The Future of Work: How Robotic Automation is Transforming Industries

ROBOTIC PROCESS AUTOMATION (or “RPA) is a form of business process automation that allows anyone to define a set of instructions for a robot or ‘bot’ to perform.?RPA bots are capable of mimicking most human-computer interactions to carry out a ton of error-free tasks, at high volume and speed.??The “robots” in a Robotic Process Automation are software robots running on a physical or virtual machine.

Different from the “robots” you see in Netflix, robots in industry are ultimately about automating some of the most mundane and repetitive computer tasks and processes in the workplace. Think of it as a “copy-paste” tasks and moving files from one location to another.?To put it simply, the role of RPA is to automate repetitive tasks that were previously handled by humans. The software is programmed to do repetitive tasks across applications and systems.

RPA apply technology that allows employees in a company to configure computer software or a “robot” to capture and interpret existing applications for processing a transaction, manipulating data, triggering responses, and communicating with other digital systems.

According to Fortune Business Insights , the global?robotic process automation market size?hit $10 billion in 2022. The market valuation is expected to increase to $43.52 billion by 2029 at a healthy CAGR of 23% over 2022-2029.?The COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on the robotic process automation market growth during 2020 owing to increased adoption of RPA solutions across healthcare.

RPA makes use of software with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities to handle high-volume, and repeatable tasks that previously required human intervention among others. RPA can be applied in almost all industries such as healthcare, retail and e-commerce, manufacturing, and banking or financial services, due the high reach and impact they have on society.

Here are 6 x industries where Robotic Automation has the most impact:

1. HEALTHCARE

In the healthcare industry, RPA can be used to automate the process of verifying patients’ information for a required treatment or process insurance claims. This is a task that is in many countries performed by humans, and it is a time-consuming and error-prone process. By automating this process, hospitals and clinics can reduce the amount of time spent on verifying health insurance eligibility, and they can also reduce the number of errors that are made. Imagine what this does to patients by helping them access care on time.

For automation in the workplace, see Polytex Technologies from Israel. A global leader in digital workwear management solutions. Polytex dispensing and return solutions enable workwear and laundry managers to gain more control and optimize their operations. Hygiene standards in hospital units must be maintained at a high level and medical teams need a consistent supply of clean scrubs to prevent contamination and the spread of viruses and bacteria.

These boxed “robots” or dispensing machines, identify each user based on predefined privileges and users select items via an easy-to-use touch screen.?This ensures that medical teams get clean and fresh workwear via a fully automated closed system unit featuring hands-free dispensing and collection of items.?

2.?MANUFACTURING

In the manufacturing industry, RPA can be used for tasks such as quality control, supply chain management, and production planning. Most repetitive tasks can be automated with robots doing an efficient, and trackable delivery. Bots can be trained to do a whole of management related tasks with AI infusion, and real time reporting functionality.

The manufacturing industry is massive and can vary vastly in terms of requirements and business needs. Robotic automation can play a significant role not only on factory floors but also in easing other processes and tasks.

In the car manufacturing industry for example, there are a wide number of components that can benefit from being streamlined, especially when we’re talking about how humans are not able to keep track of every single component.?Car manufacturing plants use robots for multiple purposes including painting, welding, assembly, and material handling. Robots are found in almost every part of a car plant, but they perform different functions depending on where in the plant they are located.

Some robots even work outside of car plants as well. Robots are used to perform tasks such as inspecting parts, moving materials, and spraying paint onto cars, which allows people to complete more specialized tasks.??By 2025, it’s estimated by experts that as much as 75% of vehicles will ride on robot production lines.?

3.?RETAIL and ECOMMERCE

In the retail and e-commerce industry, RPA can be used for tasks such as order processing, price checking, customer service, packaging, and inventory management. By automating these time-consuming tasks, retailers can free up staff to focus on other non-repetitive activities. These days drones are being employed for last-mile customer order fulfillment, making possible super predictable time monitoring in a pull system.

Caja Robotics , a technology startup based in Binyamina, Israel, has developed a solution for the flexible and scalable automation of warehouse logistics operations, which combines powerful robots, intelligently planned picking stations and powerful, AI-supported software. ?Caja’s robots move bins between workstations and inventory, constantly optimizing goods management while saving warehouse labor costs. The “robots” move cartons and bins between the picking stations and the shelves and thus constantly optimize goods management and the entire warehouse operation.

