With the recent rise in artificial intelligence (AI), we've got to talk about robots.
We're not AI experts. We're not robotics experts either.
But we do understand jobs and workplaces. And if there's one place robots can have an impact, it's in facilities management jobs.
Facilities management jobs are the backbone of many businesses and require a special set of skills to be successful. With the increasing use of automation, it's no surprise that robots have been considered as potential replacements for human labor in this sector.
Despite their sophisticated capabilities, robots still lack certain qualities that humans have, making them unable to take over all facilities management jobs just yet. In this article, we'll explore the differences between robots and humans regarding what they can and cannot do. We'll look at risk management & compliance challenges associated with automation and cost factor considerations. Finally, we'll look at the future of facilities management jobs.
Robots versus humans: What they can and cannot do
Robots and humans are vastly different regarding their capabilities in the world of facilities management jobs. While it should seem obvious, we'll go a bit deeper into their similarities and differences.
Robots have the advantage of being able to complete complex tasks quickly and precisely. They're machines, so they'd naturally be good at this. However, they lack the creativity and innovation needed for outside-the-box problem solving.
On the other hand, humans have an instinctive ability to make decisions based on intuition and experience, which robots cannot replicate.
Humans also have a unique advantage in that they can collaborate with one another. Humans do this to accomplish even more complex tasks than what could be completed by a single robot. Some might argue that machines can also collaborate via the internet. While true, they still lack creativity.
This is especially beneficial when dealing with situations that require quick, creative solutions or changes in plans due to unexpected factors. In contrast, robots are unable to make decisions in unpredictable environments or handle unexpected changes without assistance from human workers. They don't deviate from their programming...yet.
This difference between robotics and humans demonstrates why robots will not be taking over all facilities management jobs any time soon. Robots are ready to help with certain tasks, such as following process instructions or completing routine maintenance work. However, for highly complex projects or those that involve creative problem solving, nothing beats having real people on the job. Read this article that further compares the good and bad with technology in facilities management jobs.
Risk management and compliance
Risk management and compliance is a key component of modern facilities management. With the advancement of robotics technology, there are still many jobs that cannot be done without a human touch.
Humans have an advantage regarding:
- Making decisions
- Assessing risk
- Considering ethical implications
- Adapting to unexpected changes in environment
Chalk this up to learned experiences over hundreds of years. We humans learn and improve. But machines are learning and improving as well.
Humans can more quickly evaluate situations using their experience and intuition than robots can, but for how long? Robots are only able to recognize and manage risk, so long as they've been programmed to. Compliance for robots only works if the robot understands the consequences. That's wild to think about!
Robots also struggle with following regulations. This struggle is likely due to their inability to recognize subtle biases or ethical considerations when performing tasks such as hiring or reviewing resumes. This means that they can only complete basic functions like sorting through applications alphabetically, for example. Accurate judgment of someone's qualifications requires human intervention.
Overall, while robotics technology has advanced significantly over the years, there remain many facilities management jobs that require human input. It seems unlikely at this time that robots will replace all facilities management roles. Instead, robots will support existing teams and help them work more efficiently rather than completely replacing them altogether.
The challenges of automation
The concept of automating routine tasks in a facility to reduce costs and improve efficiency can be attractive. However, there are several challenges that must be faced when implementing automation into facilities management jobs.
Programming robots to accurately complete a task requires an understanding of the complexities involved. Each job requires its own set of instructions. Such complexities can take time and money to develop and maintain over time if changes are necessary or new tasks need to be added.
Of course, this doesn't mean we should avoid automation. We should look to automate tasks that repeat because they are predictable. Processes such as automatically purchasing new supplies are a great example.
Just leave complicated decision-making to the humans.
Finally, programming robots for natural interaction with people presents its own difficulties. As robots do not have the same level of empathy as humans, it can be hard for them to communicate with workers or customers. Costly mistakes or delays in completing projects on time can be expected if miscommunication occurs.
While automation shows benefits regarding facilities management jobs, there are multiple hurdles that must first be overcome before these solutions become practical options. With the right technology and skilled professionals, however, these risks can be managed responsibly so that businesses may reap the rewards associated with automation.
The cost factor
Regarding automating facilities management processes, the cost factor is a key consideration. Purchasing automated systems can be expensive, and robots can come with maintenance and repair costs. Moreover, businesses must also invest in training programs for staff members who will be operating the technology. For automation software, design and implementation fees could be a factor if customization is required.
Could learning to properly use new and better facilities management software lead to your next promotion? This could be a great way to manage costs without hiring someone to manage a software upgrade. It could also make you more valuable to your organization.
While robotic automation may lead to savings regarding energy consumption or time saved on tasks, a return on investment must be found. These savings must outweigh the upfront investment before making any decisions about automating processes within your organization's facilities management jobs. Ultimately, with the right technology and skilled professionals at hand, robotic automation could provide great value if managed responsibly.
The future of facilities management jobs
The future of facilities management jobs is evolving with advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence. While robots can help to automate many mundane tasks, there are still some areas that require human judgment, as previously mentioned. As a result, humans will still be required to oversee some aspects of facilities management jobs in the future.
In addition to this, the role of facilities managers is shifting from reactive response to proactive prevention. With new technologies such as machine learning and predictive analytics, facilities managers are better equipped to identify potential issues before they become larger problems. This helps them stay ahead of potential issues and makes their job easier in the long run. And these technologies can currently be used without robots.
Furthermore, automation capabilities are also improving with advances in technology, allowing facilities managers to automate more complex tasks efficiently and safely.
Finally, artificial intelligence (AI) has been identified as a major game-changer for facilities management jobs. AI has already been used successfully in other industries such as finance and legal. Within facilities management jobs, AI can provide support with data collection and analysis. Such data collection might otherwise take a lot of time for human workers to do manually. This would free up resources for more complex tasks that require human judgment or insight. Again, this work does not require a robot.
It is clear that while robots are not yet ready to take over all facilities management jobs, technological advancements are here. They are providing opportunities for humans to work smarter rather than harder.
By taking advantage of new technologies such as AI or machine learning, facilities managers can be more productive in their roles. This technology is here to stay and will power robots in facilities management jobs in the future. Preparing now will ultimately lead to better outcomes for your organization.
