Category Archives: Automation

Surely you caught the recent news about a souped-up Walmart distribution center slated to open in Spartanburg County in 2024. More precisely, it will be the retailers largest automated grocery distribution center. Theres an economic development story about this win that the Upstate will be telling for the next decade. Theres also an interesting tech aspect that says something about whats already here now.

The robotics and other automation technology at the center will come from Wilmington, Massachusetts-based Symbotic. But, I wondered if they could have just as easily come from here in the Upstate.

Apparently, they could.

Theres an economic development story about this win that the Upstate will be telling for the next decade.

Were good at talking about our advanced manufacturing, and the dawning of Industry 4.0, the future of manufacturing. (Are we there yet?) More rare is any discussion about the companies in the Upstate whose innovations are enabling that advancement to begin with.

First, theres Good Sense Automation, a locally-owned systems integrator that gets style points for company name. It also gets street cred for a customer base that, according to its website, includes a premier automotive manufacturer in South Carolina that is the number one exporter of vehicles in the United States (whoever that is ).

Many of the rest of our industrial robotics and automation companies are headquartered elsewhere, but have a significant presence in the Upstate.

This small sampling explains in part why the Greenville-Spartanburg-Mauldin metro area and Spartanburg County, alone have ranked in the top-10 nationally for places with the most exposure to robotics, yet the state only sometimes appears on lists of places where robotics and automation are a threat to workers. Most of those places are in the Rust Belt.

It seems the difference here is weve got a lot more skin, or maybe exoskeleton, in the game.

Jennifer Oladipo is owner of Jenno Co., which focuses on marketing and content for life science and technology companies.

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A Matter of Life and Tech: We've got the bots, y'all. - UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL - Upstate Business Journal

Executive Summary

Government agencies are changing to become more efficient and effective. Set up for industrial-era operations, many public sector organizations are hierarchical, function on command and control principles, are labor intensive, and do not sufficiently employ digital tools for handling routine processes.

The results are high costs, unresponsive organizations, and public dissatisfaction. People see government as bloated and inefficient, and not serving the public interest. They worry whether government is up to the task of dealing with new challenges in public health, education, transportation, commerce, and national defense. Many individuals do not see government agencies rising to the needs of the 21st century and fear America is slipping behind other nations.

But there are new processes coming online that could improve this situation. In this paper, I focus on two applications: robotic process automation (RPA) and intelligent automation (also known as cognitive automation). Each is being deployed in federal government agencies and starting to alter how they function. I look at how these tools are being used, what the opportunities and risks are, and how to train the federal government workforce to utilize new technologies in a responsible manner.

Robotic process automation refers to software or processes that enable the automation of routine administrative tasks. It develops rules for processing paperwork and has a series of if/then decisionmaking that handles tasks based on those guidelines. When key conditions are satisfied, the tool can pay invoices, process claims, or complete financial transactions.

These types of digital tools have been used for things from travel reimbursements, data collection, and claims processing to administrative compliance and invoice processing. Also included are chatbots that can answer common questionsfor example, identifying opening and closing hours, explaining how to return damaged items, or providing assistance with filing complaintsand free human operators from having to answer the same inquiries over and over.

Sometimes, RPA tools have achieved significant cost and time savings. For example, KPMG worked with a technology company to develop a digital initiative that improved the processing of financial invoices. Rather than manually processing hundreds of thousands of invoices, it designed a tool that automatically populated forms with key information, provided corrections when necessary, and sent forms for human review when something complex or problematic came up. That allowed the organization to achieve cost savings and improve productivity by up to 70%.1

In another case, PwC worked with Boston Scientific to automate some aspects of its tax and finance operations. Analyzing a number of common transactions and data-entry processes, it was able to automate several different activities. Ultimately, PwC claims this process reduced overtime, boosted productivity, and saved around 3,900 person-hours each year. The result was higher employee and customer satisfaction, according to the firm.2

Intelligent automation (IA), also known as cognitive automation, is a type of RPA that includes artificial intelligence, machine learning (ML), or natural language processing (NLP). It can include data analytics and complex forms of analysis. IA is dynamic in nature and relies upon algorithms that have the ability to learn and adjust as they gain experience. Instead of being mechanical or static in nature, these tools can interpret information and make decisions that go beyond simple rule application.3

With a lot of public data being unstructured in nature, intelligent automation is well-suited to make sense of text or image information that does not have uniform formatting or comes without much organization.

Examples of IA include analyzing agency hearing texts to discern topics, handling complaint logs, and managing customer satisfaction. IA technologies also encompass data analytics that can track agency performance, a subset of tools that represent a way to interpret information in an increasingly sophisticated and efficient manner. With a lot of public data being unstructured in nature, IA is well-suited to make sense of text or image information that does not have uniform formatting or comes without much organization.

There are a number of federal agencies that are implementing RPA tools. According to the General Services Administrations 2020 RPA Playbook, there are more than two dozen federal departments actively deploying RPA.4 Their applications include acquisitions, automated payments, travel payments, and activity logging, among other things. Examples of federal bureaus engaging in this innovation include the following:

General Services Administration: This agency deployed an enterprise system called Truman that streamlined its federal acquisition process. The GSA writes:

Trumans goal is to allow the workforce to focus on negotiations, market research, customer and industry engagement. It helps the acquisition workforce to review new offer submissions under the agencys flagship Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program and helps us in two main ways. First, it pre-populates internal pre-negotiation and price-negotiation memorandums with information from vendor packages. Secondly, it conducts compliance checks with external databases.5

Since the program was implemented, GSA claims that Truman has reviewed over 4,000 new MAS offers and saved over 5,000 hours of employee time.

