While running a business can be an exciting feat, tedious and repetitive tasks combine with the more rewarding ones, draining employers and workers alike. From handling returns that could be automated to responding in customer chats with answers a bot could find, business automation can help. So, why are employers acting cautious?
Ricoh Europe Research Uncovering the Facts
As much as 70% of the business world has kept up with the times, updating their systems to automate repetitive processes. Doing so reserves employee energy for more creative tasks that need a human touch. However, a study from Ricoh Europe found that out of 1,800 business leaders and 7,000 employees, 32% of all workers do not have access to this type of technology, although they desire it.
Employees explained it would make their jobs easier, especially since they would not have to take on humdrum assignments that quickly become boring and waste their unique talents and skills. Business owners agree that automation would assist their companies by reducing lethargy at work, which would otherwise lead to more mistakes and higher employee turnover rates.
However, while trying to streamline processes in the long run, could implementing a business automation strategy decrease operational efficiency in the present? That question holds back over a quarter of business owners and their staff.
The Fears Involved in Automation Technology Integration
Hesitancy with this technology integration stems from the fact that many employers fear undergoing a lot of downtime during installation. That’s because, for most, they would have to overhaul their entire existing systems, which could cost a lot and prove time-consuming. During this time, the company could see disruptions or a complete halt in workflow.
Many business owners also worry that glitches could develop in their systems in an effort to improve productivity, causing failures and further company disruptions down the line. Unfortunately, this is not a stretch, especially with plenty of high-profile failures in the tech world recently coming to light. For instance, a worldwide IT outage caused massive disruptions and unexpected sales losses in CrowdStrike.
The Harsh Reality of Waiting and What Business Owners Should Do
Unfortunately, waiting to implement business automation into company systems could end up causing more harm than good.
Ricoh Europe research concluded that business owners must find the balance between implementing this technology and operational stability to prevent serious issues with productivity and talent retention. The study claimed that 25% of employees would have improved job fulfillment, while another 21% would be less likely to leave their current positions.
The best thing for employers to do is to partner with digital experts who could slowly help integrate these changes into company systems with as little downtime as possible. New business automation can help them keep a competitive edge with better workforce management and gain useful tools that help employers and employees thrive like never before.
