The importance and necessity of automation: the driving force of change

At this point in Artificial Intelligence innovation, automation is perhaps the definitive example of how the technology can be used within business. From the streamlining of manual repetitive tasks to autonomous robotics, this is one of the most famous types of Machine Learning. The term is however not just limited to AI, encompassing programmed technologies including Robotic Process Automation and Business Process Automation.

Automation in itself is not a new concept, having been introduced and improved upon across previous industrial revolutions. So what sets AI and ML apart from previous incarnations of automation? The ability of machines to learn through exposure to data and perform a broad array of tasks, from the mundane and repetitive to tasks so complex that they defy the speed or scalability at which humans could ever possibly perform the task.

The rise of automation has lead to different perspectives on its impact and consequences. In some circles, automation is considered a dirty word; with fears circulating that the relentless roll of automation will take our jobs, our livelihoods and perhaps the very significance and purpose of being human. Whilst in others automation is seen as a breaker of chains and an opportunity; liberating the brilliance of human minds from the tedium of banal and boring tasks to engage in pursuits involving critical, creative and emotive thinking and reasoning. Fears that robots will replace us and take our jobs usually centre around Autonomous AI. Such worries are not entirely without merit, with recent studies suggesting that 30% of jobs are at risk of automated replacement by mid 2030 [1].

As machines augment how humans work, our roles will inevitably shift aware from job descriptions and competencies that can now be performed by machines to more human-centred performance metrics. The existing capabilities of the technology suggests it is best placed to augment human roles rather than replace them. By working in conjunction with machines, your workforce can be relieved of dirty, dull and dangerous tasks, freeing them up for critical thinking, decision making or leadership tasks. The monetary benefits of streamlining your processes aside, augmenting your staff's roles can improve job satisfaction and profitability. Recent studies have reported 78% of employees believe Automation will allow them to work on the more interesting and rewarding aspects of their work [2], improving personal and professional fulfillment. Given that workplaces which are more engaged are 21% more profitable than those that aren’t [3] it is easy to see that Automation will offer more effective and exciting work rather than replacing it.

What is automation and how does it work?

When it comes to AI, automation involves a system that can autonomously carry out repetitive tasks with little to no human involvement.

Fundamentally, automation is enabled by machine learning; rather than programming a machine to perform a task, a machine is provided with data which it analyses in order to identify the patterns and trends that exist within. When presented with new data, the AI is able to take the learnings derived and apply them to new data and circumstances and respond. This of course varies depending on the application or type of task which is being automated, however the overall principles are relatively consistent throughout different types of automated systems.

When applied to businesses this most commonly will take the form of utilizing a companies data to streamline processes and workflows. There are different approaches to automation such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Business Process Automation (BPA). The approach a business elects to automate a process will depend on the nature and complexity of the task, the type of analysis that needs to be performed and the actions taken.