Food and Drug Administration: Employees in the FDAs Center for Drug Evaluation and Research found themselves spending a lot of time setting up meetings and performing repetitive tasks. They took advantage of RPAs to automate activities, such as drug intake forms for pharmaceutical firms. Each week, the center received thousands of these forms, which took a long time to process. Now through RPAs, the agency uses bots that pull information together to populate application materials. It also is using ML and NLP for regulatory review and risk assessment. That saves workers time and allows them to focus on higher-level activities beyond paperwork.6

Social Security Administration: The SSA used to have 20,000 returned Supplemental Security Income payments each year, which took an average of three minutes to handle per payment. But after implementing an RPA system, workers were able to reduce their processing time to three seconds per payment.7

Treasury Department: This department is using RPAs to improve its financial management systems. According to its officials, the unit is using standardized solutions that promote financial integrity and operational efficiency across government.8 That enables it to boost its management resources and reduce errors in financial reporting and analysis.

Defense Logistics Agency: The agency has 111 automation efforts underway as it seeks to gain the benefits of RPA. Some of these involve automation of post-award contracts, such as requests for extensions or information regarding contract details. DLA is automating these tasks so that humans dont have to devote thousands of hours manually responding to each request. Its bots excel at comparing data from multiple systems to look for discrepancies and errors or updating sales orders and invoices.9

In addition, a 2021 survey from the American Council for Technology and the Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) presents use cases from a dozen different agencies. The examples include: the Department of Agriculture (conservation records management); the Air Force (travel administration); Customs and Border Protection (email file conversion and indexing); the Department of Housing and Urban Development (process improvement); the Internal Revenue Service (personnel security); the Social Security Administration (payroll tax reconciliation); the Department of Veterans Affairs (enterprise service desk and benefits claims processing); and processes across various agencies (proposal management, sales orders, invoices, and process mining).10

In each of these improvements, ACT-IAC found that automation improved productivity and agency workflows and aided intelligent document processing. RPA was able to deploy bots that extracted text or data from various information sources and automatically generated relevant forms, such as invoices, proposals, or digital records. Each of those meant individuals did not have to manually transfer data across forms, saving many work hours.

Indeed, according to a George Mason University research project, there is a growing prevalence of RPA in the public sector. Its experts found widespread use for data entry, data reconciliation, spreadsheet manipulation, systems integration, automated data reporting, analytics, and customer outreach and communications. The university estimated that there was over 3,000 hours average in labor savings per bot.11

However, there are far fewer agencies deploying IA. One analysis concluded that agencies have made limited progress due to the fact that IA requires more technical sophistication and most public sector organizations lack the required expertise. They simply dont have the trained workforce to implement more complex algorithms or utilize ML or NLP.12

A federal report noted a number of obstacles to IA innovation and offered the following advice:

Agencies should consider the following before incorporating advanced technologies into an RPA program: agency strategy for incorporating and implementing artificial intelligence within an organization; security approvals for the desired technology or application; any potential ethical and legal considerations surrounding the data that is used or the decision making that occurs within the workflow of the automation.13

Americans generally hold positive attitudes about technology innovation, although they worry about the impact on jobs and what automation will mean for future skill requirements. For example, a 2020 Sykes Enterprises survey asked respondents, If you were looking for a new job, would a company investing in new automation technologies make you more or less likely to apply there? Overall, 77% said it would make them more likely to apply, and only 22% indicated it would make them less likely to want to work there.14

One of the reasons why so many appear open to automation is the amount of time workers spend on repetitive tasks. A 2019 NICE poll in the United States and United Kingdom found that 50% of employees spend well over half of the day on repetitive tasks.15 They see RPA as a way to pull data from existing sources, fill out forms, check data accuracy, ensure compliance, and improve productivity. Currently, many of those tasks are performed manually and are time-consuming and inefficient.

At the same time, a number of people worry about job losses stemming from automation and understand the need to upgrade their job skills. A 2020 UiPath opinion survey found that 25% of office workers in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, India, and Singapore worry about losing jobs to automation, and 83% say they would feel more secure if their employers offered opportunities to learn new skills. Around a third say they want to learn RPA skills, and many want to know more about AI and ML.16

Given employee concerns regarding possible job losses and the need for upskilling, it is crucial that agency executives provide options for professional development and gaining the new skills required for emerging technologies.17 During a period of rapid technological change, it is vital that employers improve the ways for workers to engage in lifelong learning. The old modelwhere people invest in K-12 and higher educationmust give way to one that also incorporates adult education at various points in peoples professional lives. It no longer is sufficient to get a college degree and not take any further courses or certificate programs. Training needs to be geared to the needs of the 21st-century digital economy.

During a period of rapid technological change, it is vital that employers improve the ways for workers to engage in lifelong learning.

As noted in a previous Brookings Institution report, common ways for professional development to take place include four-year universities, community colleges, private sector options, certificate programs, and/or online courses.18 Development opportunities need to be available both for technical and non-technical employees, although the needs will vary between these groups. Technical staff need to be up to date on the latest digital tools such as AI, ML, NLP, and data analytics. Each of those things is part of RPA and IA, so keeping abreast of important developments in these areas is crucial for federal employees.

Non-technical staff dont need as detailed a background in technical subjects, but need to understand what questions to ask, what the workforce and agency ramifications are, how administrative processes may need to shift with the introduction of automated tools, and what the ethical risks may be. Here, the task is keeping them current on substantive problems related to RPA and IA, but not getting so immersed in the details that they lose sight of the big picture.

With any new technology, it is important to alter administrative processes to take full advantage of the digital tools. One of the key determinants of institutional change is making sure administrative structures are in alignment with technology innovation. If digital tools do not correspond to agency missions, they are not likely to generate positive results. Agency leaders will end up disappointed with their investments and the public will complain about wasted dollars, dashed hopes, and unmet expectations.

New applications must fit the agency mission and make sense to those who are implementing the tools. If employees see value in the use of RPA bots, they will be far more likely to help with implementation and innovation. They need to understand that these developments will aid their workload, reduce error rates in data processing, relieve them of routine tasks, and help them be more effective at what they do.

If digital tools do not correspond to agency missions, they are not likely to generate positive results.

One cross-agency action that has promoted RPA innovation has been the formation of community of practice groups that share best practices and provide examples of successful implementation. These entities enable cross-bureau collaboration, and they can be helpful in explaining RPAs benefits and providing tips to avoid implementation mistakes. Having federal agency groups of this sort further a culture of innovation and expedite RPA deployment across the national government.