4. TELECOM

Telecom companies are using RPA for tasks like account provisioning, billing audits, intelligent network callback tunes, and fraud detection. Automating these tasks helps telecom companies improve their bottom line while also providing better service to their customers.

RPA allows employees in a company to capture and interpret existing applications for processing a transaction, manipulating data, triggering responses, and communicating with other digital systems. RPAs can be deployed much faster than traditional IT system changes, and they do not require any specialized skills or knowledge to operate. Additionally, RPAs can work 24/7 and are not susceptible to human error.

5. BANKING and INSURANCE

In the banking and financial services industry, RPA can be used for tasks such as loan processing, financial analysis, fraud detection, insurance claims and reconciliation, and customer service. This helps them improve efficiency and accuracy while also reducing operational costs.

Regarding quality service, some hotels around the world already make use of robots to welcome guests and serve tables at restaurants. Banks can also leverage this on some of their customer service units.

6. HOSPITALITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE

The Hospitality Industry has also turned to AI and Robots to deal with labor shortages. In Japan, the Henn na Hotel chain has built a name for itself—and reduced labor costs—by staffing its front counters with robots. The chain opened a robot-staffed hotel aimed at business travelers employing cutting-edge technology to offer customers a stress-free experience.

In Jerusalem, the YMCA Sport Center looked for a way to improve customer experience and gain control over towel use, while reducing costs and turning towels into a profit center. By deploying a Polytex towel dispencing machine , the YMCA sport center gained new profits from towel distribution, earned labor savings, monitor and control of towel inventory, peace of mind, and happier customers.

Rising?labor costs?coupled with an?industry-wide labor shortage, skyrocketing rents and huge issues with?employee turnover?have led some restaurant owners to try and automate the more tedious, repetitive restaurant tasks and?systems?to reduce how much they spend on labor.? Due to this, a lot of restaurant owners have become inventive and started using robotic automation in multiple ways.?

Hyper Food Robotics from Israel for example, created a modular, portable robotic pizza kitchen.?Yes, a robot to make Pizza!??Staff comprises some 20% of the costs of running a pizza chain. Robots, on the other hand, never get sick and never need vacations or coffee breaks. Replacing humans with robots will reduce Pizza Hut franchise in Israel high costs of operations.?Robots also, don’t make mistakes. They don’t use ingredients that have passed their expiration dates and they never forget to wear protective gloves while working with the dough. A self-contained autonomous robotic system can even monitor the air quality, so everything stays hygienic. ?The best part is that these robots can make 120 pizzas an hour, about three times more than in a typical human-staffed kitchen

Robots can work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without getting tired or taking coffee breaks. This allows businesses to increase their output and reduce their reliance on human labor.

SUMMARY

Robotic Automation can be rapidly implemented to accelerate digital transformation. RPA is ideal for automating workflows that involve legacy systems that lack APIs, virtual desktop infrastructures, or database access.?It streamlines workflows, which makes organizations more profitable, flexible, and responsive. It also increases employee satisfaction, engagement, and productivity by removing mundane tasks from their workdays.

One of the main advantages of robotic automation is its ability to improve productivity and efficiency. Robots can work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without getting tired or taking coffee breaks. This allows businesses to increase their output and reduce their reliance on human labor. Additionally, robots can perform tasks with a high degree of precision and accuracy, reducing the likelihood of errors.

Another benefit of robotic automation is its cost-effectiveness. While there is an initial investment in robots, they can pay for themselves over time through the increased productivity and efficiency they provide. In addition, robots require less training and supervision than human workers, and they do not need to be paid salaries or benefits. This means that businesses can save money on labor costs by using robots instead of humans.

...and the title of this blog was generated using an AI-based language Robot Chat GPT . Try it !

Igal Elon ??is a global Sales & Marketing executive with 25+ years of experience in C-level positions with early-stage and growth startups. He has a natural curiosity for everything technology. Proven ability to assess and penetrate new markets, structure channels, partners, and sell directly to enterprises. Multicultural & Multilingual, Igal traveled and worked across multiple regions from North America, Emea, Latam, and APAC.

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