In India, automation is poised to redefine work, with nostalgia and novelty. The coexistence of traditional markets and tech giants reflects a multifaceted transition. Questions loom: Will machines replace IT jobs? How will cottage industries adapt? Will automation integrate into our diverse workforce, creating new collaborations and opportunities?
In the context of employment, automation refers to the use of machinery, artificial intelligence, and software to perform tasks that were traditionally done by humans. This could range from rudimentary tasks like sorting items on a conveyor belt in manufacturing units to more intricate responsibilities like data analysis and decision-making.
For Indians, this is not a distant reality. Think of how Flipkart uses algorithms to optimise delivery routes, or how Zomato employs data analytics to suggest personalised food options. On banking sites like ICICI or HDFC, chatbots handle customer queries, providing instant solutions. The ticketing system of IRCTC, which caters to millions daily, is another prime example of automation at work. In essence, automation, as we see on these prominent Indian platforms, is seamlessly integrating into our daily lives, reshaping industries and redefining roles.
Automation is reshaping India's job market dramatically. Sectors like auto manufacturing, banking, healthcare, and IT are adopting robotics and automation to enhance efficiency. For instance, Chennai's auto manufacturing units integrate robotics for faster and higher-quality production. Banking giants employ chatbots and advanced ATMs, improving customer experiences. Healthcare utilises automated diagnostic tools and surgical assistants for precision and error reduction. IT automation streamlines processes and encourages professionals to acquire specialised skills. Agriculture benefits from drones and automated tractors, promising increased yields. This transformation necessitates Indian workers to adapt, evolve, and prepare for a future where humans and machines coexist harmoniously.
The efficiency brought by automation, while promising, also carries with it the shadows of job displacement, particularly in a country like India with its vast and diverse workforce. Traditional roles, especially in sectors where repetitive tasks are paramount, are increasingly at risk.
Take, for instance, the bustling call centres of Gurugram and Noida. As AI-driven chatbots become more proficient, many customer service roles, especially the initial layers of support, might face obsolescence. In cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru, the advent of digital payment platforms and online banking has reduced the footfall in bank branches, gradually lessening the need for traditional bank tellers.
The transport industry, too, faces potential disruption. As India pushes forward with its plans for smart cities and invests in research for autonomous vehicles, the day isn't far when drivers might find their roles being replaced or significantly altered.
Furthermore, sectors like textiles and handicrafts, which have been the pride of places like Jaipur and Varanasi, might also see automation of certain processes, potentially affecting artisans and craftsmen who have honed their skills over generations.
However, it's crucial to note that while this shift might seem alarming, history serves as a testament to human adaptability. Just as the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th century brought with it concerns of widespread unemployment, it eventually led to the creation of entirely new professions and opportunities. In a similar vein, the wave of automation in India, though challenging, also brings with it the promise of novel roles, industries, and avenues yet unexplored.
The advent of automation in India is not just a harbinger of change; it's a catalyst for innovation and new opportunities. While certain roles face obsolescence, a myriad of new job categories are emerging, promising a dynamic employment landscape.
Drawing from reports on the official website of NITI Aayog, the government's premier think-tank, it's evident that India is poised to be a global leader in the AI and robotics sector. This will inevitably lead to the creation of jobs in AI programming, machine learning model training, and robotics control design.
Further, according to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the effective achievement of India's digital vision has the potential to generate substantial economic worth, ranging from $800 billion to as much as $1 trillion, a considerable increase from the current $200 billion. Moreover, it could also support the creation of 60 million to 65 million jobs in the digital economy by 2025.
Moreover, as cited by NASSCOM, India's IT industry body, there's a growing demand for roles in emerging fields like quantum computing, blockchain development, and augmented reality design.
However, it's essential to highlight that while machines are adept at quantitative tasks, they lack the qualitative touch intrinsic to humans. Skills like empathy, creativity, and intricate problem-solving remain irreplaceably human. This distinction underscores the growing demand in professions such as mental health counselling, content creation, and design thinking roles that machines cannot easily replicate.
In essence, while automation redefines the contours of the traditional job market, India's emphasis on innovation, bolstered by government initiatives and industry foresight, ensures a vibrant tapestry of opportunities awaiting the discerning professional.
