How embracing automation can change the future of work

The industrial advances of the past – from machines that enable mass production to the introduction of computers and automation – have all led to the tipping point where we are headed today.

Organizations of all sizes and in different sectors are adopting more and more advanced digital technologies. This will change the way we work as dramatically as previous achievements a century ago. Leaders need to ensure that their organizations can seamlessly navigate these shifts and have the resources necessary to advance the promise of digitization.

While companies had some time to prepare for the digital transformation, the pandemic propelled those efforts forward. In reality, almost 97% of business decision-makers said they believe the pandemic has accelerated their company’s digital transformation efforts.

Yet there are still leaders who are paralyzed by indecision or simply don’t know how to develop. By making small changes to the way their organizations operate, they will be able to shape a better, more fulfilling future for employees.

Shift the conversation

Another 4.2 million Americans quit their jobs last spring, according to the United States Department of Labor — signaling to leaders everywhere that we need to do better. We need to make the workplace more flexible – and in the industrial sector – we need to do away with mundane, repetitive tasks so that workers can focus on innovation.

One factor that causes some leaders to hold back their workforce, consciously or unconsciously, is fear. That’s because the conversation about intelligent solutions, advanced automation, and digital technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has been off course for far too long.

Nearly 61% of global respondents on a PwC survey said they are concerned that automation is endangering people’s jobs. Meanwhile, many industrial workers today are stuck doing manual and repetitive tasks that do not benefit them or increase their knowledge or expertise in their chosen field.

The fear embedded in the conversation about digital evolution must change. Richard Gerver, a noted author, educator, and speaker, is more familiar with this difficulty than most.

“We now need a workforce that is more entrepreneurial, more dynamic, more creative, innovative and more collaborative,” says Gerver. “…but the challenge, the problem in a sense, is that we’re still massively educating people to fill jobs in those factories and those offices that are largely technical and about routine knowledge. And so we are starting to see the early stages of a major clash between educated people and the jobs available to them…”

Yes, digital technologies will disrupt and transform the types of jobs available, and there may be a decline in demand for the more mundane jobs. However, there will be a greater increase in more strategic, forward-looking positions, including data scientists, AI and ML specialists, and robotics engineers.

The key here for leaders is to upskill or prepare their existing and new employees for these emerging roles. Leading companies are already doing this by allocating resources and creating training programs, and employees themselves are more than willing to participate.

A Boston Consulting Group Survey found that employee readiness to retrain exceeds 70% in positions that have experienced pandemic-related disruption and are most at risk of being replaced by technology. Alternatively, those who don’t take steps to achieve efficiency within operations or think about how best to prepare their employees will undoubtedly feel the heat.

People and technology must drive transformation

Once we change the conversations we have about automation and other advanced technologies – and when there is widespread knowledge of who will benefit – then it’s time to act.

This phase of digitization – from concept to creation – can feel overwhelming and the way forward can seem murky, but it’s important to start somewhere. The desire to better equip the workforce for the future is already well underway.

According to an automation everywhere report, nearly all (95%) respondents now consider intelligent automation an important part of their transformation strategies. Organizations are widely incorporating automation into their digital transformation efforts by centralizing automation planning.

So, where do you start if you haven’t already? Leaders must use two main pillars, people and technology, as their leadership functions to prepare their organizations for the next wave of transformation:

• People: First and foremost, people should be the organization’s top priority and first investment. Take the time to listen to the employees and understand them better. What are their actual challenges versus supposed challenges? What are their goals and ambitions, and do they have the means to achieve them? Then use that information to drive change for the organization. Create the upskilling and reskilling programs needed to empower employees. Take an active role in ensuring their future success and happiness, which can ultimately help retain top talent. Listen, plead and act, repeatedly.

• Technology: Gain a better understanding of the solutions, systems and processes that force staff to perform repetitive and soul-crushing tasks. Then say goodbye to those clunky, slow platforms and invest in technologies like automation and digital workers that will have a positive impact on employees and the business. This has been the biggest bottleneck for many organizations, but the pace at which technology is advancing, coupled with an increase in competitiveness across all industries, is a compelling feature to move forward. according to an EY indexNearly three-quarters of executives (72%) acknowledge that they must “radically transform their operations over the next two years to compete effectively in their industry,” up from 62% in 2020.

Now it’s time to take it a step further. It is time to move beyond recognizing the profound impact that advanced technologies will have on businesses and employees, and create a culture that embraces change and enables everyone to experience the benefits of digital evolution.

Mihir Shukla is the CEO and co-founder of Automation Anywhere.