What is a Deployment Service? Why it matters in 2025?

As we enter 2025, using an automated deployment service isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s becoming the norm. A recent DevOps survey found that 86% of businesses have adopted DevOps methods to enable faster software release

High-performing tech companies even deploy code up to 200 times more frequently than those using traditional methods, something unimaginable without automation.

Deployment services and deployment automation tools have become essential in modern software delivery, transforming how startups and enterprises release applications.

In this guide, we’ll explain what deployment services are, how automated deployment works versus traditional methods, and explore popular platforms (like Heroku and Render) that exemplify “deployment as a service.” You’ll learn how shifting to deployment automation can save time, reduce errors, and let your team focus on coding instead of fighting servers.

What are deployment services? (For Developers)

Deployment services are platforms or tools that handle the heavy lifting of getting your code from your repository into a running environment (servers or cloud) so users can access it.

In simpler terms, a deployment service is like a “publish” button for your application; it automates the process of releasing new code updates to production without you manually setting up servers or configuring everything each time.

This concept is often called “deployment as a service”, meaning you rely on a third-party service to manage application deployment for you in a streamlined way.

For example, imagine you’ve built a web app.

Without a deployment service, you’d have to set up a server, install the right runtime (Node, Python, etc.), copy your code over, run the build, and start the app manually.

A deployment service simplifies this by providing a platform where you can just push your code (or connect your Git repository), and it takes care of provisioning servers, building the app, running it, and exposing it on the internet.

Many deployment services also manage environment configuration, scaling, and monitoring automatically. In essence, they abstract away the infrastructure so developers can deploy with minimal effort.

Why is this useful?

For one, it saves time and reduces errors.

Instead of typing commands and configuring machines (which can lead to mistakes), you use a service that has a standardised, tested process for deployments.

Software deployment automation streamlines software delivery by automating tasks across development, testing, and production environments, significantly reducing manual effort and accelerating time-to-market.

Many deployment services provide an environment for your app to run without you worrying about the underlying OS or hardware. Examples of such services include Kuberns, Heroku, Render, Netlify, and Vercel (more on these later).

There are also cloud-native deployment services (like AWS’s CodeDeploy or Elastic Beanstalk) that automate deployments on cloud infrastructure.

The key idea is the same: you focus on your code, and the service handles getting it deployed.

Traditional vs. Automated Deployment

To truly appreciate automated deployment, let’s compare a traditional manual deployment with an automated deployment using a service or tool.

Below are two scenarios that illustrate the difference in workflow:

Manual Deployment (the traditional way):

Imagine you’re deploying a new version of your application without an automated tool.

The process might look like this:

1. Prepare the environment: You provision a server or VM. You install the necessary software (language runtime, web server, databases, etc.) and set up configuration files by hand.
2. Build and package the app: You run the build on your local machine (or a CI server), then manually package the output (such as creating a WAR file, a Docker image, or simply zipping files).
3. Transfer and deploy: You upload the build artefact to the server (via SCP or FTP, or pulling from Git). Then you run commands to install dependencies, set environment variables, and start/restart the application.
4. Testing and verification: You open the app URL, run some smoke tests, and check logs to ensure everything is running. If something is wrong, you might scramble to fix config issues on the server.
5. Repeat for every update: Each new release means repeating many of these steps. Often, deployments are done during off-hours (like late at night) to minimise user impact, making the process tedious for engineers.

This manual workflow is time-consuming and error-prone. Humans might miss a step or misconfigure something.

For instance, copying the wrong version of a file or forgetting to set a variable can cause the app to crash. Recovery can be slow because you have to manually troubleshoot the server.

In short, traditional deployments can turn into “all-nighters” for operations teams.

Automated Deployment (the modern way):

Now let’s see how an automated deployment service or tool changes the game:

1. Push code to the repository: A developer merges code changes to the main branch. This triggers an automated pipeline (often part of a CI/CD setup).
2. CI/CD pipeline builds and tests: A continuous integration system automatically runs tests and builds the application into a deployable package or container. No one manually runs tests or builds on their laptop.
3. Automated release to staging/production: If tests pass, the deployment tool/service takes the built artefact and deploys it to the target environment. For example, it might create or update containers on a platform like Kuberns. The service handles configuring the environment (setting env variables, connecting to databases, migrations, etc.) as predefined in your settings.
4. Verification and monitoring: The deployment service might run health checks or smoke tests post-deploy. Developers get notified if something goes wrong. If configured, it can even roll back automatically on failure.
5. Consistent repeatable process: The same pipeline runs for every deployment, whether deploying to a test server or to production, ensuring consistency. Deployments can happen during the day with confidence because the process is predictable and tested.