It is important for administrative leaders to be responsible in how they develop and deploy RPA and IA.19 With emerging technologies, it is crucial to avoid problems that are known to undermine the accuracy and effective of innovation efforts. Among the key issues include a lack of representative data, a lack of transparency in data processing and analysis, and inadequate privacy and security protections.

Having representative data are vital for RPA and IA innovation. In order for bots to operate effectively and be free from bias, they need to rely on information that is accurate and representative of the users being served. Anything that reduces the representativeness or completeness of the data introduces potential errors into the processing and must be avoided.

In addition, having transparency in data processing and analysis is important. Both federal employees and the customers/clients being served must understand how bots operate and where they are drawing information. Being transparent about choices and processes aids the user experience and builds confidence in the applications.

Finally, there needs to be adequate privacy and security protections built into the applications. Having RPA and IA that respects the confidentiality of information and maintains the security of data compilation is of high priority. That means managers must be proactive about understanding and maintaining federal privacy policies and working to ensure bots safeguard data security. Failure to support either one of those principles will create problems that can undermine federal innovation activities.

An example of thoughtful security practices can be found in the GSA. The agencys chief information security officer has published a security guide that outlines roles, responsibilities, and effective RPA security practices. Among other things, this document recommends the development of privacy impact assessments, deploying RPA bots in a test environment before large-scale adoption, having system and process owners for bots so there is clear accountability and responsibility, logging bot activities, providing secure credentialing for bots, and having bot annual reviews to monitor performance.20

To summarize, I argue that there are opportunities for RPA and IA in the federal government. A number of agencies have already moved to utilize new RPA applications, and they report positive gains from these deployments. Each represents a way to improve worker productivity and streamline administrative processing. There is evidence that these applications save worker time and reduce data error rates. Their adoption and deployment bring clear benefits into agency operations as long as they do not introduce biases, lack transparency, or fail to maintain federal privacy and security practices.

Thanks to James Seddon and Emily Skahill for their outstanding research assistance.

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit organization devoted to independent research and policy solutions. Its mission is to conduct high-quality, independent research and, based on that research, to provide innovative, practical recommendations for policymakers and the public. The conclusions and recommendations of any Brookings publication are solely those of its author(s), and do not reflect the views of the Institution, its management, or its other scholars.

Microsoft provides support to The Brookings InstitutionsArtificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology (AIET) Initiative. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions in this report are not influenced by any donation. Brookings recognizes that the value it provides is in its absolute commitment to quality, independence, and impact. Activities supported by its donors reflect this commitment.

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How robotic process and intelligent automation are altering government performance - Brookings Institution

As the distribution industry continues to wrestle with supply chain headaches, companies that embrace new ways of thinking about P2P automation can improve efficiency and grow their bottom line, said Cindy Dobson, P2P sales leader for Esker.

No matter which end of the spectrum that your business is on, supply chain leaders are forced to take a fresh look at their business model to ensure that they can weather the next storm and come out on top. For many innovative leaders, this means new ways of thinking and capitalizing on digital transformation to realize real results on their balance sheet, Dobson said during a recent MDM webcast.

Automating P2P practices can help companies in multiple ways:

With procure-to pay-automation, were talking about all of the activities that go into requesting, receiving and paying for goods or services, Dobson said.

Lack of controls based on manual processes and duplicate or late payments have been a big concern in prior years, Dobson said.

You dont want to pay for something twice in todays world, where supplier relationships are so critical to a companys success, she said. The late payments, and ensuring that we are living up to the agreement we have with our suppliers, are equally if not more important. And managing those suppliers are critical. When there is a shortage of goods, you want to make sure that youve got excellent relationships with your suppliers.

In the last year-and-a-half, even companies that were financially healthy began implementing tighter controls in these areas, Dobson said. About 64% of organizations have increased artificial intelligence or machine learning priorities in the last year. The trend accelerated when many employees transferred to remote work during the pandemic.

And technology like AI-based solutions enable organizations to improve processes, whether or not everyone is under the same roof, Dobson said. Some organizations were focused on digital transformation prior to that and then exploded over the last year.

More efficient companies are starting to spurn paper and other manual processes, which are inherently inefficient, costly, time consuming and make it incredibly difficult for finance leaders to keep a close eye on cash, she said.

The overall lack of transparency and control over spending in accounts payable departments can lead to significant amounts of cash being tied up in processes and inefficiencies when that cash could be bolstering bottom lines.

Good supplier relationships dont just happen, Dobson said. They require dedicated time and nurturing to create beneficial and lasting connections.

Listen to the webcast, P2P Automation Tactics That Will Weather Any Supply Chain Storm, in its entirety by clicking here.

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New Ways of Thinking About P2P Automation - Modern Distribution Management

Increasingly complex technology stacks and the rise of upstart digital disruptors in nearly every industry are spurring the need for comprehensive automation strategies, from back office to customer experience.

Additionally, Covid-19 has accelerated the need for automation. Workforces have become more remote and distributed while widespread labor shortages threaten productivity across industries, up and down the value chain. One area that especially feels this pinch is enterprise IT. Because of these developments, IT teams are under pressure to accomplish more without a commensurate increase in resources and against a backdrop of labor deficits and constant uncertainty and change.

It is not surprising that enterprise automation initiatives are on the rise. However, embracing automation isnt easy, even in more normal times. Despite many proven benefits to scaling automation, there are several hidden roadblocks and cultural challenges. If left unchecked, they will threaten the viability and results of any automation program. These are:

Today, automation and AI are already commonplace in many industries automobiles, retail, logistics yet many workers still have a real fear of replacement, concerns about changes in their work, and worries over whether they will need to retrain.

For technology automation to be accepted, there must be widespread recognition that people are proud of their skills. Even if an IT workers job isnt threatened, their job satisfaction could be if a hard-won skill is now automated.

Poor IT worker satisfaction with any new automation systems can thwart automation adoption, decreasing potential ROI.

