It seems to me, that not having the information available for users to take action can result in significant costs, as well. The organization also benefits when it can use its resources more wisely because of automation. Automation can do more in a shorter period of time. Automation can try to accomplish this without errors. Allen Repetitive process breed fatigue in people who then loose focus and make errors or omissions.
Automated systems are less likely to do so.
Job streaming is a good candidate. Online viewing can automate report distribution to the end-user's desktop. Tape library management can as well, but tapes are frequently used more for backups nowadays than previously. I've blown up my share of databases. What about manual report distribution, which many folks can't seem to get away from.