In the rapidly evolving Indian landscape, upskilling has become imperative. With a massive population, India's talent pool needs to stay globally competitive through continuous learning. Renowned institutions like IITs and IIMs offer courses on emerging tech trends. Major IT firms like Infosys, TCS, and Wipro have set up training centers and partnered with platforms like Coursera and Udemy for employee upskilling. Renowned institutions like IITs and IIMs offer courses on emerging tech trends. Startups and incubation centers provide workshops on blockchain and machine learning.
This shift means a shift from the traditional "study-work-retire" to a cyclical "study-work-upskill-repeat" model. Digital platforms and MOOCs make learning accessible from home. In the age of rapid technological advancement, upskilling is crucial for professional development.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and NASSCOM have introduced a digital upskilling incentives program through their platform, FutureSkills Prime. The platform's primary objective is to address the skill shortage among entry-level candidates and provide training in cutting-edge technologies for the current workforce in India.
Digital India initiatives, such as e-NAM, bring tech solutions to farmers, showcasing human-machine synergy. This partnership promises to unlock new opportunities as technology evolves, paving the way for once-dreamed innovations.
The trend of remote work, once a mere blip on India's employment radar, has now surged to the forefront, particularly accelerated by the intertwining forces of automation and the digital revolution.
The pandemic forced most IT companies in India to switch to work from home model. This shift wasn't just a temporary adjustment; many companies are considering adopting a hybrid model, balancing between remote work and office presence.
As per an Economic Times report, Infosys, one of India's IT behemoths, had announced switching to a flexible hybrid work model to address the uncertainty during the pandemic. This speaks volumes about the changing dynamics of work culture in India.
With cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi being known for their notorious traffic snarls, the elimination of commute time is a significant boon for many employees.
MeitY has been a staunch advocate for digital tools and platforms. Their push for Digital India is not just about digitising services but also promoting a work culture that leverages these digital tools, making remote work more seamless.
Companies like Trello, Slack, and Zoom, which facilitate remote collaboration, have witnessed increased adoption rates among Indian businesses. This is a testament to the changing paradigms where efficiency and task completion are taking precedence over fixed working hours.
Moreover, this shift towards remote work is democratising employment opportunities. Talents from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, who earlier faced geographical barriers, are now getting equal opportunities in the national and even global job market. Websites like Upwork and Freelancer have seen a surge in Indian professionals offering their services, indicating a robust trend towards freelancing and project-based employment.
Automation, rather than being a harbinger of joblessness, is a clarion call for adaptation. As we stand at this crossroads, the way forward is not resistance but readiness. Embrace the change, upskill, collaborate, and dive into the dynamic, automated future with both enthusiasm and caution. The landscape of employment is changing, but with the right mindset, it's an era filled with potential and promise.
Sources:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/10/03/ai-customer-service-jobs/
https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-02/Annual-Report-2022-2023-English_1.pdf
https://www.meity.gov.in/writereaddata/files/Call%20for%20Proposal-final_.pdf
https://www.pmkvyofficial.org/about-pmkvy
Shounak Roy
Shounak Roy finds pleasure in the hunt for knowledge, eagerly seeking to learn something new about anything that interests him. He describes himself as a simple and peaceful individual, always curious to delve deeper into various subjects. If he comes across someone with shared interests, he enjoys engaging in discussions and exchanging knowledge.
