Digital Transformation: Intelligent Automation, Robotics and RPA for the Non-Technologist, Part 1
Understanding what Technologies Do and How They Can Be Used
Apologies but we’re having technical difficulties with the voiceover. It will be added as soon as possible.
The reason we, as humans, build technology is to make life better and easier for ourselves. Whether this is the wheel, the automobile or a self-driving car, it’s all about improving our situation. Because we do tend to focus on improving, you may be wondering why I waited this long to explain automation. After all, it would seem to be a foundational aspect of this goal. But most people have seen enough science fiction to understand that robots (unless they are evil) are devices that work on behalf of humans. And automation is the logical extension to any technology that performs a process on behalf of a human. I held off on this topic because I felt that some of the other technologies seemed harder to understand for the non-technical among us. Or at least more intimidating. But that doesn’t mean that it’s easy to understand the full potential of robotics and automation. And so, let’s dig in!
Analogies/Examples
Usually, I use analogies to explain what technology does. The problem with automation is that every explanation of automation is just another example of automation. Because of this, I’m going to cheat a bit and use examples of non- or less- technical automation. This will help explain what kinds of automation are possible across the breadth of robotics and automation.
Robotics
Most people can close their eyes and picture a robot. However, if you do that right now, it’s likely that you’re picturing something that looks vaguely human. Maybe it’s silver with minimal facial features, but it still walks on two legs and moves its arms and head. It may even talk, though only in a stilted, mechanical way. It could even be something that is like the android Data on Star Trek Next Generation who, other than his greyish-white “skin,” looks fully human.
In reality, most robots look absolutely nothing like humans. Instead, their designers try to match their shape to the task that they have to complete. Rather than appearing human, they “act” human by doing tasks that humans do. But not always the way a human would do it.
Think about it. Vacuuming robots are wide to suck up dirt, but short to fit under couches. And robots in factories are often just a single arm or machine so they can perform a single action repeatedly—their one part of the manufacturing process. My favorite robot looks as human as a metal box. I personally love the dishwasher. I put the dish into it, wait an hour, and I then take out a clean and dry dish. Yes, it would be easier if the robot picked up the dish from the table, washed it, dried it and put it back in the cabinet. But believe me, I’ll happily take the two out of four tasks that it does do!
It is important to understand, though, that there are an almost infinite number of robot types. Wheeled robots and flying drone robots are being tested to deliver packages. Swimming robots can check the underside of boats, or take photos, or make repairs in places that are dangerous for humans. Humanoid robots can be used for security and customer greetings. And many more robots and automated tools than humans have gone into space, and none of them look exactly like humans (or sound like HAL). Robots can look like almost anything and do almost anything. The important thing is to align them to the task at hand.
Automation Examples
Throughout your day, you will encounter an almost endless number of places with automated processes. To better understand what automation can look like, let’s consider places where there have been multiple phases of automation.
We can start with toll booths:
Phase 0 (Not automated): Car stops at tollbooth and human operator gives a ticket or takes ticket and payment.
Phase 1 (Mechanical automation): Car stops at tollbooth and machine gives ticket or human operator takes ticket and payment.
Phase 2 (Mechanical automation 2): Car stops at tollbooth and machine gives ticket or machine takes coin-only payment.
Phase 3 (Digital automation): Car slows down or stops at tollbooth and EZPass (or equivalent) gets an electronic version of ticket or makes the payment.
Phase 4 (Advanced digital automation): Car continues at full speed and drives under grid that gives EZPass (or equivalent) the electronic version of ticket or makes the payment.
Toll booths are a relatively simple example. Automation has allowed us to replace tollbooths with an overhead metal grid. This is a fantastic upgrade.
Now, if we look at something like shopping, it’s not so straightforward. Not only are there multiple phases, but there are multiple branches:
Phase 0 (Not automated): Customer goes to store, chooses item, cashier totals cost, customer pays with cash.
Phase 1 (Mechanical automation): Customer goes to store, chooses item, cashier uses cash register to total payment, customer pays with cash.
Phase 2 (Digital automation): Customer goes to store, chooses item, cashier uses scanner to identify items and cash register to total payment, customer pays with cash.
Phase 3 (Digital automation): Customer goes to store, chooses item, cashier uses scanner to identify items and cash register to total payment, customer pays with card.
Branch A: In-store:
Phase 4A (Advanced digital automation): Customer goes to store, chooses item, customer uses scanner to identify items and cash register to total payment, customer pays with card or cash.
Phase 5A (Advanced digital automation): Customer goes to automated store (such as Amazon Go), chooses item, customer walks out and scanner automatically calculates total and bills card.
Branch B: On-line:
Phase 4B (Advanced digital automation): Customer sits at home, chooses item, system calculates total and charges card, sends order to warehouse where increasingly automated tools move item from warehouse to customer.
Keep in mind here that we’re focusing on the automation portion. With shopping, there’s also innovation and transformation happening around personalization, delivery, and more. That’s why we iterate when it comes to Digital Transformation, because different parts influence each other. And trying to swallow the whole thing in one gulp will probably result in failure (snakes can do it, but you’re not a snake).
Summary
Automation is a beautiful thing. By automating processes, we can both minimize and shift burden. Automation done well drives Digital Transformation. (Or Digital Transformation done well results in automation requirements.)
Tune in next week to hear more about the different types of automation in Part 2 of Digital Transformation: Intelligent Automation, Robotics and RPA for the Non-Technologist.