Azure automation is a service and a resource, as well as an Azure concept in the context of cloud computing.
It's very important to see automation as an essential concept when it comes to cloud computing. Automation is one of the key technologies to reduce operational costs and will also provide a consistent and replicable state. It also lays the foundation of any rapid deployment plans.
As Azure uses a lot of automation internally, Microsoft decided to make some of that technology available as a resource called automation account.