How to Manage The Impacts of Robotic Automation on Employees

For most business owners, robotic automation is one promising field that can help them improve their business. However, with the debate on whether robots will take away jobs still trending issues, your plans may be received by hostile employees.

Most employees view robots as their competitors or enemies, and thus, they’ll do everything in their power to sabotage that plan.

However, automation has become a necessity in the business world today. You, therefore, need to find a way of preparing your employees for the change.

Although it may be a difficult task, with time, your employees may come to appreciate the benefits that automation will bring to the business.

In this article, I will share with you four ways on how to manage the impact that automation will have on your employees.

1. Ensure They Understand Your Reasons

Before taking the step of automating your processes, you need to explain clearly the reasons why you have opted for the robots.

Explaining means that you’ll have to expound on the different departments that will be affected, how they will be affected, and how the new tasks that the employees will have to undertake.

Show them the benefits of the task to them and also to the company. By doing this, the employees will be better prepared to handle these changes in your company.

Since the biggest reason for opposing automation is the fear of losing their jobs, assuring them of their job security will help in avoiding unnecessary conflicts.

2. Conduct Training

Incorporating robots in your business processes will result in a significant change in how the tasks in your industry will run. You will thus have to conduct trainings for each department to ensure that each employee knows how to operate the robots.

When each employee knows how to operate new technology, you can be assured that the automation will have a positive impact on the employees.

Proper training will also expose gaps in that will be created by automation and hence offer more job opportunities for your employees.

Automation will, therefore, be an opportunity for them to learn new skills and knowledge on how to handle the jobs created.

3. Showcase The Benefits of Automation

Robotic automation has many benefits to the business. Although you may be enlightened on these benefits, your employees may not.

Therefore, show them how automation will benefit them. One way you can share is the fact that it’s possible for a robot collaboration. Who wouldn’t love a robot for an assistant?

By acquiring collaborative robots such as an industrial robot arm, the workers can work together comfortably. Explain how this collaboration will improve their accuracy and efficiency.

You are probably applying the robots to complete the tedious, repetitive tasks in the business. Explain to them that this will relieve them of repetitive tasks and allow them to work on more critical tasks. 

If some of your employees work in areas with sharp machines and objects or areas that are health hazards, show them how automation can relieve them from those tasks.

When your employees understand the benefits they’ll gain from automation; they will be more likely to embrace it.

4. Start Small

This is very crucial if you want to have a receptive employee attitude. Robotic automation is a big deal for many industries, and so, you should start with small changes first.

Automate minor tasks in the departments e.g., automating customer care responses first and allow the employees to adapt to the changes first.

As the employees enjoy the small enjoys, you can then advance to getting bigger robots and automating the significant processes of your business.

By doing this, some employees may never know how these changes happened!

Conclusion

Implementing robotic automation affects every aspect of your business, from productivity and profitability, to employee motivation. It’s impact, if not handled well, will result in retaliation and low productivity from your employees.  

Therefore, before investing in robotic automation in your business, ensure that your employees are comfortable with this technology.