Automation Isn’t Always the Best Business Option

Automation makes sense from an operations standpoint, and people see this despite the many who advocate for scaling back to save jobs. For every task that can be completed, however, less than half can be automated. When you consider all the tasks that a human might be responsible for at their job, that number further dwindles, resulting in surprisingly few jobs that can be fully automated by artificial intelligence. Today, we want to look at reasons why you shouldn’t implement automation for certain tasks and why working with humans is still the right call for many.

Adapting to Change

You can expect just about everything to change in your line of business, from the markets to customer preferences and so on. A machine isn’t capable of adapting in the same way a human can, especially when new skills or strategies might be necessary to solve emerging problems. Automated systems need to be programmed to act a certain way, and that might mean expensive updates, new software, or just throwing the whole thing out and starting anew. If you invest in people, you’re getting a much more dynamic and flexible solution that can benefit both your business and the employee’s professional development.

The Personal Touch

We doubt anyone actually wants to deal with the automated chatbots you might see online and on the phone, and while they can help make support more accessible, they’re not always the answer. No matter how advanced AI gets, it cannot match the empathy and problem-solving skills of someone who genuinely cares about the customer.

Skill Drives Innovation

Again, people are capable of creativity that a robotic system simply isn’t, and this innovation is what drives industry to change, evolve, and adapt. Wouldn’t you rather invest in training for your employees so they can build their skills and use them to create more innovative products and solutions for your business? Sure, AI can help you maintain the status quo, but skilled and knowledgeable employees will help you move past that and accomplish something great.

Training Pays Dividends

While automated systems might help you save money—at least at first—they require maintenance, management, and investments when the programs become outdated or faulty. Investing in people is a better long-term strategy, especially when they receive regular training, as they’ll be more engaged, perform better in the workplace, and remain loyal to your business over the years. In general, you can expect employees who are well-trained and well-invested-in to make fewer mistakes, make better decisions, and drive your business forward in ways that a machine can’t.

Humans Are Ready for the Unexpected

Machines might seem more reliable on the surface, but they can break down, experience software glitches, and struggle with new tasks outside their programming. Sound familiar? They’re the same as your employees, just less flexible and prepared for the unexpected. You can count on a human to be able to intuit a customer’s odd request or troubleshoot a specific issue, but the same can’t be said for a computer with strict programming.

You can get consistent, repeatable results with automation, but there’s no denying that some tasks are better handled by people. To learn how you can make the best out of both automated systems and your employees, check back to our blog for more articles on technology, humans, and the intersection of work and IT.

If you would like to talk about your experience with automation and how you can do a much better job of getting the tools that can help you succeed, give us a call today at (866) 546-1004.