Not long ago, if you would have entered a bank, a bank teller was the one who used to do all the manual bank work like bank account maintenance, balance sheet, cheque clearance, etc.
Today, you can enjoy banking services staying back at your home without visiting the bank. Another example of automation in the workplace, earlier if you needed a fresh set of chequebook, you needed to go to the bank, give them a written request and then go again to collect the chequebook from the bank which was a time consuming and tedious job. Now, you can open the bank mobile application, request a chequebook and the booklet will be at your place with three days.
How do you think this easy process was possible?
Its Automation. Workplace automation has come a long way and will further reach new heights to make life easy of the customers, employees and also stake-holders.
In this blog, we will uncover all about workplace automation and the future of the same.
What is workplace automation?
The use of technology (hardware and/or software) in the workplace to perform repeatable or predictable tasks without the need for human interaction is known as workplace automation.
What will be the result? A work process which will happen in speed removing manual interventions to increase efficiency.
Nowadays, various softwares drive the majority of workplace automation. APIs, big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) have opened the way for new developments in analytics, pushing even more effective automation and the optimisation of workflows, along with the move towards cloud-based tools and apps.
Benefits of automation in the workplace
Many surveys conducted all around the world has resulted to mixed feedbacks about workplace automation. Many employees believe that work automation will help them boost their productivity and on the other hand there are a set of employees, who think automation may put their jobs at risk.
The truth is less clear-cut and more complex. Most of the time, new technologies have made it possible for us to operate more effectively while delegating tiresome jobs.
Here are a few ways you can benefit from automation ideas for office.
–>increased output and performance
There is nothing worse than an employee doing a set of repetitive job without learning anything new at work. Work automation can help you in this and the said employee can focus on something else which will help the organization grow.
–>Cost saving
Greater productivity and cost savings might come from spending less time on tedious routines and tasks. Additionally, this may result in higher employee satisfaction, productivity, and even income.
–> A safety net
Eliminating dangers or hazardous practises benefits everyone, especially in manufacturing and labor-intensive industries where employee safety is a top priority.
For example: Car manufacturing companies use robots to build cars.
–> Human error
Automating laborious workflows for manual operations like data input and invoicing can be advantageous for both businesses and personnel. Fewer errors result from fewer mistakes, which frequently leads to higher employee satisfaction.
Disadvantages of office automation:
The trending question whenever AI or Robotics comes in play is “Will these replace our jobs one day?”
Well the answer to this question is a bit complex. We have noticed that even if work automation is introduced in an organization, human contribution still remains the same, instead an employee involvement becomes crucial.
Here are the key challenges with workplace automation,
–> Training
Your employees might need to pick up new skills in order to maintain your automated systems operating smoothly. Additionally, because new business workflows frequently affect numerous teams and procedures, your organisation will need more training.
–>Less flexibility
Tool and software integrations may only be applicable to particular use cases or tasks unless you make a major investment in creating your own automated processes for maximum customisation.
–>Increased security
Your company networks may become more vulnerable as you introduce new procedures, programmes, and applications.
–>Cost
When you opt for work automation, be aware that expenses for implementation and upkeep, possibly ongoing charges or licencing, and investments in staying current with technology are inevitable.
Conclusion
If you still think that automation may take our jobs away in the near future. As far as we can see, Both humans and automation are clearly necessary for the now and the foreseeable future. Office automation will definitely help your company’s productivity to upscale but will also come with various disadvantages. Choose wisely.
