Automation in the Workplace: If you’re not Automating, What are you really doing?

Quixy Editorial Team

August 9, 2023

This article was first published on Read Write.

Automation today is different from the robot takeover that most people envisioned: automation now refers to platforms and systems that allow a layman to accelerate efficiency through digital means. As a result, manual efforts are minimized, making business processes more cost-efficient, error-proof, and consistent. Additionally, the saved amount of time can be used for more valuable business tasks. It is reported that employees burn over 30% of their working hours simply by looking at paperwork- a task that can be easily automated.

Automation is a Must in the Workplace

The advantages of automation are hard to ignore. According to a McKinsey report, the benefits are three to ten times the cost of implementing automation.

The pandemic taught us that digital transformation sits at the cusp of business goals.

It’s impossible to be digital-first without including a certain degree of automation or business processes. Before the pandemic hit, the need for digital skills was minimal, but in a work-from-home and staycation era, employees need to develop technical skills and integrate automation with their daily tasks.

There are apprehensions still attached to automation, such as replacing jobs, decreasing wages, and possibly making human skills redundant- all at an extremely steep price. 

Allow us to bust these myths for you

1. “I’m going to lose my job.”

A World Economic Forum study predicts that automation would boost the job market by introducing nearly 58 million jobs. In all honesty, if your job can be simplified through automation, it probably will be. But it’s also going to give rise to a plethora of job opportunities that you can leverage by upskilling.

2. “It simply costs too much.” 

Due to inefficient processes, organizations lose 20 to 30% of revenue every year. Automation improves processes and allows you to free up expensive resources (human resources being one of them) to be utilized on other cash cow activities. The benefits of automation significantly overpower the cost of adoption.

3. “My skills are going to be useless.”

According to a McKinsey report, essential data input and processing skills will be particularly affected by automation, falling by 19 to 23% from 2016 to 2030. But automation will also give rise to a range of skills that will be high in demand- from emotional and cognitive abilities to entrepreneurial and risk-taking behavior. A surge in automation doesn’t signify a redundancy in skills; rather, it pushes for a shift in skill sets.

Also read: A Recipe to Successfully Set Up a Digital Workplace

FOMO on automation at the workplace – why it’s absolutely justified 

Even if you’ve been living under a rock, it’s hard to ignore the benefits that automation can bring to workplaces. 

1. Helps your employees enjoy their work 

Automation does away with mundane and repetitive tasks, allowing employees to focus their energy on innovative tasks. For example, automating workflow processes like a customer grievance redressal system enables your company to focus on creating better products, innovative solutions and growing the business. Think about it: would your employee rather send out standardized emails or think about what’s the next new product they could develop at work?

2. Humans mess up; automation doesn’t

Automation in the workplace helps businesses minimize errors. Simple tasks like entering the correct email address into a CRM program or placing the right amount of orders to stock inventory are prone to human errors. If properly utilized, automation tools can provide data and workflows through a centralized process that helps decrease human oversight- through redundancy and duplication.

3. Growth and scalability

When manual processes are automated, it saves time and frees up valuable resources that can aid in the growth and scalability of businesses. Sales outreach emails can be automated to reach people at an unmatched scale by human labour. You cannot save time, but you can use time differently- and that’s the value add that automation brings into the workplace. From automated administrative workflows to chatbots, automation tools help employees win back nearly 20% of their day.

How can a company boost automation?

1. Push for upskilling

The fear of automation taking over jobs can only be dispelled by constant upskilling. A McKinsey report expects advanced IT and programming skills to grow as much as 90 percent between 2016 and 2030. Basic digital skills will be imperative for an organization to thrive, and this is where tools like no-code platforms become a boon for non-technical employees. 

2. Adopt automation tools rapidly

Automation tools like no-code platforms allow you to beat the race to digital transformation at every level. From automating marketing workflows to employee onboarding systems, no-code platforms will enable you to accelerate automation in each department- whether that’s sales, finance, logistics, or even communication.

3. Unlearn, learn, unlearn

When digital transformation sits at the forefront of business efficiency, it’s imperative to get your employees enthused and excited about being a part of the digital revolution. This involves helping them unlearn the fear of automation and providing the necessary skill-building tools to learn the beauty of automation. Workshops on no-code platforms, expert sessions, etc., would aid in this.

Also read: Digital Workplace – All You Need to Know

Conclusion

Automation is the future of growth and scalability. From providing the necessary training for employees to adopting automation tools, companies have to make automation a part of their workplace actively. The value add isn’t restricted to business goals- it also aids in long-term growth and boosts the morale of employees who can utilize the time saved from completing mundane tasks to delivering better products and services.

A company’s success will largely depend on its proactiveness to instill a culture of lifelong learning throughout the organization. This cultural shift will hold the most value- as sectors, skill sets, and employees change, the only constant will be continuous learning.  This degree of adoption will make the difference between being the best and doing just enough to beat the rest.