Consolidate, Coordinate, and Reduce Complexity
Microsoft Windows Task Scheduler is great for basic task scheduling but has limited scheduling capabilities. Much like UNIX cron job software or Z-Cron, Task Scheduler is a point solution designed for simplistic use cases. For example, Task Scheduler can be used to execute nightly batch files, but in order to automate tasks between SQL Server and a non-Windows server, you'll need additional custom scripting or integrations.
To get around scripting, IT teams will sometimes implement additional schedulers for specific jobs, for example using a free version of a process schedule manager. These freeware solutions are not designed for enterprise-level scheduling and often lack modern scheduling capabilities like event-driven automation.
Today's IT teams are managing distributed environments that rely on multiple vendors. As a result, many IT teams find themselves in need of scheduling tools with more capabilities and scheduling options in order to automate processes and manage tasks with fewer keypresses.
Unlike most task management software, ActiveBatch allows workloads to be run on any operating system, including Windows, Mac OS, Linux, UNIX, OpenVMS, and more. This allows IT to coordinate and schedule tasks across the organization, regardless of the applications, vendors, or tech stacks being used.
Advanced Task Scheduler Automation
Platform-specific schedulers can’t easily connect with applications or systems from other vendors. Windows Task Scheduler and Task Scheduler alternatives don't readily integrate with non-Windows applications. This is a problem for complex, distributed IT environments where data and dependencies need to be managed across disparate platforms.
One solution is to use a workload automation tool such as ActiveBatch that provides cross-platform, event-based triggers.
With ActiveBatch, various tasks and workflows can be automatically triggered by business or IT events, reducing delays, minimizing slack time, and improving SLAs. Event types supported by ActiveBatch include:
This means Task Scheduler jobs can be triggered by jobs from other task scheduler software or task managers in non-Windows environments. Plus, it can all be completed without any custom scripts.
ActiveBatch features granular date-and-time scheduling options for running jobs at specific times. This includes the use of custom calendars, fiscal calendars, multiple time zones, custom tags, and much more. Users can also schedule workflows based on the business day so that scheduled tasks run only when they should. ActiveBatch also supports constraint-based scheduling (CBS) to ensure that new jobs do not run until requisite conditions are met.
Drag-and-Drop Job Steps for Seamless Integrations
ActiveBatch's Integrated Jobs Library provides hundreds of prebuilt job steps that make it easy to develop reliable, cross-platform workflows. This means Task Scheduler jobs can be triggered by jobs from other scheduling software or task managers, or by events that happen within a non-Windows environment. Plus, it can all be completed without any custom scripts. Try doing that with free software.
End-to-end workflows make it easier to deliver real-time data and to manage dependencies across the enterprise. With dozens of extensions for popular applications like SAP and Informatica, users can build and automate complex workflows from a central coordination point.
Powerful Scheduling Capabilities for End-to-End Workflows
ActiveBatch proactively monitors workflow progress and will auto-remediate any workflow that overruns, under runs, displays exit codes, fails, or is at risk of breaching a Service Level Agreement (SLA), providing IT operational peace of mind and allowing personnel to focus on higher-value initiatives.
ActiveBatch supports specialized monitoring and alerting for workflows tied to SLAs or business policies. Users can set warning and critical thresholds (based on absolute and relative deadlines) and establish customized Alert notifications and automated remediation actions for an impending SLA breach.
ActiveBatch's enterprise job scheduler supports dozens of different alerts that notify the appropriate parties or systems when a specified condition has been raised within a workflow. Each alert can send emails, trigger remediation workflows, or be delivered via JMS, Microsoft Message Queues, SMS texts, Tweets, SNMP, pop-up reminders using Growl, and more.