While automated Ark updates do work, MOD updates do not! Or at least they didn't last time I checked. If they did a total rework in how they handle mod files and cache then its possible it's fixed. The problem is that Steam can't handle small mod updates. It doesn't do any Hash checks to determine the need for updating a file. They only look at the file size. So it an update is code related, for the most part, Steam won't see a file size change and not update. There is about a 75% failure rate for mod updates of less than 1.5MB. The result is a mod mismatch, and a PITA to fix. The solution SMART modders came up with was to add a bogus texture to the mod. Add it on even updates, and remove it on odd updates. This triggers Steam to do a full dload. Unfortunately their arent a lot of modders comprehending the need,
Running 4 clusters for a total of 27 servers, I totally get the need for a better way to update. But the only 100% successful way to do it is mostly manual.