Fusing
technology into business operations over the years has been steady but slow.
Then came 2020, and Covid19. Who would have thought that 2020 would be the year
we would have to stop shaking hands and start elbowing each other, always stand
two meters apart, or stop going to the office at all? The reality hit hard –
things changed, and they changed entirely.
For most, the cliché of ‘hard work makes the dream work’in business was the
refrain, and there was the misconception that long hours of hard work were
keydrivers of a thriving business. In recent times, the world of technology has
overtaken the need for solely manual labour, and many business owners have
ended up in a fit of discontentment. What happens next? The endless cycle of
job termination andrehiring from the assumption that employees were not working
hard enough, resulting in spending more, employeeand customer dissatisfaction,
and on and on.
The remedy to this is tounderstand the value of a transformative approach to
business – instead of being stuck in our ways– and connect with technology to
change the way we dobusiness. Research predicts that by 2024, 69% percent of
business processes will be automated. The question is, will businesses in
Africa be ready?
Automation, whether you choose to call it robotics or not, can help employees
work more effectively and productively, and isapowerfultoolfor business when
used properly. It works best when work processes are predictable and
manualusing AI to assign tasks like data collection and processing or
planning.It acts likea complementary tool to human effort and helps to cut
costs, improve work processes and the overall customer experience.
The misconception is that automation completely replaces humans. However, keen
judgment and empathy, two skills that automation technology cannot duplicate
and will never be able to automate are still necessary skills in the business
process. The future of work involves not only automating tedious transaction
tasks in the digital world but also streamlining processes to increase
productivity and raise the standard of human work by allowing workers to
concentrate on more crucial tasks. This means automation handles monotonous
jobs, while humans are allowed to focus on value thinking and higher brain work.
In the world of business, the fittest survive, and staying relevant has a whole
new meaning. To assist businesses in keeping up with modern technological
trends, Enterprise Computing Limited (ECL) offers automation solutions with
round-the-clock fanatical support to the pan-African business spectrum. These
businesses can then offer their customers an enhanced customer service
experience.Work smarter, not harder.
Credit: Seth Donkor - Chief Technology Officer at Enterprise Computing Limited
Source: Peacefmonline.com