(I posted this to the AYX board, but modified it a little here…)
Could this be part of the announcement mentioned in the conference call by Dean Stoecker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer?:
from https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2020/05/07/al…
“over the next two or three weeks you’ll start to hear a lot more about a category of software that we see emerging, that we intend to own. And you’ve looked at a category creation in the past whether it was ACM or ITSM or SFA, the winner in that category tends to get 85% of the market cap of the entire category. And we intend that to be Alteryx. So we believe we’re particularly well positioned for, not just the short term but the medium term and the long term.”
The release hints at leveraging AI as well, though upon further reading it feels like this may just be one of many integratable concepts this platform can work with (meaning it uses a modular, pluggable or extensible architecture, or all of the above).
The press release:
https://www.alteryx.com/press-release/2020-05-11-Alteryx-Unv…
IRVINE, Calif. – May 11, 2020 – Alteryx, Inc. (NYSE: AYX) today unveiled its enhanced analytic process automation (APA) platform, which unifies analytics, data science and business process automation in one, end-to-end platform. …Designed to put automation in the hands of all data workers—from line-of-business users to skilled analysts and data scientists—the human-centered platform transforms how businesses leverage their data assets, optimize their processes and upskill human talent to generate workforce efficiencies, top-line growth and optimize costs.
…
It sounds like this is both no-code and low-code. Which makes sense considering this sounds like a take on workflow automation - they even use a common term “action” to describe the chunks that can be linked together to form larger workflows, like nodes in a flow-chart (graph). In other words, most systems will provide some generic “actions” which are probably code chunks gathered by a registry and presented to users as little tools in a graphical interface, like a web app (no-code), and then users are able to customize or make their own using an API/framework (low-code). If interested, go check out
[zapier.com/how-it-works](http://zapier.com/how-it-works)
for one such example of a no-code workflow automation platform (thought they do offer scriptable “Zaps” - nodes/actions - which can use common programming languages like JavaScript and Python). Ansible playbooks are another more technical example of workflow automation (https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/user_guide/playbooks…) which uses text files to let users register external executable chunks of logic. Anyway, here is what the release says:
With over 260 automation building blocks, the Alteryx APA Platform provides businesses with an integrated solution that unifies the full analytic continuum,…The code-free, code-friendly platform can automate analytics and data science pipelines, manage complex data-centric business processes and deliver actionable insights for stakeholders in every line of business.
Right at the end they mention this is already in use by hundreds of customers? Perhaps a wide beta program?
Hundreds of businesses are realizing significant gains from the Alteryx APA Platform. For more information on Alteryx APA Platform use cases and how companies are realizing transformative business and people outcomes, visit www.alteryx.com/apa.
That link at the end deserves a visit (lands on: https://www.alteryx.com/analytic-process-automation/what-is-…)
That link mentions "The Benefits of an End-to-End APA Platform:
alteryx.com/analytic-process-automation/the-apa-difference
"Analytic Process Automation (APA) might be a new term for you, despite its wide success. It might even sound like many of the other automation tools available today. But there are major differences between Analytic Process Automation platforms and other analytics, data science, and process automation point solutions, such as Business Intelligence (BI) and visualization, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Business Process Automation (BPA), Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL) tools, and Data Science and Machine Learning (DSML) tools.
For starters, many of the tools today require advanced knowledge, expert skillsets, or weeks and months of education to use. Further, they can take months to implement and realize transformational impact. Early results are also not easily scalable, repeatable, or automated. Others are niche point solutions that address only discrete data analytic and process tasks and can’t cover the entire data-driven business process from data inputs to data outcomes.
…
Clicking through the tabs is quite interesting. I guessed recently that AYX might be getting more in to Robot Process Automation (RPA) but this is wider:
RPA automates repetitive tasks via bots, while APA can take inputs from bots, automate a complete data-driven business process, and then publish analytic outcomes directly to bots, RPA, and BPA systems.
All in all this is something I want to deep dive into for professional reasons. I actually supervise stuff like this at work, having written my own automation systems from the ground up as well. It is shocking how little I know about SaaS offerings and how they fit together because of how much we create in-house.
I love this quote they included:
"Organizations that invest in integrated automation platforms that span analytics, data science, AI, and process automation will extend the reach of their transformation initiatives and build a sustainable competitive advantage.
— John Santaferraro, Research Director, Analytics, Business Intelligence, and Data Management, EMA"
A nice mention from Coke in the press release:
…
“Alteryx is a key platform that allows us to tailor products to consumer preferences around the globe,” said Rod Bates, vice president, decision science and data strategy at The Coca-Cola Company. “We use it across many of our businesses that allow us to leverage data, automate processes and empower our people to become self-service digital workers.”