The difference is that it's a more gradual entry to automate the task.
One could, for example, replace any item with a script/program invocation, while leaving the others untouched. It's an intelligent, piecemeal step towards automation.
I would also add that in really critical tasks, one could automate _either_ the item, or it's verification. Sometimes it's easier to check that something is correct than to do it-- or vice-versa.
The difference is that it's a more gradual entry to automate the task.
One could, for example, replace any item with a script/program invocation, while leaving the others untouched. It's an intelligent, piecemeal step towards automation.
I would also add that in really critical tasks, one could automate _either_ the item, or it's verification. Sometimes it's easier to check that something is correct than to do it-- or vice-versa.