Pros and cons of automation in business
In recent years, advancements in technology have increased tenfold. With AI now becoming commonplace for businesses in all sectors and developments in photoelectronic sensors meaning factories can produce goods in record time, you might be wondering whether now is the right time to introduce automation in your business.
To help you decide whether automation is right for you, read on.
What are the pros of automation in business?
- Efficiency
We’ll start with the positives. Perhaps the most obvious benefit is efficiency. Implementing automated processes can help you get rid of some of the most time-consuming (and boring!) tasks.
By freeing up your employees’ time to focus on more important duties, you’ll be able to use your workforce in the best way. Not to mention your employees will probably thank you as a result.
- Reliability and consistent output
No matter how good your employees are or how well you’ve trained your workforce, mistakes can happen. Manual tasks are prone to human error which can be costly to a business. Automating tasks that require manual input eliminates the risk of human error, so you can be sure of a consistent, accurate output every time.
You’ll also find that automation is generally much more reliable. After all, a machine won’t call in sick!
- Lower production costs
With inflation across the US hitting 4.1%, many businesses are looking for ways to lower production costs in a bid to maximize profits. One way to do so is with automation. Although the initial outlay will be significant, you won’t have to pay recurring costs from then onwards.
The cons
- Initial investment
Unfortunately, it’s not cheap to automate your processes. And for the majority of the 33.2 million businesses in the US, the cost is unattainable.
With the cost of automation being so high, for many businesses the initial cost of implementation won’t be worth the investment.
- Less flexibility
Unlike humans who can adapt and learn, machines can’t (yet!). A machine can only do a limited number of specified tasks. As automation involves copying a process repeatedly, it’s standardized. So, it doesn’t allow for one-off customization.
What’s the impact of automation on individuals?
One of the biggest barriers to automation for business owners is the thought of eliminating certain jobs. For example, some positions could become redundant with the implementation of automation, leading to higher levels of unemployment.
However, although it’s no surprise that some workers have lost jobs because of automation, it doesn’t eliminate humans entirely. This is because even machines need people to operate them, so it might just be a case of retraining and restructuring your workforce.
Automation comes with a whole host of benefits – but also disadvantages. Before you implement automation, be sure to thoroughly think through your business plan so you make the right decision.
