Additional information about migrating from AX to Robots
The benefits of migrating
Robots is the next-generation replacement for AX. Both products offer the same basic capability: automating data acquisition and analysis as part of an organization's data-driven governance, risk, and compliance activities.
Diligent is investing heavily in ongoing development and expansion of Robots and its associated capabilities, including the new HighBond Command Language (HCL) for data analysis in the cloud. In September 2020, we announced our end-of-support plans for AX, with the following dates:
- Spring 2021 Final release of AX, maintenance release only
- January 1, 2023 End of support for AX
Comparison of Robots and AX
The main differences between Robots and AX are outlined below. For detailed or specific questions pertaining to your organization, speak with your Diligent account representative.
Show me the comparison details
| Functional area | Robots | AX |
|---|---|---|
| User interface | Modern, web-based interface with intuitive design, and easy-to-use workflow | Older, client-server interface with less optimal layout and less intuitive workflow |
| Installation, administration, and upgrade |
Greatly reduced technical complexity associated with installation, administration, and upgrade Reduced reliance on components produced by third parties decreases exposure to enhancement and security update issues |
Significant technical complexity and maintenance burden associated with installation, administration, and upgrade of AX and associated database Reliance on internal components produced by third parties that follow their own enhancement and security update schedules (including Apache TomEE, Java, PostgreSQL, Oracle) |
| Testing environment | Integrated development and production modes allow separated testing of automated analysis before going live | No comparable capability |
| Script versioning | Script version history with easy rollback to previous versions of scripts | No comparable capability |
| Scripting languages |
The option of traditional ACL scripting or the new, Python-based HighBond Command Language (HCL) |
Traditional ACL scripting only |
| Customizable script sequences |
By default, multiple analytic scripts in a single robot task execute sequentially Comparable chaining functionality is on the development roadmap |
Chained analytic scripts |
| Product architecture |
Simplified product architecture:
|
Multiple-component product architecture:
|
|
Cloud/on-premise hybrid:
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On-premise only:
|
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| Processing capacity and load-balancing |
Multiple Robots Agents for increased processing capacity and load-balancing |
AX Engine Nodes for increased processing capacity and load-balancing |
| Issue remediation | Integrated access to Diligent OneResults app for issue remediation |
No comparable capability |
| Visualizations and dashboards | Integrated access to Diligent OneResults and Storyboards apps for visualizations and dashboard creation |
Visualizations in AX Web Client, no dashboard capability |
| Pre-built content | Access to Robotics Toolkits (pre-built data integration and analysis script packages) | No comparable capability |
How much time and effort does the migration take?
The time and effort required to migrate from AX to Robots depends on the complexity of your current AX installation and the number of automated processes you are running. Migration projects from one to three weeks in duration have been the norm for customers who have already migrated.
Budget additional time if you plan to transition from using Direct Link to access SAP data, to using the SAP Connector. You do not have to make this transition at the same time that you migrate. You can continue to use Direct Link with Robots, and make the transition to the SAP Connector at a later date.
