First Proservartner Automation Index Launched in the wake of Brexit and increasing uptake of AI.
The Proservartner Automation Index is the first multi-sector report of its kind into the uptake of automation. It has been established to provide a clear view on the impact of automation today and its likely impact in the near term in each industry sector. To create the index, Proservartner surveyed over 600 UK businesses, from SMEs to major multinational companies.
The results back up our first hand experience, that UK companies are increasing their investment in technologies like chatbots, AI and robotics in anticipation of future skills shortages, particularly in light of Brexit. These technologies are reshaping how we work; effectively taking on repetitive, repeatable work, which otherwise would be completed by a human member of the team.
“For those that want to remain competitive, automation is not a choice, it’s an unavoidable business reality. Clearly, Brexit is accelerating the adoption and in the long term, that could prove to be a positive thing for the UK.”
– Rakesh Sangani – Chief Executive Officer, Proservartner.
Some of the key findings include:
Automation in the UK is not just about cost reduction, 80% of UK businesses are automating to fill the productivity gap, 76% to enable standardisation, and 71% to remove mundane activities to make the lives of employees better.
For UK businesses, IT (33%), customer services (28%), data management (26%) and finance processes (24%) are the most likely to be replaced by robotics or artificial intelligence.
Automation impacts all sectors, but those sectors which have been most affected by automation in the last six months are financial services (100% have automated an aspect of their business in the last six months), marketing (96%) legal services (94%), and accountancy firms (90%).
Brexit will speed up automation for 26% of businesses. 50% think this is because there will be a shortfall in workers.