Organizations that implement automation technologies that complement a workers skillsets and allow them to be proud of their experience and prosper will have the proper buy-in for a successful investment.

The never-ending search for the necessary talent to handle increasing technology demands is holding back organizations from digital modernization. Currently, its even more challenging finding technical staff because there is both a shortage of these skills coupled with an overall shortage of IT workers. The Great Resignation today is further exacerbating this shortage and difficulty in finding and retaining the right talent.

Alongside the shortage of automation engineers is the fact that many types of automation require implementation, management, and governance skills that enterprises simply dont possess. Its not just a matter of having someone that can write Python code. To produce automation that is useful, reliable, and maintainable requires the same efforts and skillsets used in a full software development process. Ultimately, the biggest challenge: to automate IT, employees need to understand both the legacy, manual method to perform some function, as well as the software development or DevOps skills necessary to build an automated process for that same task.

This digital talent problem is not likely to be solved any time soon. Organizations desiring to apply successful automation will instead need to find means to abstract away the complexity of automated systems and software. Lessening the effort to deploy and scale automation has the potential to accelerate the range and scope of areas benefited by such modernization, greatly improving ROI.

Its one of the great ironies that everyone in IT is familiar with, echoed in the mantra of were too busy to improve. Carried over to the digital world of IT, this means too busy to modernize. Applying any new IT system entails risks, costs, and considerable efforts. Trial and error can be costly. Automation requires time to assess needs, research solutions, and then implement. With a vast amount of IT teams efforts devoted just to keeping the lights on, finding the extra resources and time needed to make such investments can feel impossible.

Additionally, IT is a patchwork of systems, processes, tools both legacy and new, and systems integrations that are often clunky. Technology teams often feel they need to get their house in order before they can leverage new systems like IT automation that many things will first need to be fixed before automation can be made workable.

When broken processes, disconnected systems, and keeping-the-lights-on activities are devouring a teams time, it can appear to be an unwinnable battle. A clear understanding of planned goals and return on investment is essential for implementation. With that in hand, organizations can then justifiably allocate the time and resources for a successful implementation.

IT professionals of course love technology and solving problems its the very nature of what we do. Fixing something the quickest way is not always the best way. Enter the world of shadow ops, where individual teams and business units are often motivated to solve things with one-off solutions, custom-built tools, and other technology solutions designed to solve a particular problem for one group.

Generally lacking support, integration, and broad usability, shadow IT tools can negatively affect the long-term stability of IT systems and processes. This is particularly true in IT automation. Teams can incur increased risk and decreased alignment across the organization due simply to the lack of oversight around enterprise automation.

IT is a collection of many constantly moving parts, and IT automation, by its very nature, is a strategic solution. IT automation is designed to optimize workers, tasks, and processes. Strategic solutions require business alignment, documentation, maintenance, and support. Automation governance is critical in preventing rogue IT implementations and broken automations and to ensure responsible use of automation resources. Whether youre using a homegrown solution or a suite of tools, automation governance is a must.

Change in IT is not slowing down, and Covid-19 and the various ramifications to workforce, technology, and how we engage with each other continues to add new challenges. This makes the incredible promise for enterprise automation even more timely. However, organizations must first tackle the roadblocks that threaten healthy adoption of these new technology strategies. Only then can IT automation bring the much-needed relief to IT teams handling todays increasingly complex, growing, ever-changing IT landscapes.

Chris Villemez, IT operations architect, NetBrain

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IT automation: The strategic approach to IT operations - ITProPortal

IT automation is a set of instructions that are used to define the method of executing repeated processes that eliminates any sort of manual work erstwhile performed by IT professionals. Software, applications, technology stacks, and frameworks all combined execute tasks that do not require any human intervention.

If we look at the span and scope of IT automation, it ranges from a single action process enhancement to a complex IT deployment, which is related to user behavior and other trigger points. The terminology IT automation and IT orchestration are distinct, but they are used in tandem. Automation is about executing a task through tools or machines, whereas orchestration is more about coordinating various automated tasks into a seamless process.

IT automations modus operandi is simple. It uses software tools, frameworks, and other machines to execute tasks that are repetitive in nature. For instance, an automation platform such as Windows PowerShell consolidates and combines all cmdlets, variables, and other components to a script, which further emulates a series of instructions that otherwise an administrator would do it manually by going through each line item.

IT automation has numerous applications, however, let us look at some of the more prominent use case scenarios for the same.

Automation in every field comes with its set of merits and demerits. Though IT automation process will ensure faster data center and faster operations on the cloud with improved security. However, along with expediting the process, IT automation should also investigate addressing errors. Even with all the processes and errors around, there is a high possibility of overlooking these aspects, irrespective of the benefits mentioned below.

The first benefit of its automation is the known fact that a machine can execute tasks of three to four people. Moreover, deploying machines help in reduction in heat, thereby resulting in significant energy saving. This is over and above the reduction in labor cost.

Automated processes and tasks, can eliminate the involvement of any workers or laborers, thereby reducing the risk of their life and ensuring their safety.

IT professionals are humans in the end. Hence, there is always the possibility of committing an error, even if it is unknowingly. This can happen in complex processes and sometimes in monotonous processes as well. However, with machines, the possibility of error is negligible to zero because the machines are programmed to perform the same task repeatedly, without errors. However, this requires multiple rounds of testing to be done to ensure that the process is error-free.

Having taken off IT professionals from performing repeatable tasks, an organization can utilize their expertise in more strategic initiatives. This further reduces the cost significantly because now the IT team can concentrate on areas that can help in the future success of the company.

Automation systems are completely dependent upon the specific requirements of organizations. Hence, implementing them has an immediate impact on the return on investment due to more output, less cycle or processing time, and reduction in operating expenditure.

From a manufacturing sector point of view, there are a few specific benefits that IT automation provides. Let us look into these benefits:

Having manpower work 247 can result in faster wear and tear of the labor. However, with a machine, it becomes easy for a machine to operate in a 247 mode, thereby resulting in better and increased production output.

