation, ThinkAutomation seems to be an excellent alternative for automating operations. ThinkAutomation price is not only inexpensive, but also a no-brainer when it comes to going from nothing to a working automation solution.
Give ThinkAutomation a go if you’re looking to automate your work environment. I believe you will like it.
Automation is a big part of the way that companies like Think Automation do business. Automation ideas for it company include using robots, artificial intelligence, and automation software to automate tasks. Reference: automation ideas for it company.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can businesses automate?
A: Businesses automate to increase productivity. They take in data and use it as a resource for future decision making processes, or else they would not be able to run their businesses efficiently.
What are the things we can automate?
A: Automation can be used to perform a set of tasks that were previously done manually and will save you time. For example, routing your emails through an email automation tool like GetResponse or using Google Calendar to automatically invite people on certain occasions are examples of automation at its best.
Can I automate everything?
A: Sorry, I cannot automate anything.
Related Tags
- automation needs
- business tasks that can be automated
- how to create an automated business
- sme automation
- why you should automate your business
