Protecting Your Business Against Economic Volatility, is Automation Your Shield?

The global economy is currently facing significant headwinds, driven by persistent inflation, supply chain disruptions, and an increasing risk of a global recession, as highlighted by the World Economic Forum. Amid these challenges, there lies a unique opportunity for business leaders to reimagine the workplace and drive resilience through automation.

Automation: From a Dirty Word to a Strategic Imperative

For many years, automation was seen as a threat to jobs, conjuring images of widespread displacement and uncertainty. However, in today’s context of critical skills shortages and rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, automation is being recognized as a crucial tool for maintaining competitiveness and operational efficiency. Companies are increasingly viewing automation as a way to protect revenue and avoid the painful workforce reductions that may accompany an economic downturn.

Productivity Gains and Employee Empowerment

Investing in automation is not just about cutting costs—it’s about unlocking productivity and enabling employees to focus on work that truly matters. According to cumulative data from the Big 4, workers spend more than a day each week on administrative tasks such as responding to requests, awaiting approvals, or searching for information. Automating these processes can save significant time and resources, allowing employees to concentrate on high-value activities.

At REDE Consulting | Specialized ServiceNow Solutions , we specialize in helping organizations leverage the latest features of ServiceNow to automate repetitive and manual tasks. Whether it’s through ServiceNow’s Virtual Agent capabilities, IT Service Management (ITSM), or IT Asset Management (ITAM) solutions, our expertise ensures that businesses can achieve greater efficiency and operational resilience.

Automation and Human Progress: A Historical Perspective

The fear of automation displacing jobs is not new. Throughout history, technological advancements have continually reshaped the workforce. Roles such as typists and telephone operators have disappeared, only to be replaced by new opportunities in emerging fields. More recently, email administrators, a subset of IT professionals, found themselves obsolete with the advent of cloud-based platforms. However, many of these professionals successfully transitioned into growing areas like user experience design and cybersecurity.

The World Economic Forum projects that automation will create more jobs than it displaces, echoing the positive trends of the past. The key for organizations is to proactively prepare for this shift by investing in upskilling and reskilling their workforce.

Real-World Applications: Automation Beyond the Office

Automation is not confined to traditional office settings. For instance, in hospitality industry, automated ordering systems are helping restaurants manage severe staff shortages, enabling them to continue operations despite challenging circumstances. By 2030, the World Economic Forum predicts that “employers will divide work equally between humans and machines.” While this may seem daunting, businesses across the globe are already demonstrating how automation can drive significant value.

This value is showcased by our latest partnership with Cloudable360 which further enhances our ability to provide on-ground support and consultative services to our North American customers seeking digital transformation through ServiceNow solutions.

The Time to Automate is Now

As the global economy faces increasing uncertainty, business leaders must weigh the risks and rewards of their strategic choices. While some may be tempted to cut costs through workforce reductions, this approach is shortsighted. Organizations that invest in automation and human capital today will be better positioned to navigate the economic storm and emerge stronger.

According to a World Economic Forum white paper, a 1% increase in investment in future-of-work technologies can boost productivity by two percentage points. Moreover, 66% of employers expect to see a return on their investment in upskilling and reskilling employees within a year. As the Australian hospitality industry has demonstrated, automation can actually preserve jobs, enabling businesses to continue operating and serving customers effectively.

Preparing for the Future: Rede Consulting’s Role

To seize the opportunities that automation offers, both public and private sectors need to take decisive action. Rede Consulting is committed to supporting organizations in their journey toward automation. We offer tailored solutions that integrate the latest ServiceNow features to automate routine tasks and improve business outcomes. Our expertise in workforce redesign, change management, and digital transformation ensures that businesses can effectively navigate the complexities of automation.

Building a Resilient Workforce

For employees, this is a time to reflect on where they can add the most value and focus on developing skills that will be in high demand, such as analytical thinking, creativity, and digital literacy. Organizations must invest in comprehensive retraining programs and workforce redesign to fully realize the potential of automation and prepare for the future of work.

Conclusion: Embracing Automation for a Brighter Future

In conclusion, automation is not just a response to economic challenges; it is a strategic imperative for building resilience and fostering innovation. By embracing automation and investing in human capital, organizations can not only survive the current economic headwinds but also position themselves for long-term success.

At Rede Consulting, we are here to help you navigate this journey. With our expertise in ServiceNow and commitment to driving digital transformation, we can help you unlock the full potential of automation and build a future-ready workforce. The time to act is now—let’s shape a better, more resilient future together.