Cisco Meraki explains how workplace automation is changing the future of work

Modern workplace is a product of decades of creative innovation and the automation of processes and tasks, from chatbots to food-delivery robots, thereby saving customers and businesses time and money, over the years.

Since in business and in life nothing beats more than saving on time and money, the future of work will inevitably be marked by an ongoing need for workplace automation, as hybrid work adds new complexities to the workflows and tools needed to serve customers. This article is a guide for the hybrid workforce as it evolves and grows, plus it offers key insights on how to continue this pattern of time- and money-saving through automation. It covers:

• What workplace automation is?
• The pros and cons of workplace automation.
• Types of automation in the workplace.
• The future of automation and how Meraki can help?

Workplace automation

Workplace automation is the application of processes or systems using technology

Workplace automation is the application of processes or systems using technology (software and/or hardware), to do repeatable or predictable workflows, without requiring manual intervention.

The result is speeding up the way employees work by removing manual steps, in order to increase productivity and efficiency.

Software-driven approach

Nowadays, automation in the office has largely become software-driven. Along with the migration toward cloud-based tools and applications, APIs, big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) have paved the way for new advancements in analytics, driving even more efficient automation and the optimisation of workflows.

Ana Nennig, the Solutions Marketing Manager for Ecosystem and Developers, at Cisco Meraki, said “Automation is at the heart of any API system. Investing in technologies and platforms with APIs makes it easy for any small business or large enterprise to automate a variety of use cases and save countless hours, while seamlessly connecting tools.”

Benefits of automation in the workplace

With the advent of robotics and technologies, the notion that human jobs can be replaced by machines continues to simmer. According to a 2021 PWC survey, 60% of U.S. employees believe tech developments will improve their job prospects. Globally, 61% believe automation is putting many people’s jobs at risk. 

The reality is more nuanced and less definitive. New technologies have, for the most part, allowed us to work more efficiently while offloading wearisome tasks.

Here are four ways in which organisations can benefit from automation in the workplace:

• Higher productivity and performance

There’s nothing quite as soul-crushing as doing repetitive and mundane tasks all day that require little skills or efforts. Reducing manual work can free up time for employees to focus on higher-value work. This can drive more innovation, giving your business a competitive edge.

In a 2021 Zapier report, 88% of SMBs said automation allows them to compete with larger companies, by enabling them to move faster.

• Cost savings

Less time spent on mind-numbing workflows and tasks can not only result in greater productivity, but also greater cost savings. As an added bonus, this can lead to greater employee happiness, output, and even pay.

In the height of the pandemic in 2020, conversational software company LivePerson said they saw their call-center agents’ pay increase by about 15% when they became ‘bot builders’ to train their AI chatbots on how to answer questions.

• Increase safety

Employee safety is paramount in any workplace and is eliminating risks or dangerous procedures, thereby benefitting everyone, particularly in manufacturing and labor-intensive environments.

For example, with social distancing and sanitation being a major concern the past few years, companies have been able to use robots to clean floors, windows, and more.

• Reduce human error

When it comes to manual tasks, such as data entry and invoicing, automating tedious workflows can benefit both companies and employees. Fewer mistakes translate to fewer errors, and in many cases greater employee satisfaction.

According to Zapier, 34% of SMBs say automating tasks like data entry reduces errors.

Disadvantages of automation in the workplace

• Will robots replace all of our jobs one day?

The Paradox of Automation says that the more efficient the automated system

The Paradox of Automation says that the more efficient the automated system, the more crucial the human contribution of the operators. Humans are less involved, but their involvement becomes more critical. Rather than replacing human jobs, it’s trending that robots may instead displace and shift jobs to new needs.

MIT scientist, Andrew McAfee has said, “I would put more emphasis on the way technology leads to structural changes in the economy, and less on jobs, jobs, jobs. The central phenomenon is not net job loss. It’s the shift in the kinds of jobs that are available.”

Four key challenges to keep in mind with workplace automation are:

• More training

To keep your automated systems running smoothly, your employees may need to acquire new skills. New business workflows also tend to impact multiple teams and processes, meaning more training are required across organisations.