Automated processes create a scope of increased inhouse production capacity, thereby resulting in reduced or rather negligible dependency on the outsourcing model, where manufacturing units outsource the production of some parts to other manufacturing units.

Having IT automation in manufacturing set up yields in

Automation brings about tremendous consistency in the delivery and in quality. This is because machines are programmed with specifics, including the quality metrics, thereby resulting in consistently delivering output with the defined quality.

While we have gone through the benefits of IT automation, both generic and specific to the manufacturing sector. However, there are challenges in going for IT automation. Implementing IT automation does not mean that you get confirmed results; there is no guarantee to that. Even with all the tools and technology frameworks available, there is no assurance that these systems will prove to be foolproof and remove errors, enhance security and ensure adherence to compliance. IT teams need to have the necessary competency to use the automation tools that are deployed across the organization.

One fact is clear that IT automation is not a new concept. It has been in existence for quite some time, however, the technology that is an integral part of IT automation is in a very nascent stage, but constantly evolving. If we look at some of the most sophisticated tools today, it still requires an IT professional or a team of professionals to develop and maintain such discrete systems, comprising scripts, templates, policies, and workflows.

IT automation is bound to march forward bringing a larger amount of intelligence. There is going to be a heavy dependency of automation tools on artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. Any IT automation system that is merged with AI reduces the significance of man-made rules of automation; thus, creating a dependency on choices that are directed by high-end business costs and stringent compliance needs.

Automation is a key component in the process of digital transformation. Different stakeholders of an organization, such as consumers, employees, investors, partners, and other similar stakeholders, who are engaged with the organization constantly, demand digital transformation that helps in delivering an exceptional experience. According to a forecast by Gartner, around 40% of the infrastructure and operations team will be using AI-powered solutions, by 2023.

Any type of innovation, if implemented effectively, will free up manpower so that it can be deployed for other high priority or strategic activities. This further helps in improving security, increasing ROI, and reducing errors across any organization. Additionally, by identifying that can be automated, organizations have the leverage to spend time where they actually want to that is driving business growth.

However, it has been observed that in spite of having so many benefits of IT automation, project owners or decision makers end up shelving such initiatives and putting them on the back burner. This is purely due to the fact that they might have encountered some early setbacks. Some of the common obstacles like complex IT environments, and improper strategy can bring the entire automation initiative to a standstill.

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10 Benefits of IT Automation to Know in 2022 | Techfunnel - TechFunnel

Businessman hiding his face behind paper with I quit words written on it, resign employee concept

Resignations are triggering an increase in automation spending, especially in labor-intensive industries.This will be the impact of Americans rethinking their relationship to work, life/work balance and the over ROI of their jobs.Be careful what you ask for.

The Great Resignation is everywhere.It seems that Americans are resigning from their jobs at unprecedented rates.In August of this year (2021), more than 4,000,000 Americans quit their jobs the greatest monthly total ever recorded.Others are staying on only if they can work remotely or if working conditions improve dramatically.Whats going on?There are all kinds of theories about why Americans are turning their backs on work, especially certain kinds of work.Lets not explore the theories here.Lets just acknowledge that theres a trend toward assessing the life/work balance in the most profound ways possible as well as perhaps spending the savings banked during the pandemic.

But who really cares?Well, employers care, because without employees especially in service industries they have no customers.Some employers are responding to the walkouts with higher wages and better working conditions, a perfectly rational response to resignations.But this tactic isnt working fast enough, even as wages have increased over and over again (note that the official minimum wage has been $7.25 per hour since 2009).So, now what?Enter the machines.

Those who explore the 4thIndustrial Revolution and The Future of Work know all about automation.Its the cornerstone of the predicted future.Timelines about the arrival of automated solutions across industries are impossible to make.But what we can make are predictions about how welcome automation will be across a number of industries, including the ones where the greatest resignations are occurring and especially in most human-intensive ones, such as fast food and agriculture.

Rear view of self-driving pizza delivery van parking side of road. Last one mile concept. 3D ... [+] rendering image.

Fast food restaurants are investing heavily in automation.Motivation?Fast-food's biggest players are letting the robots right in through the front door as they seek out ways to overcome rising wages and worker shortages.As reported byBrian Sozzi inYahoo News:

McDonald's is testing automated voice ordering for its drive-thru (and) looking at better ways to automate the kitchen (with) automated fryers (and) automated grills

Dominos struck a deal with self-driving delivery company Nuro.Select customers who place an order on Domino's website can choose to have their pizza delivery by Nuro's R2 robot

Taco Bellopeneda tech-forward new location in New York City's Times Square in late April this Taco Bell is built mostly for one thing only:get your food super quickly and get back out into the party scene (with) touch screens for food and drinks (and) minimal interaction with an employee

White Castle was among the first in the fast-food industry to begin testing robots in any interesting capacity, launching a robotic fry cook test with Miso Robotics.

smart robotic in agriculture futuristic concept, robot farmers (automation) must be programmed to ... [+] work in the vertical or indoor farm for increase efficiency, growing a seed, harvesting, reduce time

Agriculture is one of the most aggressive targets of automation.Robotics are already having impact on the industry.Some examples(thanks toDonovan Alexanders reporting inInteresting Engineering):

Ecorobotix:Powered by the sun, this lightweight GPS, fully autonomous drone has the ability to use its solar power to run all day.The robot uses its complex camera system to target and spray weeds because of its very precise arms, the robot uses90%less herbicide, making it30%cheaper than traditional treatments.A fleet of these robots could easily replace human farm labor down the road

Naio Technologies hasa host of robots that not only act as the perfect farm hand using techniques that preserve and protect the local environment the robots have the ability to weed, hoe, and assist during harvesting

Energid Citrus Picking System:Perfect for those in the citrus fruit business, the Energid systems are fast and efficient harvesting systems (which) can pick a fruit every 2 to 3 seconds.Even more so, the robot is cheap to build, making it significantly cheaper than human labor

