Over the years, many have predicted that someday robots would take over the world. With so many modern advancements in technology, some might argue that “someday” is already here. More and more companies are seeking ways to save time and money by implementing automation initiatives. With this comes a growing fear from employees that robots might take over and cause them to lose their jobs.
However, the best way to improve efficiency does not necessarily come from replacing employees with robots. It comes from humans and robots working together.
Truly unattended bots have limits. Unattended robots run entirely on their own without human intervention. While unattended bots can be a good fit for some processes, there are many more processes that require some degree of human intervention in order to be successful. As a result, there is a growing trend towards the use of attended bots over unattended bots.
Attended automation recognizes that robots cannot replace humans entirely. It offers employees a sense of comfort by giving them a “say” in the processes the bots are managing. The goal of implementing automation then becomes more about improving efficiency and creativity rather than replacing employees.
Automation allows companies to pass off their mundane data entry responsibilities to bots, thus freeing up time for employees to focus on tasks that require a thinking human brain. This also means that more effort can be put into areas that had previously been neglected due to a lack of time.
It is important for companies to recognize the value of their hardworking employees.
Dedicated employees can be hard to find. When employees don’t feel valued, companies can face a large amount of turnover, which disrupts ongoing efforts and ultimately impacts efficiency. Companies should make sure they are using automation to improve efficiency and not simply shifting inefficiencies from one area to another.
It is not in the best interest of companies to replace the good talent they have with bots entirely. Instead, they should seek to use their newfound free time to leverage their employees’ talents in new ways that bring higher value.
Employees should be empowered to think more creatively. With more free time, they can approach their responsibilities with new perspectives and refine processes that might be impacting profitability. Areas that were previously neglected can now receive the full attention they deserve. Even the smallest of details matter and contribute to the final outcome.
While automation alone can be a huge cost saver, there is simply no replacement for the thinking human brain.
The best way to improve efficiency and profitability is not through automation alone, but a collaboration between automation and good, hardworking people.
Written by: Peter Camp, CTO & Founder, CampTek Software
