The opportunities that automation and AI bring to the world of work
Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum and author of The Fourth Industrial Revolution, said that we live in the era of the “fusion of technologies that blurs the boundaries between the physical, the digital and the biological”.
Thus, the so-called digital transformation already encompasses all industries without exception, in a process that accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic and caused the world of work to undergo profound changes in recent years.
The growth of automation, connectivity and data management are not only generating permanent increases in productivity, but they also change the way in which human beings relate to the world of work on a daily basis.
The WEF (World Economic Forum) announced at its last meeting that by 2025 current tasks will be shared equally between machines and humans, in a context in which one out of every three companies plans to invest in Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, Big Data, e-commerce or Internet of Things.
The same work, called Future of Jobs, also points out that half of all workers will have to be reskilled to cope with the changes that these technologies imply by the year 2025 and while about 85 million jobs may be displaced, another 97 million may be created in sectors that are more adapted to the new division of labor between humans, machines and algorithms.
New Skills
WEB’s 2020 report noted that the adoption of technologies means new skills for the development of all jobs and that skills gaps will still remain high.
Among these more cross-cutting skills are those specializing in product marketing, digital marketing and human-computer interaction. And the areas that will demand the most training are in the consumer and healthcare industries.
Work after AI and Machine Learning
According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the adoption of widespread AI will add around u$s 15.7 trillion to global GDP by 2030 and will continue its exponential trajectory until 2050.
Many people warn that there will be accelerated job losses and that it will spell the end of the workplace as we know it. But the statistics does not support this view. Automation and AI saves routine work and allows the replacement of drudgery with more creative work.
While it is true that up to half of all jobs are likely to disappear or be radically transformed, the fact is that more than industrial work, it is office jobs that will be most affected. The fact is that most human work consists of repetitive computer operations that can be automated.
It is in this context that AI and machine learning are gaining ground in companies whose employees spend a lot of time on manual activities such as processing queries, calculations, data entry or file maintenance.
The jobs most susceptible to automation, with data management tools such as Conciliac EDM, are the processes of filling out spreadsheets, downloading and transforming files, accounting updates, reconciliations and comparative analysis. It is in these areas where it is possible to improve the performance of companies and thus allow their employees to focus on more complex and productive tasks.
The most searched profiles
But what are these “new jobs”? The Human Resources services company, Randstad, proposes seven job profiles necessary for companies to successfully face the digital transformation.
They are: information security specialists, Big Data analytics, application developers, UX/UI experts, digital marketing specialists, project managers and logistics and distribution positions.
Information security: With the advent of remote work and the migration of customer service and business management to virtual channels, organizations’ systems have become more exposed to security risks.
Big Data analytics: The increased flow of data makes it possible to enhance business management based on data analytics. Therefore, Big Data, data scientist and other disciplines associated with this trend drive a growing labor demand for profiles with training in mathematics, statistics or programming specialized in the development of algorithms.
Application developers: These are professionals with knowledge in different platforms and application programming languages, making them “frontend”, “backend” and “full stack” developers.
UX/UI experts: As a form of business is imposed with less and less personal contact with the customer, it is key to have a virtual interface that ensures experience for users and customers. User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) specialists are increasingly in demand.
Digital marketing specialists: To manage digital storefronts. From a website or mobile App to social networks, online shopping platforms and much more. Among the most required positions are those responsible for online marketing, copywriters, SEO and SEM analysts, web designers, content writers, community managers, among others.
Project Managers. Digitalization implies a huge work of adaptation of processes and tools that support the productivity of companies, which results in an increasing volume and scope of innovation projects.
Logistics and distribution. The boost of online sales channels requires more and more personnel specialized in classification and order assembly, as well as logistics, procurement and supply chain professionals for the management of product storage and distribution centers.
As a data management platform focused on the optimization of data management processes, we experience the improvement in time, quality, efficiency and productivity that the automation of these repetitive tasks brings to companies. Conciliac EDM users gain time and results that allow them to develop new analytical skills and bring considerably more value to their work environments.
To find out how you can improve processes in your area, write to us at info@conciliac.com.