AI and Automation have evolved a lot through the years; they are rapidly changing the world and how we work. We can see the effects of automation in almost every field of life. About 30 35 years earlier, in factories, workers used to manufacture and fabricate products by hand. But now computers and technologies have taken over the industries; automation has become a benchmark in today’s manufacturing world. The same is the case with other sectors and offices.

AI and Automation are essential for industries like Logistics, Marketing, Workflow Management etc. We all know that automation is beneficial; it simplifies routine tasks, enhances safety, and improves productivity. But we have to understand the part that AI will play in our life. So, it is better to understand the scope of automation, where it can refine the workplace and experience.

“Automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.”

– Bill Gates

In this article, we will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of automation in the workplace. Lastly, we will learn about the areas where automation can and cannot improve the workplace experience.

Benefits of Automation in Workplace

Tasks are getting tougher and tougher, and managers don’t have the time to do every task by themselves. AI can help them in many fields.

Here are some benefits of Automation in Workplace

Improved Productivity

Covid has a devastating effect on productivity, and it’s at an all-time low. Therefore, businesses must find ways to enhance if they want to compete against their competitors.

On average, employees lose around 520 hours per year on non-essential tasks, like scheduling meetings or organizing interviews. Automation is an excellent way to prosper productivity. Moreover, it gives employees more time to work. More work generates more sales which consequently benefits the business.

Faster Hiring

The further a position stays open, the more losses a business is going to face. The loss will come from both directions; missing an employee and hiring an employee for the position comes at a price. Business loss is directly proportional to the number of interviews. That’s why it’s crucial to fill the slot as soon as possible.

There are automation tools like Applicant Tracking System and Candidate Relationship Management System that can help in immediate hiring. You can use them to shortlist candidates and schedule interviews.

This reduces the recruitment time and saves precious hours for a business.

Quality Management

An essential and time-consuming part of every business is inventory and quality management. A person has to perform this repetitively, and there is always room for errors.

Automation is beneficial here; it uses systems and data sets that eliminate the chances of human error and enhances the output’s quality.

Rapid Growth

Automation is a big investment the software are not cheap. Moreover, installation and staff training have additional costs. It may look expensive, but it can be quite fruitful for your business in the long term.

Automating tasks will allow the employees to focus on other business tasks, which means that the business can generate more money.

Disadvantages of Automation in Workplace

Despite advantages, many companies have refused to automate. There are many reasons for their refusal like they don’t think it will affect the performance.

Here are some disadvantages of Automation in the workplace.

Worker Displacement

Many people have been displaced from their work due to automation. Globalization and advance technologies have urged many companies to switch to automation; as a result, millions of jobs have been lost.

Here are some numbers; more than 8.5% of manufacturing staff will be displaced by 2030. By 2030 automation will take over 20 million manufacturing jobs.

The workforce can be adjusted in different departments, but some workers have worked on a machine for years. So, starting the work from scratch isn’t easy.

Limited Machine’s Capacity

Machines are limited to preprogrammed inputs; the machine cannot react like a human in an emergency. Humans have a brain that makes them flexible and creative to solve difficult problems.

Although machines are less prone to error than humans, humans are still better than machines in many vital aspects.

Cybersecurity

Data-driven businesses are processing loads of information about customers, sales etc. Hackers can access automated tools as it is a computer system. There are risks with the paper system too; a big business has loads of documents and receipts that can be used by authorized personnel to do fraud. So, companies rely on old locks and security to protect data.

Automated systems are safer than paper, but the chance of hacking or system breakdown is like a hanging sword. But owners can use biometric locks or applying enough security protocols to prevent fraud.

Fields where Automation can be Essential

As discussed above, automation can yield faster and efficient growth at lesser cost. Automation can help many types of businesses.

Some widespread businesses that can benefit from automation are as follows.

E-commerce

E-Commerce systems like Amazon, Daraz, eBay are generating loads of sales per day, and customers need a receipt of every order. Doing it manually can be nerve-wracking and will take a lot of human resources. Intelligent systems can easily automate e-Commerce systems.

Workflow Management

Workflow management and human resource management departments have numerous tasks like shift assignment, payroll, leave management etc. It’s not easy to validate every request in a big company, so automation can be beneficial here.

Marketing

Marketing is an influential part of any business; it is crucial for business growth. Automating the marketing task is always an excellent investment because good marketing always boosts sales. Owners can use AI to automate marketing campaigns, which can be repeated without manual intervention.

Fields that cannot be replaced by AI

Not every field can be automated. There are many jobs and businesses that are irreplaceable; we cannot automate them.

Healthcare Workers

Automation is playing its part in hospitals, but it can never replace human resources. Doctors, nurses, paramedics and other healthcare workers can never be replaced.

Teachers

Teaching is another field where technology is playing a big role, especially during the covid. But there is no doubt that robots cannot teach students.

Computer Analyst

It would be weird to hire a computer for a computer analyst’s job. So, companies will always need good human computer analysts.

There are many other jobs like Lawyers, Supervisors, Social workers, Counselors etc that AI can never replace.