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Think of Automation as a Positive Transformation, says Framework CEO

TMCnews Featured Article


November 05, 2013

Think of Automation as a Positive Transformation, says Framework CEO

By Mini Swamy, TMCnet Contributor


With the advance of technology, automation has also taken a giant step forward and pervaded a wide spectrum of industry. Although it may well be the biggest technological change of the decade, IT professionals and CEOs appear apprehensive about the consequences that automation could bring in its wake.


Alexander Mehlhorn, CEO of software development company Framework One, attempts to allay these fears and paints a rosier picture, giving some new perspectives to automation. While he does agree that the rise of smart machines will reduce the amount of work and render some jobs obsolete, he also believes that it will open other avenues of opportunity, which would translate into new industries and new job functions.

Thus, according to Mehlhorn, the word automation needn’t conjure up a picture where fewer people are required, but a scenario where processes become more streamlined and efficient, businesses grow in a different direction, the workforce emerges stronger and more skilled and time and energy are optimized.

He justifies his viewpoint by citing the examples of the industrial revolution and the more recent Amazon automation of the physical bookstore assistant, both of which resulted in retrenchment of jobs but also paved the way for newer ones and newer job functions.

While the revolution did eliminate weavers from the job scene, textile jobs increased four-fold because of automation. Likewise the emergence of Amazon did away with retail bookstore chains, but in the process made way for a number of independent booksellers with clerks capable of giving expert advice on book choices.

Underscoring the fact that inefficient business processes lead to higher prices for products that translate into fewer sales, lower profits and perhaps stagnation and decline, Mehlhorn impresses upon companies the positive transformation that automation can bring about and urges them to begin automating tasks.

Of course, like any other change, automation will bring its share of challenges: quick reallocation of workforce to meet dynamic needs of the market; training and upskilling staff to help them cope with new job functions; ensuring business continuity during the transition to automation and ironing out creases as and when they occur. Although these are challenges for CEOs and IT departments, they are not insurmountable and Mehlhorn believes that companies will get a ‘lot of gain for a little pain.’




Edited by Cassandra Tucker







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