Agrobot E-Series:If you are expecting to have any strawberry fields in the near future, you may want to look into getting an Agrobot E-Series.With its twenty-four robotic arms working wirelessly and an advanced AI system, the E-series cannot only pick strawberries really fast but it can identify the ripeness of a strawberry in the field

Vision Robotics:The VR team has used AI-powered robots that can tackle a host of products include a vineyard pruner that images vines and uses a robotic arm to thin plants, as well as an automated lettuce thinner

Robotic automation is here. (Photo credit should read GERARD JULIEN/AFP via Getty Images)

The pandemic and The Great Resignation have accelerated investments in automation.The robotic examples here are in just two areas, but automation doesnt stop there.Do we need tax preparers?Car salesmen?Loan officers?Automation has only begun, and as more and more employees call it quits automated workers may take their place faster than we think.The incentives are clear.Why wouldnt Uber want to eliminate their biggest headache drivers with autonomous vehicles?Why wouldnt all companies want to deploy workers that work 24/7, never need vacations, never join unions and never get sick (from viruses, at least)?Checkout clerks?Postal workers?Gas station attendants (almost gone now)? And many more.

The Great Resignation is an automation stimulus.Honeywell reportssome survey results:

The productivity gains that we see from robotics have increased, said John Dillon the technology has gotten better (and) the cost of not automating has gotten higher

Thats because a warehouse that might typically require 2,000 workers could deploy technologies and warehouse execution software to instead operate with only 200 people

Robotic technologies directly replace labor, whether it be unloading trucks, picking orders, fulfilling orders

3D illustration robot resting in a chair

Brace yourself.The Great Resignation has unleashed unanticipated new forces and created unexpected collateral damage.Yes, wages will increase.Working conditions will improve.Flexibility will grow.All good, from labors point of view.But not from the perspective of business owners, shareholders and investors who want to see profitable growth all day long.They will respond with a vengeance.Remember that automation happens when the die-is-cast meets the law-of-unintended-consequences.Were here.

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The Great Resignation Will Only Accelerate Automation. Employers Will Retaliate With Machines. - Forbes

For most enterprises, migrating to the cloud is a prerequisite for digital transformation and a means to outperform their competitors in a deeply competitive landscape. As businesses are becoming comfortable with the cloud, they are increasingly moving advanced workloads to the cloud.

But advanced workloads mean more complicated and intricate cloud environments. As a result, IT has the task of potentially managing thousands of VMs and diverse workloads spread across the globe. Cloud automation offers an efficient way to deal with these challenges.

Cloud automation simplifies and optimizes the management of complex cloud infrastructures and enables teams to work efficiently at scale. It also makes sound business sense to invest in automation. In a survey by Capgemini, 80% of Fast Movers reported that their organizations agility had improved by implementing automation. Another 75% of Fast Movers saw an increase in profitability, exhibiting the economic benefits of adopting cloud automation.

With the global cloud automation market poised to reach $149.9 Billion by 2027 at a CAGR of 22.8%, it seems to be the right time to learn about cloud automation and its role in improving operational efficiency in the cloud environment.

So, what exactly is cloud automation, and how does it benefit your business?

Cloud automation refers to the method and processes used by enterprises to minimize manual efforts by IT teams when deploying and managing workloads. With automation, organizations reduce an IT teams need to micromanage things, thus freeing up their time and enabling them to focus more on higher-value projects that drive significant ROI.

Having to manage heterogeneous systems in the cloud is no small task. Cloud management is a complicated process that requires proper orchestration between the people, processes, and technologies operating in a cloud environment. With a cloud automation solution, you can minimize errors, reduce operational costs, and optimize business value. Whether your IT team needs to provision/deprovision servers, configure VMs, move applications between systems, or adjust workloads, automation can step in to expedite the process(es).

Besides the benefits of reducing manual work, cloud automation provides added advantages like:

When repetitive tasks are automated, the workflow speed increases as tasks that used to take weeks or days are done in minutes. With a drastic reduction in development and production time, the operational efficiency of an organization naturally improves. The productivity of employees also increases as they get to focus more on the rewarding aspects of their work instead of doing IT heavy lifting.

Provisioning servers manually can expose sensitive data to unauthorized users and increase the attack surface. In contrast, an automated solution creates an orderly environment that is far easier to protect. Automation reduces the possibility of misconfiguration and security posture drifts, thus amplifying the security stance of the enterprise.

Humans are prone to making mistakes, but mistakes are costly. Automated systems can handle routine, monotonous work much better than humans at far less cost. Moreover, automated solutions let you identify under-provisioned and unnecessary resources in your cloud system. By acting on these money sinkholes, you can reduce your organizations overall expenses and save money.

When you work with manually configured clusters, youre going to run into misconfigurations. Without having complete visibility into the system, it becomes difficult for IT staff to pinpoint irregularities and rectify them. Cloud automation allows you to set up resources in a standardized manner, which means you have better control over the infrastructure, leading to improved governance.

The most common use case of cloud automation is infrastructure provisioning. IaC (Infrastructure as Code) is the process of managing infrastructure through code. Before adopting IaC, teams had to maintain multiple clusters manually, which over time led to configuration drifts and created snowflake servers. Snowflake servers are servers whose configuration has changed so much that they can no longer be integrated with the system.

IaC streamlines the management of environment drift and removes discrepancies that lead to deployment issues. Further, manually configuring servers is time-consuming. Infrastructure automation tools, such as Terraform, Pulumi, or AWS CloudFormation; automate recurring tasks, like building, deploying, decommissioning, or scaling servers; and bring down the deployment time from days to minutes.

In todays fast-moving and agile IT environment, manual deployment of applications doesnt have a lot of value to some organizations. Agile organizations believe in continuous delivery and often push out a dozen releases in a week. That is not possible with the manual method of deploying applications, where failing to execute even a single deployment script leads to inconsistencies affecting the software release cycle.

By automating application deployment, the probabilities of errors are reduced to a minimum, and firms achieve faster delivery of projects in a much shorter time frame with fewer efforts.

