Scheduled Automation
Automation that runs at predetermined times rather than in response to events. Used for batch processing, reports, maintenance tasks, and regular synchronisation.
In-Depth Explanation
Scheduled automation executes at predetermined times - daily, weekly, hourly, or custom schedules. Unlike event-driven automation, it runs proactively rather than reactively.
Scheduled automation use cases:
- Batch processing: Daily data imports, nightly reconciliations
- Reporting: Automated daily/weekly reports
- Maintenance: Database cleanup, log rotation
- Synchronisation: Periodic data sync between systems
- Reminders: Scheduled notifications and follow-ups
- Monitoring: Regular health checks
Scheduling patterns:
- Fixed schedule: Every day at 2 AM
- Interval: Every 4 hours
- Cron expressions: Complex patterns (first Monday, etc.)
- Business calendar: Accounting periods, working days
Considerations:
- Timezone handling
- Overlapping runs (what if previous run isn't finished?)
- Holiday/exception handling
- Failure notification and retry
Business Context
Scheduled automation handles time-based tasks that can't or shouldn't wait for events - reporting, batch processing, and regular maintenance.
How Clever Ops Uses This
We implement scheduled automations for Australian businesses, handling timezone complexity and ensuring reliable execution of critical periodic tasks.
Example Use Case
"Daily 6 AM automation that generates sales reports from the previous day, formats them, and emails to stakeholders before they arrive at work."