There’s no question that technology has made its impact on today’s society.
Whether that be the ease of washing clothes today vs 100 years ago or the advancements we’ve seen on a higher level with AI and automation development.
The mundane tasks of yesterday have been much simplified in this, our 21st century world. But don’t be under the false impression that we have reached the end of our technological development.
Far from it, in fact.
Actually, one could argue that we are just at the beginning of our technological revolution.
If that’s true, then those not embracing such changes are, unfortunately, doomed to be left behind.
This fact has been proven – yet again – within a recent study that took a focused look at today’s workforce and how much is continuing to change as more and more companies continue to embrace these exciting advancements.
A new study done by Salesforce subsidiary Slack Technologies reports that, out of the over 18,000 individuals across the globe who were surveyed, only 23% of companies currently invest in technology to improve productivity, and only 27% use such tools to achieve this goal.
Of those companies that do report adopting technologies within their ecosystem, they are 90% more likely to report higher levels of productivity than their counterparts that have not.
In addition, automation usage within the workplace has reported saving the average employee up to 3.6 hours a week in labor!
… And speaking of employees, the majority of those surveyed (77%) believe that automating routine or repetitive tasks would actually enhance their productivity.
So, with all this positive data, why then does the study also report that many of today’s organizations are still operating with outdated work practices, tools, and approaches that, ultimately, are preventing their employees from reaching their full potential?
According to Christina Janzer, SVP at Slack research and analytics, speaking with VentureBeat, the issue is quite simple… “Part of the confusion comes from a growing schism between leaders and teams over how to properly define and measure productivity in today’s environment. Organizations need to take a more holistic approach, and that includes enabling employees to experiment with tools and technology to drive better results.”
Slack estimates the number of teams that have yet to implement any type of valuable automation into their ecosystem to be close to 45%, which means almost half the companies surveyed are still depending on outdated methods of production, allowing more and more time to pass and continuous profits to escape.
Following the previous paragraph, this should be a no brainer, but is worth mentioning all the same.
You see, by investing in automating your facility, you’re taking steps to future proof your site while stopping the financial leak you’re currently confronting. Plugging up any holes within your company that are allowing valuable profits to get away. (Profits that could be used to fund the very automation we’re discussing.)
And, when it comes to your daily operations, things will look a whole lot better. As laid out in the Slack report above, automation can shave off up to a month’s amount of work over the course of a year! Folks, if time is money, then you just added a serious chunk of change to your profit margin.
Reflecting on the list of companies that have yet to adopt such technological advancements, Janzer explains that such organizations are, ultimately, missing out on valuable productivity gains.
“Companies like LG AI Research in Seoul are… automating repetitive tasks, providing insights and recommendations for decision making, and enabling better collaboration so that their employees can focus on tasks that require human intelligence and creativity. We’re learning more about the potential benefits of these tools every day. So, companies who may not have jumped on board yet will want to catch up fast to keep up.”
The facts are there. The data has been collected. Now, it’s up to you to act before you get left behind.
Don’t let your hesitation get in the way of the security of your facility and career in the years ahead.
Take steps today to make sure that your factory is future proof and ready for whatever may be thrown its way.
… And if you’re looking for someone to help you take those initial steps towards automation, Rain Engineering would be proud to step up and go on this journey with you.
P.S. If you’re ready to take those next steps towards your facility’s digital transformation, but aren’t quite sure what those next steps should be, Rain Engineering wants to make sure you’re aware of our latest e-learning platform, Manufacturing KnowHow…
Consisting of a variety of web-based videos, tutorials, and worksheets, Manufacturing Knowhow has been designed with the specific intention to make sure everyone on your team has the skills needed to compete – and succeed – during your facility’s digital revolution
By taking advantage of the services offered by Manufacturing KnowHow, you and your team will soon find yourself communicating your manufacturing strategies with the clarity of even the most advanced industry experts.
Benefit from the community of individuals working to prepare and educate you on the skills you’ll need to continue to be valuable in the manufacturing field by joining the Manufacturing KnowHow family today!