Recommendation: Document new tools and workflows and create mandatory team or organisation-level training sessions to orient teams on new processes or new policies to keep your systems running well. 

• Initial costs

As there is digital transformation at the workplace, understand that implementation and maintenance costs, potential recurring fees or licensing, and investments in keeping up with the latest technologies come with the territory.

Recommendation: Calculate the long-term ROI of investing in new technologies. Ensure it maps back to their longer-term business goals, and that the vendors work with include a full suite of customer service and support, should there be any issues that surface.

• Less flexibility

Unless investing significant efforts in building an own automated workflows for maximum customisation, tool and software integrations can be limited to certain use cases or tasks.

Recommendation: To ensure future flexibility as the enterprise grows, integrate with software providers and platforms with open APIs, so that there are more customisation options and the ability to integrate with other services and providers as the needs evolve.

• More security needed

Adding new workflows, software, and applications could open up room for potential vulnerabilities in the business networks. Particularly as cyber security attacks have risen by 3-4 times since 2020, with the shift to a hybrid work model. 

Recommendation: Deploy resilient cyber security solutions with threat protection to safeguard newly added applications, devices, and users in the networks. Schedule regular software and firmware updates or opt into automatic security updates when possible.

Types of automation in the workplace to consider

Nearly all teams can benefit from automating their workflows, such as an HR screening process, IT ticket routing

Nearly all teams can benefit from automating their workflows, such as an HR screening process, IT ticket routing and assigning, or even AI-controlled robots for surgery.

The use cases are limitless. Enterprises can start by prioritising the biggest business challenges and operational bottlenecks, to uncover where repetitive work exists. Then look into flexible technologies, platforms, and ecosystems that let enterprises improve, streamline, and automate tasks.

Listed below are four powerful workplace automation ideas, in order to help boost efficiency and employee job satisfaction:

• Hybrid workplace automation

For a safe return to the office, keeping spaces clean and optimising how the spaces are used can create an inviting workplace that employees look forward to returning to. Facilitating these hybrid work experiences can be done through seamless technology integrations.

• Smart spaces with digital tags

Replacing physical price tags or labels with digital tags and electronic shelf label (ESL) solutions can open up new revenue streams for retailers, manufacturers, and offices. Enterprises can automatically sync, update, and optimise pricing, as well as update in-store stocking to create better customer experiences.

• Smart spaces with asset tracking

Manually scanning or hand-counting products at the warehouse can create burdens, when it comes to traceability and reporting, while potentially introducing human error. Automating the entire logistics and supply chain through smart-tracking technologies can open up visibility and enable new operational efficiencies.

• Marketing automation

To deliver memorable customer experiences, personalisation matters. Accenture found that 47% of customers are willing to pay more for an experience that exceeds their expectations. Infusing more personalisation into the customer’s journey, while automating marketing steps along the way, can go a long way to delivering happiness.

The future of work and how Cisco Meraki can help

There’s a clear and indispensable need for both automation and humans, today and in the foreseeable future

American philosopher, Elbert Hubbard once said, “One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man.”

There’s a clear and indispensable need for both automation and humans, today and in the foreseeable future.

Meraki cloud-first platform

The Meraki cloud-first platform powers IT and IoT technologies that delivers exceptional experiences for the hybrid workforce, throughout the company’s digital transformation journey.

It all begins with Cisco Meraki’s intuitive dashboard and an extensive library of open APIs and technology integrations, to automate the workplace.

Meraki Marketplace

In the words of Ana Nennig, “The Meraki Marketplace features an exclusive catalogue of applications, developed by ecosystem partners, using our open APIs. They help businesses solve their operational challenges of IT and IoT, and stay competitive by deploying apps in specific outcomes and experiences, such as hybrid work.”

When innovating for the future, join the Cisco Meraki webinar and hear from Meraki Marketplace experts, Ana Nennig (Solutions Marketing Manager) and Joe Maestri (Ecosystem Business Development Manager), as well as Sabrina Venish (Global Head of Platform Solutions) from PlaceOS, on how to automate workplace tasks and much more.