Automation & Agents - Governed automation and execution | Abaci

Compose automated work with control built in.

Compose operational processes within one governed framework, with the controls needed to execute, observe and recover work reliably.



Automation designed for real operational complexity.

Automated work rarely follows a single uninterrupted path. Real systems have retries, duplicate events, partial failures, approvals, exceptions and processes that may pause for hours or days before continuing.

Abaci provides the capability layer to compose, control and observe that work accurately, including the paths where automation needs recovery or people need to intervene.

A consistent execution model for automated work

Run critical processes with confidence, knowing work will be handled consistently across every path, interruption and exception.
Setup
Input What the action receives
Invoice · INV-10482 Record · Context · Previous outputs
Action What the action performs
Approve invoice Function · Integration · Agent
Output What subsequent work can use
Status Approval ID Timestamp
Recovery How the process recovers
Maximum 3 attempts
Exponential backoff
Retry timeouts
Route unresolved failures for review

One framework for every action.

Whether work starts with a person, workflow, trigger, agent or integration, Abaci applies the same controls so every action follows one consistent, auditable path.
How governance evaluates an action
Action framework

The action pipeline

None
IDENTITY
John Smith · Delegated by Finance Director
SCOPE
Finance · Accounts Payable · Invoices
POLICY
Invoice over £10,000 · Requires 2 approvals
APPROVAL
2 of 2 approvals complete
RECORD
APR-2098 · Approved · 12:42

Principles for governed automation.

These principles determine how automated work is composed, how far it can act, how its outcomes are observed and where human judgement remains part of the process.

Composable

Compose automated work from reusable actions, workflows, agents and integrations without rebuilding proven capabilities.

Governed

People, workflows, triggers, agents and integrations pass through the same identity, policy and permission controls before work is performed.

Observable

Every action, decision and outcome is traceable, making performance, exceptions and control failures visible as they happen.

Extensible

Create specialist processes for client or industry-specific needs without starting again.

Appropriate use of AI

Use deterministic automation where the rules are known, and agents where interpretation, reasoning or judgement adds value.

Human control

Require confirmation or approval wherever human judgement matters, with those controls designed into the process from the outset.

Explore the Abaci automation framework.

See how actions, workflows, agents and integrations are composed into one governed framework, with observable outcomes and human control where it matters.

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