Automation : A Simplified Approach

“No Vacancy” used to be a NORMAL long time back on gates of the Industrial units which was wisely depicted by our filmy hero who used to struggle for a job and keep wandering on the streets of Mumbai singing songs looking at the sunset on the beaches of scenic Juhu. The times transformed, country emerged, the Hero became dynamic and India saw a sea change with the IT revolution.

Information Technology (IT) was looked upon as the New IN thing for development, globalization and boost to the economy. Knowledge and the Industry ruled over other professions for a long run. With its own challenges, ups and downs in intervals, whatsoever , there never was an iota of doubt that the IT needs a talent and what IT can do would always need large number of people for execution in order to have satisfied customers. The run had fairy tale grandeur and this ‘All is well!’ All is well!’ Saga continued for a long time. However, anything and everything on the globe has a shelf life and if one doesn’t change in Time, the time can change anyone.

The new buzzword known as ‘AUTOMATION’ arrived and then started the big picture. This terminology has been one of the most talked about path breaking phenomenon in recent times. The buzz is for reduction of new jobs in the IT and how would IT cope up with this new surge? Forecast says IT would face a huge challenge in terms of hiring and the very old hero has again started and perceiving the ‘No Vacancy’ board and this is an alarming sign for the IT hopefuls. This needs to be addressed swiftly but with a structured plan. Automation will have a high utility impact on the customers as well as partners. The situation to an extent is in catch 22 mode as one can neither do automation freely nor live with the existing monotony.

‘AUTOMATION’ per se is not just a technical approach to improve the efficiency and accuracy or to reduce the human intervention but it encompasses few of the basic pillars of any organization such as employees who need a revamp and if the structured approach is followed, automation can withstand the test of time as well as improve the overall performance of an individual and the organization. The key factors for ensuring the smooth transition towards automation are enlisted below:

1. Cultural Change :

The very purpose of brining in automation is to improve accuracy and efficiency and reduce human intervention. It also ensures that the repetitive and monotonous tasks are handled by the robot and humans are left to own the qualitative deliverables.

However, when it comes to inception, the automation could be perceived as having an impact on the job security and could face resistance or halfhearted support and none of it would result in the expected outcome of automation.

Before any of the Automation implementation, the first and foremost activity is to incorporate confidence building measures and to make sure that the cultural change is addressed and accepted through caution and not pushed upon.

Organization needs to –

   i.Come out with a vision transparently highlighting the goals and the purpose of Automation.

 ii.Conduct motivational workshops as part of the buildup for automation activity.

 iii.Identify key leaders within a group who can drive cultural change through self-examples and can act as a bridge for transition towards automation.

2. Employee Competence and Trust Building :

Automation would always have an impact on the direct role of an employee whether the automation is done for the customer or for the partner.

This could lead to a situation of self-distrust in the employees and the organization has to make sure the transition is seamless through –

i. Making the employee aware of organizational needs

ii.Ensure the employees are made aware of the change and how it would bring a positive outlook to the organization’s growth plan which ultimately would benefit the employee albeit in different or the same improvised profile

 iii. Come out with roadmap and clarity of future for the impacted party with future role/assignments

iv. Identify the training needs of the impacted employees with a new skillsets which require human skills wherever possible.

3. Execution and Evaluation of Automation:

Execution agenda needs to take place only after the above critical factors are addressed and are in sync within the organization and its own people. It needs to be implemented in a structured manner through -

i. A project/program based approach with clear demarcation of DO’s and DON’T’s.

ii.Identify the key stakeholders from beneficiary as well as benefactor.

iii.The stakeholders need to come out with the right business case with budget justification.

iv. A phase based solution for churning out and putting the right skills in right profiles post implementation.

v. A right infrastructure is built and in place for the implementation activity.

vi. Constant monitoring and evaluation of the Cost versus Benefits ensuring not to grab the low hanging fruits as on the broader scale they would make a minuscule impact but may affect the soft side of the people matrix.

vii. Drop the plan/activity at the initiation phase if the execution is not going to be a game changer.

Overall, Automation is here to stay and all the bricks and walls of the organization have to accept it as a reality. The automation is bound to improvise the accuracy and efficiency of the organization. More quickly we understand the importance of it, earlier is the benefits receival. The skills which were niche yesterday have changed its course to a ‘New Normal’ of today. Penetration of Digitalisation in the daily lifestyle is bound to happen.

IT can adapt ‘Automation’ for its own simplified way of working and also streamline its customers’ way of running the businesses. This is the opportune time for IT goers to understand the impact of Automation, choose right skills for themselves, and make a conscious call to improvise and get aligned to the need of the hour and look beyond the myth of fear of AUTOMATION.

The above article is published on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/automation-simplified-approach-jayawant-gokhale-pmp-itil/

- Jayawant