The concept of DevOps is a combination of software development or ‘Dev’ with information technology operations or ‘Ops’, resulting in DevOps which are practices that automate the various processes of both the fields, so as to speed up updates overall as required. The merge of the two fields in the form of DevOps began around 2007, so that software can be built, tested and released faster and more reliably, delivering fixes as required. The use of DevOps has many benefits, including the ability to solve critical issues in a speedy manner, manage unplanned work efficiently and faster software releases.

The global DevOps market size is currently estimated to be valued at $3.58 billion, which is projected to reach $10.31 billion by 2023, growing at a CAGR (Combined Annual Growth Rate) of a whopping 23.54 percent. The key factors considered to assess DevOps adoption rates include the time taken to recover, production failure rate, deployment speed, deployment frequency and average lead time. DevOps have already been adopted by leading retailers such as Walmart, Nordstrom, and Etsy for in-house software development.

How DevOps Can Be Beneficial For Businesses

In the current competitive business atmosphere, DevOps can be immensely helpful for businesses regardless of the industry.

• Faster Development and Deployment: As the development and operations teams are working in cohesion in DevOps and inputs are taken from all stakeholders during the development itself, new systems and products can be developed and deployed at a much faster pace. This gives a business an edge over competitors by developing the latest technology that suits the exact needs of a business.

• Reduced Risks and Shorter Recovery Time: Risks are an unavoidable part of business, however, with the functioning of a cohesive DevOps team and shorter development cycles, the risks can be reduced significantly. DevOps reduce risks by supplementing the software delivery lifecycle with added security, thereby reducing risks and preventing loss of time. Even in the case of failure, the turnaround time is greatly reduced as DevOps involves development and operations teams working together in the recovery process.

• Better Competencies: Not only do DevOps support faster delivery and deployment with reduced risks, but the level of competencies is also boosted. With the automation of the code testing process by continuous integration servers, the requirements for manual work is reduced and software developers can focus on other tasks.

• Increased Agility: By means of DevOps, businesses can make use of the agility that such practices offer, especially in terms of scalability and customization, putting the business ahead of the competition.  

• Versatility: One of the biggest benefits of employing DevOps is the versatility that it offers. Every industry and every business has different requirements from software, and by employing DevOps entire processes can be streamlined based on the specific needs of the business. Regardless of the field or software, DevOps enhances the performance capabilities of a business.

Businesses may face initial challenges while setting up a DevOps team, however, by focusing on communication and collaboration, an efficient and useful DevOps setup can be put in place. DevOps are versatile and can be useful for nearly every business and industry. Driven by the benefits of DevOps, the market is growing at a significant rate, and the growth pattern is expected to continue in the coming years.