The operator can specify that certain commands or strings of commands take effect automatically at specific times or at regular intervals. Automatic command processing can be used to provide status displays and to lessen the operator's work for common, preset routines or schedules. For example, if a system normally does one specific kind of work at 8:00 AM and another at 9:00 AM every day, automatic command processing can issue the operator commands that would ordinarily be required at those times. The set of commands can be entered directly into the initialization data set, and the command processor will then issue them daily. Such commands can be a single command, a rather complicated set of commands, or commands that are error prone when entered manually.

The automatic command facility is optional, and provided to ease the operator workload. A second method of automating the operating system is to prompt system response based on JES2 messages through the use of automation products such as System Automation for z/OS® (SA z/OS).