Read more:
Future of Employment in an Era of Automation - Drishti IAS
- Yellow.ai unveils Email Automation feature for streamlined support - IT Brief New Zealand - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Automation in Biopharma Industry Propels Market Growth with Emerging Trends - Global Forecast to 2028 - Yahoo Finance - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Ginkgo Bioworks: Pioneering Healthcare's Future with Drug Development Automation - BNN Breaking - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Inspiring cloud automation - The Register - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Clinical Lab Automation Market to Reach $3.72 Billion by 2030 Amid Technological Advancements - PR Newswire - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- #ETFutureForwardME: Hiring and onboarding right with AI and automation, ETHRWorldME - ETHRWorld Middle East - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- How Document Digitization, Process Automation Can Help Rebuild Trust - GovCIO Media & Research - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Iraq's Customs starts using ASYCUDA automation system in Umm Qasr - Iraqi News - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Robot Software Market: Powering the Future of Automation ,Analysis and Forecast 2023-2029 - WhaTech - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- ImageSource Unveils ILINX AI for Intelligent Process Automation - PR Newswire - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- The Evolving Landscape of APIs: Integration, Automation, and AI - EnterpriseTalk - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Gen AI isn't the only tech driving automation in banking - Finextra - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Navigating the Future: The Shift Towards Level 3 Automation in the Automotive Industry - Medriva - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Automation and Controls Market is Rapidly Growing with Huge Application Scope and Opportunities by 2030 - EIN News - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Winning the Game: Essentials skills to survive AI, LLMs and Automation - DataDrivenInvestor - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Industrial Metrology Market Set to Hit $17.96 Billion by 2030, Driven by Automation and Quality Demand - BNN Breaking - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Automation tools Archives - Milwaukee Community Journal - The Milwaukee Community Journal - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Industrial Automation Market to Receive Overwhelming Hike In Revenue That Will Boost Overall Industry Growth - EIN News - March 4th, 2024 [March 4th, 2024]
- Lutra AI launches to make building automated AI workflows easy - SiliconANGLE News - December 9th, 2023 [December 9th, 2023]
- AI meets materials science: the promise and pitfalls of automated discovery - VentureBeat - December 9th, 2023 [December 9th, 2023]
- SPS Fair 2023 - The Latest Industrial Automation Trends - IoT Analytics - December 9th, 2023 [December 9th, 2023]
- Top WorkTech News From the Week of December 8th: Updates from Infor, Automation Anywhere, IFS, and More - Solutions Review - December 9th, 2023 [December 9th, 2023]
- Nividous and RCG Global Services Focus on Empowering Healthcare and Life Sciences Organizations with Intelligent ... - PR Newswire - December 9th, 2023 [December 9th, 2023]
- Automation and Communication to Streamline Deliveries - Supply and Demand Chain Executive - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- From legacy to automation: Spirent's impact on network validation - ETCIO - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Genghis Grill Partners with Flybuy on Off-Premises Automation - FSR magazine - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Q&A: Workday exec talks hospitality and automated, scalable finance - Smartbrief - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Home Automation Market Size to Worth Around USD 788.33 BN by ... - InvestorsObserver - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Network automation market set to surge over the next decade - ChannelLife Australia - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Mitsubishi Electric agrees strategic investment in Otto Motors to ... - Robotics and Automation News - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Roots Automation Introduces InsurGPT - the World's Most Advanced ... - PR Newswire - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Research Shows Ways Digital Print and Automation Power Profitability - Printing Impressions - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Rockwell Automation Inc. stock outperforms market on strong trading day - MarketWatch - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Is It Too Late To Consider Buying Presto Automation Inc. (NASDAQ:PRST)? - Yahoo Finance - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- U.S. Companies Embrace Automation and Digitization - CPAPracticeAdvisor.com - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Byron Centers SpartanNash Ups Customer Service with Robotic ... - DBusiness - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Why KYC automation is key to business growth strategies - FinTech Magazine - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Leading Ireland & UK Industrial Automation company NeoDyne ... - Process & Control Today - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Automation Testing Market: Industry Overview, Size, Share and ... - Digital Journal - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Accelerate your speed of business with IBM Event Automation - IBM Newsroom - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- 3M Brings Innovation to the Manufacturing Supply Chain Environment - MarketScale - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Jitterbit Survey Reveals Low-Code Application Platforms Play an ... - GlobeNewswire - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Turning value into actions: How leaders can use automation and AI ... - Elite Business Magazine - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Automation will combat stagnation | theHRD - The HR Director Magazine - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- MG Tech Unveils New Palletizer with Yaskawa Cobot and Rockwell ... - Packaging Strategies - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- How automation technology helped Cainiao deliver more than 200 ... - Parcel and Postal Technology International - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- IT Priorities 2023: Business automation intensifies as data ... - ComputerWeekly.com - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Milking Automation Market Size, Share And Growth Analysis For 2023-2032 - EIN News - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Digitise your SMEs for Success: How can HR Automation empower you to Stay Ahead of the Game? - People Matters - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Verified acquires Pliance to compliment digital signatures with AML ... - Biometric Update - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- HireVue acquires Modern Hire to bolster hiring automation capabilities - HR Dive - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Advanced thermal imager for industrial automation, inspection ... - AZoM - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Warehouse Automation Survey 2023: More robots are coming to a ... - Modern Materials Handling - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Agriculture Automation and Control Systems Market Untapped ... - Digital Journal - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Himachal Pradesh Government Prioritizes Digitization and ... - TheNewsHimachal - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- An IT Executive's Guide to Automation - free eGuide - Neowin - May 15th, 2023 [May 15th, 2023]
- Are You Looking for a Top Momentum Pick? Why Rockwell Automation (ROK) is a Great Choice - Zacks Investment Research - February 20th, 2023 [February 20th, 2023]
- Industrial Automation Sensors Market is Predicted to Hit a Revenue of USD 37.76 Billion by Growing with a CAGR of 9.12% During 2022-2028; Growing... - February 20th, 2023 [February 20th, 2023]
- Declining Stock and Decent Financials: Is The Market Wrong About Honeywell Automation India Limited (NSE:HONAUT)? - Simply Wall St - February 20th, 2023 [February 20th, 2023]
- What is Automation? - ISA - International Society of Automation - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- Free Online PLC Training from AutomationDirect - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- Investing in Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) five years ago would have delivered you a 65% gain - Simply Wall St - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- The Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Market size was valued at USD 2.27 billion in 2021 and is predicted to reach USD 18.69 billion by 2030, with a... - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Bill would give North Dakota manufacturers a tax break on automation - The Center Square - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- I just watched McDonald's next step into automation and why are you so mad about it? - ZDNet - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- What if your colleague is a bot? Harnessing the benefits of workplace automation without alienating staff - The Conversation - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Will Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd (HOLI) Stay at the Top of the Industrials Sector? - InvestorsObserver - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Valmet Oyj : to supply automation to three waste-to-energy plants in Sungnam City, Korea - Marketscreener.com - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- How Automation Can Bridge The Gap Between Internal Operations And Customer Service Excellence - Forbes - December 26th, 2022 [December 26th, 2022]
- The Global Industrial Automation And Control Systems Market size is expected to reach $301.8 billion by 2028, rising at a market growth of 10.0% CAGR... - December 26th, 2022 [December 26th, 2022]
- Introducing the Automation Kit for Power Platform - December 16th, 2022 [December 16th, 2022]
- Salesforce com : Launches Automation Everywhere Bundle to Help Companies Lower Costs, Boost Productivity, and Deliver Success Now - Marketscreener.com - December 2nd, 2022 [December 2nd, 2022]
- ACE Convergence Acquisition Corp. and Tempo Automation, Inc. Announce Closing of Business Combination; Tempo Automation Holdings, Inc. to Trade on... - November 27th, 2022 [November 27th, 2022]
- Global automation major Diebold Nixdorf expands presence in India with Bengaluru facility - The Economic Times - November 27th, 2022 [November 27th, 2022]
- Structural Health Monitoring Market Report 2022: Increasing Requirement for Standardization and Automation for the Repair and Maintenance of Civil and... - November 19th, 2022 [November 19th, 2022]
- The mining automation market size is expected to grow from USD 3.1 billion in 2022 to USD 4.2 billion by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of... - November 19th, 2022 [November 19th, 2022]
- Cisco study: Network teams look to SDN, automation to manage multicloud operations - Network World - November 16th, 2022 [November 16th, 2022]
- Inductive Automation Forum - October 28th, 2022 [October 28th, 2022]
- Reveal Group Announces New Office Opening in Toronto, Canada to Amplify Growth and Continue to Support Intelligent Automation Program Customers Across... - October 25th, 2022 [October 25th, 2022]
- Salesforce Contact Center: Automation, Intelligence and New Real-Time Data Drive Cost Savings and Proactive Service Experiences - Marketscreener.com - October 25th, 2022 [October 25th, 2022]