In this automated workflow, much less human intervention is needed. You’re basically clicking a button or, in many cases, just merging code, and the rest happens on its own.

The result is faster, more reliable deployments. With automation, “the process becomes more reliable, repeatable, and scalable”, and teams can deploy updates frequently without the headache.

In fact, a CNCF survey found that by 2024, 65% of organisations will automate deployment tasks to some degree, primarily for the time savings and reliability gains.

If you’ve ever heard of tech companies deploying code to production dozens of times per day, this is how they do it!

Key benefits of deployment services (why they matter)

Why are deployment services so important in 2025? In short, they address many pain points of traditional deployments and support the fast-paced development cycles of modern software.

Here are some of the key benefits of using deployment services and automation tools:

• Faster, more frequent releases: Automated deployment pipelines enable teams to release updates much faster and more often than manual methods. Instead of monthly or quarterly releases, organisations can deploy weekly or even daily. (Top tech firms have achieved multiple deployments per day by embracing automation) This speed means you can deliver new features and fixes to users quicker, gaining a competitive edge.
• Higher reliability and fewer errors: Automation ensures each deployment follows the same proven steps, drastically reducing the chance of human error. Manual deployments might be inconsistent (one missed step can cause a bug in production), while deployment services execute tasks consistently for reliable outcomes. The result is fewer failed deployments and fire-fights and more stable software for users.
• Scalability and flexibility: Deployment services make it easier to handle growth and changing demands. If your user traffic spikes unexpectedly, an automated platform can scale your application on the fly (add more servers/containers or allocate more resources) to meet the load. Traditional methods often struggle here, leading to performance issues and downtime. With a good deployment service, you can scale up or down in a controlled, seamless way without manual intervention.
• Cost efficiency: Automating deployments can also save costs. Manual processes often require maintaining excess hardware and dedicated personnel time. In contrast, deployment services leverage cloud infrastructure and often use pay-as-you-go models, where you only pay for the resources you actually need. This eliminates large upfront investments in servers and reduces ongoing maintenance costs. Small teams especially benefit from not having to build out a complex (and expensive) operations toolchain themselves (Kuberns claims to provide 405 savings on AWS, which no other platforms provide).
• Better developer productivity: When the deployment process “just works,” developers and IT teams are free to focus on building product features rather than wrestling with deployment scripts or firefighting production issues. This boost in productivity also boosts morale, and deploying becomes a non-event rather than a dreaded task. Moreover, many deployment platforms integrate with development tools (git repositories, CI systems), which streamlines the workflow.

(Imagine reclaiming your weekends because your deployments “just work”, that’s the peace of mind deployment automation can bring!)

Modern software development involves complex architectures (microservices, containers, serverless functions) and demands continuous delivery of updates.

Deployment services matter because they make it feasible to manage this complexity and velocity without compromising on stability or quality. They are a key enabler of continuous deployment, allowing teams to push out small improvements continuously, gather feedback, and iterate quickly.

In short, deployment automation has become a critical infrastructure for any organisation that wants to innovate quickly and reliably.

Examples of deployment services and tools

Many platforms and tools fall under “deployment services” or help automate application deployments.

