Tim Abraham, Managing Director of Dawsongroup material handling, shares his insights on task automation.
The first industrial revolution began in Britain in the late 18th century and was propelled by steam power. This was just the first of many industrial revolutions, the second arriving almost a century later. The discovery of new energy sources in gas, oil and electricity paved the way for assembly line production and the internal combustion engine. The third industrial revolution took shape during the second half of the 20th century, in the form of nuclear power and personal electronics. This revolution was the foundation of automation and advances in programming. The fourth, at turn of the millennium, saw the progress of information and communication technologies through the internet, along with the digitisation of manufacturing and production. Each one has changed the world around us fundamentally. And right now, it is happening again, for the fifth time.
‘Industry 5.0’, as it’s known – already marked by the European Commission as being well underway – refers to the arrival of artificial intelligence and cyber-physical systems (robots and smart machines), with major changes expected for manufacturing and sustainability. In fact, one of the key shifts from Industry 4.0 to 5.0 is a deviation away from the fear of how automation and programable tasks will affect jobs, underlined by the priority to improve conditions for human workers.
Task Automation Today
We experience many forms of task automation in our everyday lives: airport check-in, fast food ordering, prescription refills, and subscription services, to name a few. It remains a divisive topic in business, as the line between improving processes and replacing human jobs can be paper-thin with many businesses still wary of investing in automated systems despite the benefits it might bring. However, the conversation often misses the challenges facing companies right now with many businesses suffering productivity pains because of staff and supply chain shortages.
Why Are Businesses So Hesitant to Take on Automation?
There’s no single reason for this hesitation, although they often include a distrust of technology, a lack of investment capital, and a reluctance to replace human workers with machines. At Dawsongroup, we acknowledge these concerns and want our customers to be confident that they’re making the right choices for their business and for their employees. After all, automation can benefit employees, improving their quality of life and future career prospects.
Doesn’t Automation Remove the Need for Human Employees?
The perception that automation takes jobs from employees isn’t without merit. In fact, it is believed that by 2030, 375 million jobs worldwide will be taken over by automation. However, this is not something to be shied away from. Technology has always been disruptive, a disruption that has also significantly improved the global standard of living. As Industry 5.0 continues to develop, it is important for us to remember that automation is not about replacing staff but repurposing and up skilling them.
To expand on this, recently the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that 13.3% of the businesses they surveyed were experiencing labour shortages and there are 250,000 more vacancies than there were pre-pandemic. The combined impact of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic has seen a significant drop in workers across the country.
Pair this with an increase in demand over the last few years, and these shortages are causing problems for businesses – and automation is one of the most realistic solutions. It is not controversial to suggest that many of the tasks set to be replaced by automation are repetitive jobs that take a lot of time but may not add as much value to either the company or the employees. By automating these, companies free up their employees to take on more complex and influential functions. As a result, businesses can make the most of their assets and employees have the opportunity to develop their role and responsibilities.
Task Automation is Expensive!
In the past, some businesses have been hesitant to invest in automation because robotics come with a hefty price tag. As we enter the golden age of robotics, now is the right time to take that step, especially in dynamic and variable environments. Dawsongroup’s Smarter Asset Strategy enables you to hire automation solutions without any capital outlay for a price that can be more cost-effective than hiring a full-time employee at a time when there is a labour shortage.
Extend Your Vision
In business, nothing is certain. Market shifts can rattle the foundations of even the most prominent companies. It serves as a warning that nobody is protected, and that innovation failure might result from complacency. We all know examples of businesses that failed because they lacked innovation. Who rents videos anymore?
This illustrates how crucial it is for firms to have a flexible, long-term plan. However, a recent Gartner survey found that 70% of businesses don’t look beyond three years when developing a vision. Now, more than ever before, in a world with unprecedented change and disruption, it is essential to be agile and adapt quickly to forces impacting the supply chain.
Invest in the Future
The team at Dawsongroup material handling can help you to extend your vision further into the future and provide you with a consultative approach to automated solutions for manufacturing, warehousing and logistics. Our genuine hire model removes the requirement for ownership, so you are only paying for the assets you need. Speak to our material handling team today to find out how we can help you invest in the future, whilst reducing cost and risk implications, and have the freedom to move flexibly with the market into and throughout this industrial revolution.
Contact our team at Dawsongroup material handling today to find out more about the role of automation can play in your business and how our Smarter Asset Strategy can help you take the next step.