As enterprises move from legacy systems to expansive cloud environments, it can become challenging to supervise hundreds of end users that need various levels of access to cloud services. Manually allocating access rights to individual users is cumbersome and leads to delayed action. Plus, there is the risk of granting access to the wrong person(s), which can threaten the organizations cloud security posture.

With cloud automation, identity and access management (IAM) becomes a lot more structured and secure. By automating IAM policies, you can reduce the chances of errors by restricting access to only specific people.

Also read: Best Network Automation Tools for 2021

Here are some examples of automation tools that you can use to manage your cloud resources effectively.

In the market since 2005, Puppet is an open-source deployment tool that automates server configuration by eliminating the manual use of shell scripts. Puppet uses its own domain-specific language called Puppet Code to automate infrastructure deployment across a range of devices and operating systems. Mostly preferred for complex deployments, Puppet codifies applications into declarative files and stores configurations in version controls for teams to compare with a centralized source of truth.

CloudFormation is an IaC tool in the AWS platform that provides a quick and efficient way to automate and provision AWS deployments. CloudFormation enables users to build their infrastructure within a YAML or JSON format. Then, using the suitable template language, users can code the required infrastructure and use CloudFormation to model and provision the stacks. In addition, they can also make use of Rollback Triggers to restore infrastructure stacks to a previously deployed condition if errors are detected.

Ansible is an open-source deployment and network automation tool that is simple to put up and operate. Unlike Puppet, which installs agents on clients servers, Ansible uses an agentless architecture with all functions carried out through the SSH command line. Thus, not having to install individual agents in servers saves time and simplifies the deployment process. Also, it uses YAML language, which is much easier to read than other data formats like JSON or XML.

Its simply not enough by migrating to the cloud. Organizations have to shed their legacy methods of operation; otherwise, the move will not be worth it. To fully leverage the limitless possibilities of the cloud, organizations need to adopt cloud automation. In fact, automation should no longer be an option but recognized as a vital cloud feature that organizations need to adopt for reduced complexity and greater agility.

Read next: Top RPA Tools 2021: Robotic Process Automation Software

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What You Need to Know About Cloud Automation | ENP - EnterpriseNetworkingPlanet

We have essentially no growth in the working age population for the first time in U.S. history, Levanson said.

In 2000, the median age of a worker in the United States was 39. By 2020, the median age climbed to 42. And by 2030, the median age will be on the verge of 43.

The situation is acute in Michigan: The median age is 50 in 21 of 83 counties, the most counties of any state in the nation that is over the threshold. Overall, Michigan is the 12th oldest state in the nation.

Other challenges for Michigan include:

In a labor force with fewer workers, boosting educational attainment and technological skills offer a chance to grow through innovation and efficiency gains, said Dana M. Peterson, chief economist of the Conference Board.

She noted that the labor force is also dwindling in Japan, western Europe, Australia and China even as competition intensifies competition from India and sub-Saharan Africa.

State officials already are focusing on upskilling the existing workforce.

One of the main concerns we continue to hear from business leaders and employers of all shapes and sizes is that there arent enough workers with the skills they need to fill critical vacancies, Susan Corbin, director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, told Bridge, pointing to the $722 million budget recommendation to increase funding for post-secondary work skills education.

That investment, if approved, will address our states skills gap and workforce challenges by providing opportunities for Michiganders to get access to the skills, credentials, apprenticeships and degrees that businesses need while providing a clear path into a good into a good paying career for workers.

To remain competitive, Michigan small manufacturers should invest in Industry 4.0 automation and increasing flexibility for their workers, said Tom Kelly, CEO of Automation Alley. The nonprofit, based in Oakland County, advocates for more technology in manufacturing.

Manufacturing has always had a worker deficit, Kelly told Bridge. That worker deficit got exacerbated by COVID and is going to continue to get worse. So you have no choice but to automate.

Instead, Kelly said, they're using the same playbook that theyve always used.

And the risk to them, as they try to hire unskilled workers at low rates, is that those people that you need to do these jobs aren't coming back.

Kelly said hes trying to convince many small- to mid-size manufacturers to turn to robotics.

Prices have dropped and may cost tens of thousands less than hiring a full-time worker. With a robot, another worker may be able to accomplish the equivalent of two jobs and the manufacturer will be able to maintain or increase production, and likely pay their workers more because of the additional skills needed to work in the higher-tech setting.

Beyond investing in equipment, Kelly said, employers need to recognize that theyre competing for workers with technology in the form of apps like Lyft and Shipt. Creating flexible work could offer paybacks in a more stable labor force, he said, even if 40 part-timers do the work of 10 full-time employees.

For the low-skilled worker, their attitudes have changed, Kelly said. Technology has taught them that they can jump in and out of the workforce whenever they want.

Management needs to be thinking differently about how they solve the problem.

Among employers embracing that concept for workers is delivery giant Amazon, Kelly noted, with the Amazon Anytime app-based shifts. The company employs 21,000 in Michigan, said spokesperson Jessica Pawl.

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'Labor shortages are not going away' in Michigan. Is automation the answer? - Bridge Michigan

ICONICS and Mitsubishi Electric Automation clients can upgrade to conform to newly released U.S. cyber resilience and fault tolerance standards for remote access to operational technology, thanks to Dispel's integrated Moving Target Defense-based remote access solution

Secure Remote Access Announcement

NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ICONICS, Mitsubishi Electric Automation (MEAU), and Dispel unveiled an integrated, Moving Target Defense-based remote access solution for industrial automation systems at this year's ICONICS Connect 2021 conference. This announcement means manufacturing, water & wastewater, oil & gas, building management, and maritime clients can now provide their teams with enhanced secure remote access to their operational technology without reaching beyond their partnerships with ICONICS and MEAU.

Since November 2019, the reference standard for cyber resilience and fault tolerance in the United States and Japanthrough the Cross-Sector Forum Mappinghas been NIST 800-160 Volume 2. This document calls for the use of Moving Target Defense at several levels within any cyber system. Absent automation, properly meeting this standard in a remote access context requires considerable human capital (15 minutes of administrator time per connection), patience on the part of the connecting users (7 to 12 minutes of login steps), and specialized uplink equipment. Dispel's core engineering specialty is in automating the launch and maintenance of Moving Target Defense infrastructure.

