Manual network management fails at scale. Here is why you need automation.
Speed. Typing commands on devices takes hours. Running a script takes minutes.
Consistency. Humans make mistakes. Copy-paste errors, typos, forgotten steps. Automation applies the same configuration identically every time.
Documentation. Scripts document your intent. When you read a playbook, you know exactly what configuration exists.
Auditability. Automated changes create logs. You know who changed what, when, and why.