Insight
Robots and Automation
at work place
With great interest, I watched the news on BBC about Henn’na
Hotel in Nagasaki, Japan – the hotel is mostly staffed by robots.
The tasks at reception, concierge and bag check in are all done by
robots. These robots are programmed to speak multiple languages in addition to Japanese. The room key is replaced by another
automation tool based on facial recognition. This simply says that
in near future we will see growth of machine managed and automated hotels globally, especially in 3 star and 4 star segments. In
Japan, robots are seen at multiple places including doing greeting
services in retail stores and also in restaurants—the trend of robots appearing at multiple places of work and business will soon
be seen across globe and will continue growing.
Shashi Shekhar
Group Chairman & Founder, SCLG
Chairman & Managing Partner, innovaXL
twitter: @shashi_SCLG
Atlas, Boston Dynamics’s Robot which is 5 feet and 9 inch tall and
weighs approx. 82 kg can avoid obstacles, assess the terrain, help
with navigation and manipulate objects. Robots in general are
currently doing analysis of documents, filling medical prescriptions, and handling other jobs that were once exclusively done by
humans. ATM machines helped reduce the need for bank tellers
and virtual assistants answer the phone 24 hours a day. Use of selfservice machines have significantly grown.
So in the age of automation and robots, I see opportunities in
supply chain segment as well. Many processes in warehouses and
larger distribution centers are for sure ready for automation. In
one of big warehouse in USA, reportedly 100+ employees work
with 70 plus robots. Robots run around in massive facility bringing products from shelf to shipping area. Robots are controlled by
antennas that interact with computers for order processing in a
WI-FI environment. Experts say that automation in large and small
warehouses will now happen faster than expected—I see automation picking up in this region significantly as well. Please be recommended to review opportunities for automation, digitization
and technology adoption for an efficient business growth. Automation could be modular and incremental or full automation of
course governed by many factors.
The analysis for possible automation also has to be done along
with skill enhancement of personnel who could likely be impacted
by machines taking over the tasks they are performing.
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February 2016