business
‘‘
TALKING
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How can machines solve the young
talent problem?
It’s clear that machines can go a long way
to helping businesses boost their production
line efficiencies where human talent may be
lacking, or knowledge may be hard to get.
However, with the workforce only getting
older, businesses still need to encourage
new recruits into the traditional industries, in
order to flourish and grow.
Here too, the use of robots can help. We have
found that 41% of young people overall
want the opportunity to work with the latest
innovations, and 20% of businesses believe
that the chance to work with robotics and
AI is a big draw for young talent. Specifically,
among millennials, 33% say they want to be
at the cutting edge of new developments.
So, there’s a lot that new technology can do,
to boost workforce ranks, and implementing
new innovations can bring real recruitment
benefits as well as business efficiencies
to industrial firms. Perhaps the use of
technology is, in fact, simply something
that industrial businesses need to get
better at celebrating? After all, businesses
in manufacturing, lumber, distribution and
retail believe they are perceived as old-
fashioned (23%), and not a ‘young person’s
industry’ (25%).
processes, our research has shown us that
it’s time we all got comfortable working with
the latest technology. Technology, indeed,
is clearly one of the keys to plugging the
burgeoning knowledge gap in industry.
Certainly, in order to use the latest
advancements in this way, businesses need
to have the right infrastructure at their
heart. Automating aspects of the workforce
offers a new way of building efficiencies
into the supply chain and enabling Digital
Transformation but this is especially the
case when data is shared, processed and
analysed effectively.
It’s time these perceptions changed. Talking
more widely about the use of robotics on
the production line, or the use of AI to bring
new products to market quickly, can only
help to get industrial businesses noticed
by young people, encouraging more talent
into the market. After all, factories running
with robots can be squeaky clean, highly
intelligent and inspiring environments
to work in. These environments have
technology at their heart, and are often a
far cry from the dirty mechanical factories of
the past.
Getting comfortable working
alongside robots
With a third (31%) of businesses saying AI,
robots and highly automated machinery, are
now a common feature of their day-to-day
If your workforce is successfully working
with the latest technology, it’s highly likely
that your business is growing. We urge you
to spread the good news and compare your
rate of growth with others in the Global
Growth Index. Together, let’s change
perceptions and encourage more young
talent to consider roles in manufacturing,
lumber, distribution and retail. It’s time the
world knew just how cutting-edge these
industries are. n
“
PERHAPS
THE USE OF
TECHNOLOGY IS,
IN FACT, SIMPLY
SOMETHING THAT
INDUSTRIAL
BUSINESSES NEED
TO GET BETTER AT
CELEBRATING?
42
INTELLIGENTCIO
www.intelligentcio.com