The boss will not escape robotisation

Virtual workforces will affect six out of ten jobs, and almost half the work that most wage earners perform will be automated. This is why robotisation is called the "fourth Industrial Revolution”, and the boss will definitely be no exception. Around 20% of his/her tasks will be automated via robot technology.

But you can relax; most of us will not be replaced by a robot. We just have to get used to the thought of sharing our job with one. This applies to both those on low incomes and those on high incomes. For example, financial planners in pin-stripe suits, doctors, engine drivers, taxi drivers and journalists.

“Yes, but I work with creative processes, after all”

The most depressing aspect is actually that studies reveal how much of what we do at work is routine work. Only 4% of our activities require creative input, and just under a third of what we do requires us to be sensitive to feelings. And to be honest, to really stick my neck out: many of us are about as sensitive to feelings as a robot.

Which jobs will and which jobs won’t be replaced by machines?

We are already seeing the potential for artificial intelligence and advanced robots in day-to-day life. Automated check-ins at airports, autopilots that guide aircraft, and automated passport scanning when you arrive at your destination. Nonetheless, automation will eliminate very few jobs in the coming years, but there will be consequences for almost every job to a greater or lesser extent. Robotisation has a potential to change sectors such as health and finance.  Both sectors involve a considerable proportion of knowledge work. Thus, a number of jobs will be redefined rather than eliminated – at least in the short term. We therefore think that focusing on which vocations will become extinct is wrong. What is important is to focus on which processes will probably be automated and how the business model must then change and job descriptions redefined. 

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If you can acknowledge these three factors, then much has been accomplished

Robotisation creates both threats and opportunities, and managers who don’t put themselves in the driver’s seat will realise that it’s just a question of time before someone overtakes them and challenges their market position.

  1. Robotisation concerns us and everything we do.
    It is not necessarily obvious to everyone around you. Through external analyses, there are significant opportunities for robotisation, of which the majority can be realised in a very short time frame.
  2. Robotisation is an open window of opportunity.
    Ordinary meetings must occasionally be replaced by hypothesis-driven and explorative approaches. Involve your customers properly to succeed with the development of products and services with short lead times in order to reach the market in time
  3. Robotisation requires a change of attitude.
    Robotisation creates new types of workplaces, such as when robots made it possible for Ekornes to retain local industry production instead of re-locating to a low-cost country. Nonetheless, the remaining workplaces will be fewer and will also require a different skills profile.

 

Why is RPA, “Robotic Process Automation”, good?

  • Absence of the “Yes, but” element
  • Does not require complex integrations
  • Does not require months and years of implementation
  • Does not require much third-party bandwidth from other development initiatives
  • Diverts resources from trivial tasks to knowledge-based tasks
  • Enables testing before investment

 

What is “Robotic Process Automation”?

  • The use of technology that makes it possible to configure software or a “robot” to capture and interpret existing applications for processing a transaction, manipulating data, triggering reactions and communicating with other digital systems
  • A non-physical “robot”
  • Software tool
  • A tool that can replace human manpower at “keyboard” level and perform routine tasks reliably
  • Algorithm-based
  • Can perform “if, then” logic

 

What RPA isn't

  • Not yet a new software investment
  • Not Artificial Intelligence
  • Not NLP (natural language processing)
  • Not an analysis tool
  • Not a tool for making people unemployed
  • Not software built into a physical robot
  • Not a chatbot or a virtual personal assistant

But; you can integrate all this in connection with RPA

 

What can you do with these kind of robots?

  • Automate an existing manual task or process with minimal process re-engineering.
  • Reduce the time spent on batch data input and output tasks
  • Link to external systems that cannot be connected via other IT options.
  • Avoid major system integration projects or specific new major application rollouts.

 

What will happen in the immediate future?

  • During the next two years we will witness rapid growth, before it becomes public property after 3–5 years
  • After the first rollout, artificial intelligence, NLP and visual recognition and other add-ons will start to fuse with RPA
  • RPA software will develop more intelligence
  • RPA’s basic functions will be rooted in ERP, CRM, F & A business systems 

Some definitions

Digital business model

A business model that as well as connecting people and businesses also connects people and businesses to digital technology that drives revenues and efficiency. 

“Digitisation” automates the business

When, via digital technology, you automate existing processes.

“Digitalisation” transforms the business

The process that results in your becoming a digital business through transforming existing processes

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