64% of organizations expect artificial intelligence (AI) to increase their productivity. Combine that with 88% of small businesses saying automation helps them compete with larger companies, and you have a powerful recipe for success in today’s competitive market.
When Pliant was founded several years ago, our vision was simple:
- Replace manual coding with pre-configured, easy-to-use shortcuts
- Empower users to rapidly automate traditionally manual processes
- Connect the stack through normalized, technology-agnostic building blocks
And we’ve delivered on this promise. But as with any technology, how we accomplished all this was not as simple as the vision we laid out. Through beta tests, live customers, and critical user feedback, we have developed both a platform that delivers the value we expected and does so in a way that grows, matures, and becomes more sophisticated with time.
One example of this is the incorporation of AI into the Pliant platform. AI, while now a commonly recognized term, isn’t merely a buzzword or fleeting trend. It serves as a powerful tool, perfectly aligned with the objectives of automation platforms like Pliant.
In this blog, we’re looking at 3 specific AI use cases combined with Pliant automation. And since we designed our platform with emerging technologies in mind, Pliant is already delivering AI-driven automation. Let’s get into it.
Pliant AI Use Case #1 – Simplifying Workflow Creation
Pliant aims to simplify automation processes by enhancing accessibility to workflow generation. Our solution transforms complex tasks into straightforward, streamlined activities by converting lines of code into manageable “action blocks” within our user-friendly low-code editor.
In this specific use case, the same underlying technology empowers users to create low-code workflows using the Pliant AI Assistant. Users can describe their desired outcome, prompting the automatic generation of drag-and-drop low-code blocks for building workflows that automate processes within our system. 🎊
Similar to instructing ChatGPT to craft a poem about making tea in the style of Dr. Seuss, users communicate their automation objectives to Pliant, which then constructs the workflow, effectively generating the necessary code. Pliant empowers citizen developers with a wide array of AI-driven actions to automate common processes that were traditionally manual and tedious.
For instance, when given the input, “Pliant, recalculate the Q-Depth for optimal traffic passing,” Pliant can analyze QoS queue performance data from NPM, adjust relevant QoS queues based on historical traffic patterns and threshold violations, and allocate additional bandwidth to overused queues while optimizing resources from less-utilized ones. Here’s what it looks like in action. ⬇️
Pliant AI Use Case #2 – Effortless Workflow Execution
This use case empowers users to execute low-code workflows initiated by the Pliant AI Assistant.
On average, our customers save four weeks per year by creating and running workflows that automate processes through our platform. In the past, even the most skilled technologists had to manually code scripts for automation, often resulting in code that was limited to a single project cycle. In contrast, Pliant workflows are reusable, callable, and accessible for others to use once developed. 💪
A common approach among our customers involves one team responsible for creating, curating, and publishing workflows, while another team (or teams) carries out their execution. Today, Pliant users initiate workflow runs by logging into the platform or accessing a link via the Pliant API Gateway.
In this specific use case, it becomes even simpler. With the Pliant AI Assistant, users simply instruct Pliant on the desired action to execute. The AI Assistant can seamlessly integrate with platforms like IBM SevOne NPM to trigger workflows based on external events such as network monitoring alerts. This automated workflow expedites root cause identification and reduces repair time. Because the workflow was written by skilled network operators, it can be executed by less experienced staff—relieving management of hiring pressures and freeing up more skilled practitioners for less repeatable and higher value efforts.
For example, when given the input, “Pliant, identify and repair the root cause of slowdown,” an alert from IBM SevOne NPM triggers infrastructure changes, and the Pliant AI intelligently adjusts configurations using the appropriate Pliant workflow. Here’s a look at the workflow diagram. ⬇️
Pliant AI Use Case #3 – AI-Powered Integration
Our last use case example perfectly showcases Pliant’s ability to enhance low-code workflows through integrated third-party generative AI. As we previously discussed, the core vision of Pliant revolves around three fundamental elements:
- Replacing manual work with automated workflows
- Empowering users through an intuitive platform
- Connecting the tech stack to seamlessly integrate technologies and processes
This use case embodies all three of these principles and is currently operational across our customer base. One of Pliant’s standout features lies in our native API-driven connections that span the entire technology stack. By converting code into low-code action blocks, Pliant significantly reduces the time and effort required by practitioners to search for, format, and code domain-specific scripts. With Pliant, there’s no need for extensive research, curation, or constant updates—users can focus on building, running, reusing, and moving on to the next task with ease.
Within Pliant, the versatility of code blocks remains consistent whether they pertain to:
- Firewalls
- Web applications
- Servers
- Laptops
- Keyless card terminals
- Web browsers
- AI chatbots
Although the actions they perform may differ, their uniformity and adaptability within the Pliant platform make them unique, repeatable, and consistently effective. In short, they work together on our platform unlike they do in the real world, which is magic. 🧞♂️
In this example, customers seamlessly integrate AI into their workflows, incorporating it as a natural component alongside other functions within their environment. Here, AI enhances automated workflows, complementing other technologies to create fully automated AI-driven processes.
We recently conducted a proof of concept that involved multiple applications, including ChatGPT and IBM’s Watson AI. The outcome was a telephone service that could transcribe voice, process requests, and deliver the results back to the caller in near real-time. While this example may appear simple, it serves as a testament to the immense power and adaptability of the Pliant platform for our valued customers.
Here’s what the process looked like. ⬇️
Final Thoughts
Pliant is transforming the way organizations operate by harnessing the power of automation and AI. Our vision of simplifying complex tasks, accelerating manual processes, and connecting technologies through standardized building blocks has been realized—but we’re not done yet.
As we look ahead, we’re committed to pushing boundaries further, unlocking greater efficiency, and enhancing automation’s potential. Whether you’re an experienced developer or a business leader, Pliant is here to partner with you on your automation journey. Contact us today to begin shaping your future with AI and automation.