"Mitsubishi Electric Automation has had their eye on Moving Target Defense since NIST 800-160 Vol 2 was still a draft circular," said Ian Schmertzler, President of Dispel. "The 2 years and 14 days of due diligence, testing, and micronization that preceded this event are a testament to the care with which Mitsubishi Electric Automation and ICONICS approach addressing mission-critical questions for their customers."

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The solution presented on September 30 at ICONICS Connect 2021 offers users connection times of under 30 seconds, administrative overhead of less than 1 minute per connection, and an embedded installation on Mitsubishi Electric MELIPC series hardware that is light enough to allow the system to continue serving its initial purpose in parallel.

"The top priority for all three teams was that this relationship deliver a next-generation capability to the market," said Ben Burke, Dispel's Chief Operating Officer. "It needed to exceed the cybersecurity requirements customers would likely need to meet in the coming decade while also besting the operational efficiencies of the highest performing unsecure remote access alternatives."

The presentation comes at a critical moment in the industrial automation sector. With the Colonial Pipeline incident having motivated enforcement of cybersecurity controls in regulated industries, and skilled labor shortages simultaneously driving demand for remote access, industrial automation customers have been searching among suppliers for off-the-shelf options that could rapidly bring their firms into alignment with standards without impeding the productivity gains industrial automation offers.

About DispelDispel is the world's leading provider of Moving Target Defense networks; designed, built, and maintained in the United States. Founded in 2015, the cybersecurity company has offices in Austin, New York, Virginia, and Tokyo. The company's mission is to connect people to their industrial control systems, wherever they are. They do so through a high-speed, secure remote access product that is fast, easy to implement, and simple to use. Learn more at https://dispel.io.

Press ContactBen Burkepress@dispel.io

About ICONICSICONICS is headquartered in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and is a global software developer of visualization, HMI, SCADA, and energy solutions. With over 375,000 installations in over 100 countries worldwide and running in over 70% of Global 500 companies, ICONICS software is recommended for automating, monitoring, and optimizing a customer's most critical assets. ICONICS offers competitive software products for various business sectors, such as manufacturing, industrial and building automation, and it possesses advanced technology and remarkable industry leading knowledge in the development of industrial software. ICONICS was named finalist by Microsoft in 2021 as Sustainability Changemaker Partner of the Year and has been recognized 10 times for a Microsoft Partner of the Year award.

Press ContactMary Anne Ballouzmaryanne@iconics.com

About Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc.Headquartered in Vernon Hills, Ill., Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. is a U.S. affiliate company of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. It offers a broad product portfolio including programmable automation controllers (PAC), programmable logic controllers (PLC), human machine interfaces (HMI), variable frequency drives (VFD), servo amplifiers and motors, control software, computerized numerical controllers (CNC), motion controllers, robots, low-voltage power distribution products, and industrial sewing machines for the industrial and commercial sectors.

Additional information about Mitsubishi Electric Automation is available at us.MitsubishiElectric.com/fa/en.

Press ContactPam SummersPam.Summers@meau.com

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Ghost kitchens are attracting a lot of attention from restaurant chains, entrepreneurs and investors, and the reasons are clear. Sometimes called dark kitchens or virtual kitchens, the concept of a ghost kitchen refers to restaurants that operate exclusively for off-premises consumption. Ghost kitchens have the potential to become one of the most productive and lucrative means of serving the demand for quick service food that spiked during the pandemic and remains strong today.

However, the end of the pandemic only marks the beginning of ghost kitchens. Restaurant Business predicts that this model will continue to expand as sales via ghost restaurants from 300 facilities in the United States will rise by a projected 25% each year for the next 5 yearsan estimated $300 million in yearly sales. Whats more, Euromonitor estimates that ghost kitchens could be a $1 trillion industry by the year 2030.

So, what exactly is a ghost kitchen? Ghost kitchens have no physical storefront and offer no in-house dining. Instead, they operate mainly through delivery, sometimes also offering takeout or drive-thru pickup. These ghost kitchens typically occupy smaller spaces than traditional restaurants and have a smaller staff as well. Because there is no physical storefront, multiple different restaurant concepts are able to make and provide food from the same ghost kitchen.

Ghost kitchens are unique in that, unlike many restaurants, they are inherently technologically-forward. For instance, the emphasis on mobile and online ordering means that the restaurant can also be easily optimized with innovative kitchen display technology.

With GRUBBRR kiosks, cash recyclers, and automated checkout systems, ghost kitchen patrons can have a curated, automated experience whether they decide to carry out or request delivery. Additionally, food lockers and other contactless and curbside ordering softwares streamline and optimize the ghost kitchen experience for both delivery drivers and pickup customers alike.

With GRUBBRRs online ordering software, the following devices would all work in tandem to create an efficient operational flow and expedite order processing in a ghost kitchen:

Given the operational efficiencies afforded by ghost kitchens, it is no surprise that they are rapidly growing in popularity throughout the United States. McDonalds and Chick-fil-A are also beginning to utilize ghost kitchens in addition to their regular offerings. As time goes on, more restaurants are predicted to adopt this ghost kitchen model to lower operational costs and facilitate franchise expansion.

Lower operational costs not only means more revenue, but also lower prices for consumers. With their streamlined offerings, ghost kitchens offer a more efficient customer experience as well. Whether they order from home on their phone or at the restaurant from a kiosk, customers can be assured that their experience will be consistently great each time.

Ghost kitchens are technologically-forward restaurants that operate for pickup and delivery food services only. Given their operational flexibility, they can be added to an existing restaurant as another source of revenue to facilitate franchise expansion, or otherwise exist as a standalone kitchen hosting one or more food concepts. Because ghost kitchens utilize automation, they inherently streamline operations for ghost kitchen employees, and improve the customer experience through lowered prices and consistent convenience.

This post is sponsored by Grubbrr

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Automation is the Foundation of Ghost Kitchens - Restaurant Business Online