Some well-known examples include:

• Kuberns: One of the pioneering Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) providers. Kuberns lets you deploy apps by simply pushing your code by connecting with Git. It handles all the infrastructure, scaling, and management for you. This made Kuberns popular for startups and side projects. They also helps cut AWS Cloud cost by 40%.
• Render: A modern cloud deployment platform often seen as an alternative to Heroku. Render supports web services, databases, cron jobs, and more. You connect your repository, and it automatically builds and deploys your application. It’s known for its developer-friendly interface and ability to deploy both web apps and containers.
• Netlify & Vercel: These services specialise in deploying web front-ends (and serverless functions). Netlify and Vercel are great for deploying static sites or React/Next.js apps. You push your code, and they handle the build process and global deployment via CDNs. They also provide features like previews for pull requests, making the web development workflow very smooth.
• Cloud provider tools: Major cloud platforms have their own deployment services. For example, AWS offers AWS CodeDeploy and Elastic Beanstalk (for deploying applications easily to AWS infrastructure), as well as container services like ECS and EKS for Kubernetes clusters. Google Cloud offers Cloud Run (to deploy containerised applications serverlessly) and Cloud Build for CI/CD. Microsoft Azure has services like Azure DevOps and Azure App Service. These solutions integrate with their respective cloud ecosystems and are often used in enterprise environments.
• CI/CD pipelines and tools: There are also automation tools like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, and CircleCI, which, while not full “deployment platforms” on their own, are crucial for automating build and deployment steps. Teams might use these in combination with cloud services or container orchestration (like Kubernetes) to achieve an automated deployment workflow. For instance, Jenkins might build your app and then use scripts or Kubernetes controllers to deploy it. (This is more DIY than using a turnkey deployment service, but it achieves a similar goal of automation.)

Further Reading: Top 10 Free Application Deployment Tools in 2025 (a comprehensive list of free tools and platforms for automated deployment)

Make the shift to automated deployment

Both startup developers and enterprise IT teams can gain from the automated deployment process. A lean startup can release features to users faster and with less hassle (even without a dedicated DevOps engineer on staff), and a large enterprise can enforce consistent processes and reduce firefighting caused by deployment issues.

You don’t have to build everything from scratch.

There are platforms out there designed to take this load off your shoulders. For instance, Kuberns is one such platform (an AI-powered deployment service) that aims to simplify cloud deployments and even optimise your costs automatically.

If you’re curious how a deployment service can make your life easier, consider giving Kuberns a try.

It offers a free sign-up at Kuberns Dashboard where you can experience deployment as a service firsthand.

Deploy your app with a few clicks and let the platform handle the rest.

The best way to understand the value is to try it on your own project and feel the difference. (Try it now)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a deployment service?

A: A deployment service is a tool or cloud platform that automates the process of releasing software to an environment (such as production). In other words, it takes care of deploying your application code to servers or cloud infrastructure without a lot of manual steps. Deployment services are also called deployment automation tools because they handle tasks like building the app, moving files, configuring environments, and starting the app automatically.

Q: What does “deployment as a service” mean?

A: Deployment as a Service (DaaS) refers to using a deployment service provided over the cloud, similar to how Software-as-a-Service works. Instead of you managing your own deployment scripts or servers, you rely on a platform to deploy your application for you.

Q: Why should I use an automated deployment tool?

A: Using an automated deployment tool brings several benefits: it saves you time (deployments happen much faster than doing them manually), reduces errors (the process is consistent and less prone to mistakes), and allows you to release updates more frequently.

Q: How is a deployment service different from a CI/CD pipeline I set up myself?

A: A CI/CD pipeline (Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery pipeline) is the process or workflow for building, testing, and deploying code. You can set up a CI/CD pipeline yourself using tools like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or GitLab CI but you still need to manage the infrastructure and scripts for deployment. A deployment service typically includes a CI/CD pipeline as part of its offering (automating builds and deployments), but it goes further by managing the infrastructure and environment for you as well.

Q: What are some examples of deployment services or tools?

A: Examples of deployment services include platforms like Kuberns, Heroku, Render, Netlify, and Vercel. These are all services where you can push code, and they handle deployment.

Q: Can small startups benefit from deployment services?

A: Absolutely. Startups and small teams often lack dedicated DevOps engineers, so using a deployment service lets them achieve smooth, professional-grade deployments without needing a lot of expertise or resources. It removes a huge operational burden and lets the team focus on product development.

Q: How can large enterprises benefit from deployment services?

Large enterprises benefit as well, even if they have big IT teams; deployment services (or internal deployment platforms) help standardise and accelerate deployments across many projects. Enterprises care about things like consistency, security, and audit trails, all of which many deployment services provide out of the box. In summary, deployment automation can scale to the needs of a two-person startup or a Fortune 500 company; it’s about working smarter at any size.