2018 to be the year of automation for AU - jump onboard before it’s too late

ServiceNow recently released the results of their new report that is base off a global survey of 1,850 corporate leaders.

The biggest revelation? The majority of organisations around the world have introduced advanced automation into their workplace, with nearly half of executives reporting that they will need it more broadly by 2018 to cope with rising work volumes.

The survey made it clear that adding machines to everyday work drives revenue growth, promises greater productivity, creates new job opportunities and connects employees back to the work they want to do.

Closer to home, the report revealed Australian companies are close to breaking point and in urgent need of intelligent automation.

• 44 percent of AU companies say they will need greater automation by 2018 to handle increased workloads - by 2020, nearly nine out of 10 AU companies will hit that breaking point
• 72 percent of AU companies say data from mobile devices and the Internet of Things (IoT) contribute to the overload
• 97 percent agree that intelligent automation (artificial intelligence, for example) could increase productivity

"From smarter homes to cars, automation is already changing our lives. The findings of this survey prove the shift to automation is set to transform everyday work in Australia," says David Oakley, managing director for ServiceNow in ANZ.

"Australian companies are clear on the benefits of automation in the workplace, and are preparing their businesses for the future of intelligent automation.

The report also found that fewer than half of business processes in AU are automated, with HR and Legal the worst.

• Just 42 percent of AU business process are automated, with business leaders spending two full days or 18 hours a week on administrative tasks
• With 56 percent, IT support is the best at business process efficiency, with Legal sitting at 21 percent
• Despite this, IT was named as the department 'most in need of a reboot'
• 76 percent of executives believe automation could lead to job creation and not losses

"While many are understandably nervous about automation, it has the potential of creating jobs and bringing new economic opportunities," Oakley says.

Australian executives recognise this, and many innovative organisations are already evolving their teams' skills to help them thrive in an automated world.

Interestingly, the report found that adding machines actually frees up employees to do the work they want to do, spurring creativity.

• 59 percent of AU respondents say that work levels have increased by 20 percent or more in the last year
• 93 percent of AU executives say their skilled employees spend too much time on admin tasks, while the same percentage again believe that reducing mundane tasks unleashes employee creativity

"Employees feel they're working an extra day every week," says Oakley.

"Automation can alleviate some of these pressures by taking on some of the admin work and freeing up employees' time for the work they're passionate about.