Reboot automation for hybrid IT: Service orchestration and automation via SaaS

Written by: Neil Kinson
3 Min Read
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Hybrid IT is now an approach that is widely used by most companies to effectively manage their business operations. But running systems and applications across public and private cloud and on-premises technology brings additional complexity that needs to be managed.

For a digital business to be competitive, it needs workload automation and orchestration technology that goes beyond the traditional capabilities of legacy workload or scheduling tools to effectively deal with the range of systems and applications and the growing number of technology types being used.

The next phase of automation: Autonomous processes

A Gartner® survey found that 54% of CEOs said their automation was limited to specific tasks, but by the end of 2028, only 13% expect to remain at this level, while 32% expect their organizations to deploy self-learning, adaptable AI tools to assist with human decision-making.

That shift changes what “automation” needs to mean in a hybrid IT environment: not a set of scripts tied to individual systems, but connected, AI-ready processes that can reason across SAP, cloud and legacy platforms without a person stitching the handoffs together manually. But AI is only as good as the data it can access. Siloed systems that keep data trapped in disconnected applications can’t feed the consistent, reliable data AI models need to make good decisions.

Service Orchestration and Automation Platforms (SOAPs) are how enterprises are closing that gap. Gartner considers SOAPs the new model for workload automation platforms, and they’re becoming non-negotiable for large enterprises needing to automate complex business processes across a hybrid landscape rather than one system at a time.

In the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant™ for SOAP report, Gartner states: “Service orchestration and automation platforms are essential for delivering IT services through complex workloads.”

According to the same report,

SOAPs empower infrastructure and operations (I&O) leaders to move beyond fragmented task management toward the seamless delivery of end-to-end workflows.

Not every automation platform handles hybrid IT the same way

When you’re evaluating platforms for a hybrid IT landscape, you should consider a few things when deciding whether the fit lasts.

  1. Connector depth matters more than connector count. A hybrid landscape usually spans SAP, legacy on-prem systems, cloud infrastructure and SaaS applications, each with its own event model. A platform that treats every connector as a shallow trigger leaves your team scripting around whatever it doesn’t cover.
  2. Deployment model changes what your IT team does day to day. A SaaS platform removes patching, upgrades and infrastructure maintenance from the workload. A self-hosted tool adds all of that back.
  3. Migration effort from what you already run is a real cost instead of a footnote. Moving off a legacy scheduler means re-mapping dependencies, permissions and job calendars before go-live.

Analyst research is a reasonable starting filter, but it’s no substitute for testing a platform against your own dependency chains.

Choose a Gartner SOAP Leader for hybrid IT workload automation

From an IT perspective, the infrastructure-led transformation enabled by SOAPs should make the complex job of managing a hybrid enterprise more manageable and deliver more effective business outcomes. Finding the right SOAP solution is key — and one that’s offered as a service, like RunMyJobs by Redwood, gives you the ability to run processes reliably with less effort from your IT team.

Redwood Software was again named a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant™ for SOAP, positioned furthest in Completeness of Vision for the third consecutive year. Read the full report to find out why.

To learn more about Redwood’s SOAP solutions, book a demo.

About The Author

Neil Kinson's Avatar

Neil Kinson

Neil Kinson is the Chief of Staff for Redwood Software. He has over 35 years of experience in enterprise software and technology businesses, focusing on operations, SaaS, solution sales, and channel.

Hybrid IT workload automation FAQs

What is hybrid technology in IT industry?

Hybrid technology in the IT industry refers to a combination of different technological systems, infrastructure or environments to create a more versatile and efficient IT solution. The most common form of hybrid technology is the hybrid cloud, which combines public cloud services (such as Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure) with private cloud or on-premises infrastructure. The goal is to leverage the scalability and flexibility of public clouds while maintaining control over sensitive data and mission-critical workloads in private environments.

Hybrid technology can extend beyond just cloud environments to areas like networking (combining on-premises networks with cloud-based networks), data storage, and software applications. By using hybrid solutions, organizations can optimize costs, improve performance, and maintain compliance with data privacy regulations while still having access to cutting-edge, scalable technology.

What is hybrid cloud automation?

Hybrid cloud automation refers to the process of automating the management and orchestration of workloads, applications and data across hybrid cloud environments, which involve a mix of public cloud, private cloud and on-premises infrastructure. The objective of hybrid cloud automation is to seamlessly integrate and manage these diverse environments, ensuring that workloads can move between them based on business needs, compliance requirements and performance optimization.

Automation in hybrid cloud environments allows for:

  • Workload mobility: Automatically moving workloads between clouds based on real-time demand, cost considerations, or latency requirements.
  • Cost optimization: Automating the scaling of resources to meet fluctuating workloads, minimizing unnecessary cloud spend.
  • Security management: Automatically enforcing security policies and compliance regulations as workloads traverse different environments.
  • Resource provisioning: Automating the deployment and provisioning of resources, ensuring rapid scaling without manual intervention.

This type of automation is crucial in hybrid environments because of the complexity involved in managing multiple cloud platforms, each with its own interfaces, capabilities, and policies. Hybrid cloud automation tools offer a unified way to control and automate processes, reducing operational overhead and ensuring consistent performance across both private and public clouds.

What is hybrid orchestration?

Hybrid orchestration refers to the coordinated management and automation of workflows, processes or services across multiple environments, typically involving a combination of on-premises infrastructure, private clouds and public clouds. The goal of hybrid orchestration is to ensure that applications and services can run smoothly across diverse environments while optimizing resource use, managing dependencies and maintaining security and compliance.

Hybrid orchestration must:

  • Orchestrate complex workflows that span multiple environments (e.g., some tasks are performed on-premises while others are executed in the cloud).
  • Allocate and de-allocate resources across environments based on demand.
  • Automatically enforce security and compliance policies across environments, particularly when data or workloads move between public and private clouds.
  • Provide real-time visibility into workflows and automating recovery from failures or disruptions across environments.

Hybrid orchestration is essential in IT environments where multi-cloud or hybrid cloud architectures are adopted, as it helps streamline operations and reduces the complexity of managing these disparate environments. It is a key component of advanced Service Orchestration and Automation Platforms (SOAPs), which provide unified tools to manage workloads across different IT environments efficiently.