March 2023 Summaries

PagerDuty has introduced a next-generation architecture for its Runbook Automation and Process Automation as part of the PagerDuty Operations Cloud, aimed at simplifying and standardizing automation across diverse IT environments, including cloud, on-premise, and hybrid setups. This new functionality addresses challenges such as operational silos and the need for seamless automation in environments with high security and compliance requirements, allowing teams to manage and execute distributed automation jobs from a centralized control plane. Key features include the new Runner, a remote execution point that facilitates secure communication and execution across environments, integration with technologies like Ansible and Kubernetes, and a user-friendly UI for managing automation tasks. These advancements are designed to enable faster, more efficient operations, reduce manual toil, and support complex, secure architectures, thus enhancing the flexibility and effectiveness of PagerDuty's automation capabilities.

PagerDuty's daily operations, such as payroll and vendor payments, are not financed through Silicon Valley Bank, ensuring that the current situation does not materially affect the company's operations.

PagerDuty's impact fund, established in 2019, aims to assist mission-driven organizations in addressing urgent needs by focusing on Time-Critical Health and Just & Equitable Communities, including the Climate Equity Fund launched in 2022 to address the disproportionate effects of climate change on marginalized communities. Recognizing that only a small fraction of global philanthropic giving is directed towards climate equity, PagerDuty has committed to supporting community-centric solutions while acknowledging the need to align its business practices with these goals. Their funding principles emphasize filling funding gaps, prioritizing organizations led by people of color and women, and investing in frontline communities. Recent partnerships include Navajo Power Home, which provides solar electricity to the Navajo Nation, and Beneficial Returns, which supports social impact entrepreneurs in climate-affected regions through a unique funding model. PagerDuty plans to further engage in climate equity efforts by organizing an annual partner convening and aligning business practices with climate commitments, including setting targets in line with the Paris Accord.

In the context of tight IT budgets, demonstrating the return on investment (ROI) of automation projects is crucial, as automation can significantly reduce labor costs and increase efficiency. PagerDuty Process Automation offers an ROI Metric Data plugin that assists in tracking and reporting the value delivered by automation by logging key metrics, such as hours saved, whenever an automation task runs. This plugin allows users to define specific value metrics, which can be extracted and analyzed over time, helping to illustrate the business impact of automation projects. For example, a case study from Brinks demonstrated how automating a data transfer process saved significant staff hours weekly. Users can further customize metrics to track cost savings and workload distribution changes, and convert time saved into monetary values for comprehensive ROI calculations. The plugin also enables filtering out unsuccessful automation runs to ensure accurate value assessment. Available from Version 4.7, this feature is a part of PagerDuty Process Automation and Runbook Automation, with further resources available in the Process Automation Documentation.