Video Did Not Kill the Radio and Automation Will Not Kill the Workforce
Video Did Not Kill the Radio and Automation Will Not Kill the Workforce
The day that video “killed” the radio was back on August 1, 1981. Some of you may recall the day MTV was launched and its very first broadcast was the 1979 hit “Video Killed the Radio Star.” Looking back to the 70’s and 80’s many felt technology advancements also meant the ruin of existing ones, and the demise for people who relied on them for a living. However contrary to that belief many would argue these advancements have become a catalyst, making services and employment opportunities more widely available. Similarly, the impact of computers, the Internet and smart phones expanded and created new jobs in the service industry and beyond.
This mentality holds true for most innovative industries especially when technology is at the forefront, including industrial automation. Traditionally over the years automation has reduced or eliminated certain job opportunities while at the same time creating new ones. According to the World Economic Forum over a four-year span (2018-2022), 75 million jobs are estimated to be lost as companies shift to more automation. However it has been predicted 133 million new jobs will emerge during this same time span, as businesses develop a new division of labor between people and machines.
Our world is becoming more and more automated, and now in addition to new technology advancements another concern has been brought to light once again: How will higher minimum wages impact employment? With rising minimum wages on the horizon it is time for businesses to take action and employ automation as a cost effective business investment. Raising the minimum wage can have a number of negative consequences and employers, especially small and midsize businesses, can be hurt by the extra costs incurred. Businesses with lean profits will have no choice but to raise prices to compensate the rise in labor costs.
Historically, the main roadblocks to implement industrial automation has been the cost and time constraints linked with the initial setup. Today with the impact of automation along with rising minimum wages, businesses need to evaluate a combination of solutions to remain competitive.
In industries where fractions of a penny make a huge difference in the ability to competitively produce your product, upstream material delivery, receiving and input into the process line is crucial to the success of the processing system. Now is the time to engage experts like Delta Technology to learn how implementing an automation system will not only be cost effective, but easily deployable resulting in minimal down time.
Industrial automation is the core foundation of the solutions that Delta Technology provides, and they have created hundreds of innovative designs and process solutions that have provided clients decades of success. Delta Technology can help businesses explore ways to reduce substitution from workers whose jobs are more easily automated, without a negative impact to production and revenue.
Automation will continue to evolve and provide benefits for businesses as well as employees. Some of these benefits include higher quality work, less worker fatigue, improved reliability, and consistent productivity all while maintaining a competitive edge. Automation of daily routine tasks can actually help workers spend more time on creative tasks that provide value and a much more holistic experience for customers.
So it is fair to say video didn’t kill the radio it actually helped it to evolve. The ways in which the world listens are different, but radio is still alive and well, bringing news and entertainment to millions over great distances. The same can be said for automation, it is here to stay and will continue to be at the forefront of how businesses can become more efficient and cost effective. Automation rather than “killing the workforce” like many fear, will continue to progress the way people do business well into the future.