I’ve been following tech trends closely this year, and the advancements in technology are moving too quickly to stand still and simply observe them. The second you stop, a new, cutting-edge technology will emerge that will change how things are done. A key player in this constant evolution is automation.
Throughout this year, I’ve noticed automation is taking a role in tech gadgets, marketing, cryptocurrency, data analytics, and so much more. It’s quickly becoming a staple for businesses and those in the tech realm, and in 2019, there are a few key advancements I put together below that you’ll want to watch out for.
Social media marketing will involve more artificial intelligence.
Social media marketers already have to adopt a certain amount of data science expertise if they’d like to compete in today’s market, and the need will only increase. While many marketers encourage you to minimize automation, don’t put too much stock in that advice. The artificial intelligence involved in these technologies will only get better, making automation a must for marketers.
For example, a good Instagram automation tool can help you increase engagement while saving time for other tasks. The artificial intelligence algorithm used in tools such as this are getting better at recognizing contextual clues and increasing engagement. You’ll want a specific tool for every platform in the future, whether you want to buy Instagram followers to buy Instagram likes.
Machine learning adds a stronger human element.
Data collection is old news, as is analytics. Businesses are becoming keenly aware of the need to incorporate data into their operations. “Machine learning (ML) and AI are the technologies through which this automation is achieved,” explains Shaurya Malwa of The Startup. “We have not yet developed the level of trust in ML and AI that we have in other technologies because they do not explain how they work or make their decisions.”
However, that’s all going to change. Machine learning is becoming smarter than ever. Have you ever looked at your phone as you’re leaving work, and you have a notification from Google Maps, telling you how many minutes it will take to get to your next destination? It knows where you’re going before you tell it because it’s learned your habits. The same goes for the pronunciation of words. Once your phone hears you say it a couple of times, it corrects its own pronunciation to match. This is a small sampling of the improved humanization of machine learning that we’re going to see more of in the coming years.
Better jobs than ever before.
One of the primary complaints against automation is that it will take jobs. Already, restaurants like McDonalds are employing automated kiosks to take people’s orders rather than hiring more staff to cover this operational aspect. However, a Gartner study reveals that it will actually lead to the creation of better jobs.
David Cearly, Gartner associate and researcher, explained to Information Age how augmented analytics processes will lead to increased emphasis on the collection and analysis of data. This requires a human component that AI will never quite replace.
“This will lead to citizen data science, an emerging set of capabilities and practices that enables users whose main job is outside the field of statistics and analytics to extract predictive and prescriptive insights from data,” Cearly says. “Through 2020, the number of citizen data scientists will grow five times faster than the number of expert data scientists. Organizations can use citizen data scientists to fill the data science and machine learning talent gap caused by the shortage and high cost of data scientists.”
With hands-on training, this will hail in an era of better-paying, more comfortable jobs for everyone willing to train in this area.
More blockchain organizations will arise.
Blockchain is typically a word associated with cryptocurrencies, but it’s rapidly becoming a bigger part of our society. Organizations of all kinds, including governments and tech startups, are looking at blockchain as a tool for increasing security and freeing up precious time and resources for associated employees.
This will bring about better occupations as well. Blockchain jobs are the second-fastest growing job category and the pay is great with an average salary of $130,000, according to TechCrunch. The industry will need more developers, software engineers, project managers, consultants, privacy experts, and so much more.
We’ll finally get 5G.
Cellular network providers have been promising us 5G data speeds for years, and with the help of automation, it will finally become a reality. And this incredible technology goes far beyond faster phone service. It will also improve the way businesses operate, particularly in the remote sector.
“While 4G currently plays a crucial role in business mobility, the arrival of 5G will take this to a new level beyond traditional office employees working on the move or remotely,” explains Nick Offin of TechRadarPro. “With greater speed and, more importantly, capacity, than its predecessor, 5G will enable organizations to truly take advantage of IoT solutions, which are forecast by Ericsson to number 18 billion by 2022 – 70 per cent of which will use cellular technology.”
It won’t affect the need for a human element.
Despite all these fantastic improvements in automation technology, it will never completely erase-or even hide-the human element. In fact, it may increase the demand for it, bringing out better opportunities for individuals in any market.
Forbes offers a great example to illustrate this point:
“I recently received a text from my mechanic reminding me to get my car serviced,” Hall says. “I dropped my car off and later received another text notifying me that my vehicle was ready to be picked up. That’s pretty standard. However, I’m a loyal customer of this auto shop because the owner always comes over and has real conversations with me. It makes me feel important, and it’s one of the reasons why so many of his customers keep returning.”
This is the same in any business, whether you’re on social media, on the phone, or in your store. Consumers will always want human attention to reinforce their values and deliver strong customer service. Although technology will always be changing to embrace automation and other advancements, this simple fact of human nature will never change.
