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Companion or Substitution? Automation and Digitisation in the Workplace

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  • Samantha Joy Cinco

Abstract

The production process is no longer purely limited to human workers. Automation and digitisation have come in. Workers are aided by various machines that assist them in production. This has led to faster production and lower prices. The benefits are obvious, yet up to what extent can we automate and digitise production? Will it ever come to a point when we would no longer need any human intervention to produce the things we need? Can the digital and the automated ever substitute human hands? This article offers a brief discussion on how digitisation and automation have affected our lives and the way we work. It presented an overview of automation’s history and recent developments. Moreover, it discussed the various opportunities and risks associated with these fast improvements. Lastly, an analysis of the possible future of digitisation was mentioned: What must be done to take full advantage of the opportunities and to curb the risks? Automation has made production faster and this has led to various benefits and opportunities just waiting to be taken advantaged off, yet I firmly believe that human labour will continue to flourish. Automation and digitisation may have been going on for decades, but human work still exists because there are aspects of work that cannot just simply be replaced by machines. Machines are to complement us and help us to do things better. Moreover, there should be a focus on education and on fostering a culture of innovation so that we can be ready to face any changes in the workplace. There should also be a conscious effort to fight the factors that further inequality in society.

Suggested Citation

  • Samantha Joy Cinco, 2021. "Companion or Substitution? Automation and Digitisation in the Workplace," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 7(2), pages 263-268, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jouent:v:7:y:2021:i:2:p:263-268
    DOI: 10.1177/2393957520973509
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Arntz, Melanie & Gregory, Terry & Zierahn, Ulrich, 2019. "Digitalization and the future of work: Macroeconomic consequences," ZEW Discussion Papers 19-024, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    2. Daron Acemoglu & Pascual Restrepo, 2018. "Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and Work," NBER Chapters, in: The Economics of Artificial Intelligence: An Agenda, pages 197-236, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. David H. Autor, 2015. "Why Are There Still So Many Jobs? The History and Future of Workplace Automation," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 29(3), pages 3-30, Summer.
    4. Daron Acemoglu & Pascual Restrepo, 2018. "Artificial Intelligence, Automation and Work," Boston University - Department of Economics - Working Papers Series dp-298, Boston University - Department of Economics.
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