The impact of RPA on employee productivity and job satisfaction
By Jaya Pathak
In the business world, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is an emerging technology. RPA is basically a software which can perform structure task ranging from simple task to record keeping, entering and modifying data, operation of complex task. It can be used with other technologies like artificial intelligence.
The use of this technology reduces time consumption by streamlining business process. It will not only assist businesses and humans in the automation process but it can also take over the jobs of humans and replace them entirely. The use of such automation software is bringing a major change in the nature of work. Job is both created as well as destroyed. The characteristics of many occupations underwent radical reformation. Automation is affecting human labourer in both positive as well as negative way. As a result, it will affect the performance of business as well.
As per a recent study, the increased engagement of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has increased the fear of loss of jobs. Almost half of the jobs in the USA are at a high risk of being replaced by search automation technologies. On the contrary, robots would not be able to detect the obvious errors a human would point out.
Effect of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) on employee productivity and job satisfaction
In the recent years, artificial intelligence and Robotic Process Automation has completely affected the work environment. Its impact on the work environment had raised diverse opinion. RPA can affect the nature of work in a diverse way.
This modern technology has two effect, job destruction and transformation. The application of automation technologies to labour consequently introduces the risk of replacement where jobs could be entirely fulfilled by intelligent machines instead of humans. Despite being a tool for workers to enhance their jobs, it is still expected of currently employed workers to garner some degree of fear over their job being taken over by machines. However, it was posited that this fear of technology is also dependent on other factors.
- Age is one of the factors affecting fear of job loss. the relationship between age and fear of job loss by machine replacement is an inverse relationship. Those who are in the starting point of their career are more fearful of incoming technologies as they consider that they are future opportunities are reduced. On the opposite side, established workers who are older and more well into their careers are more receptive to technological changes as they expect the changes to be complementary to their work.
It was observed in the accounting profession that the application of RPA would lead to the destruction of some entry level jobs which shows that there is a greater barrier for younger people to get their desired position. If RPA adoption wear to become widespread, it would lead to the creation of new jobs and responsibilities for old jobs. The entry level jobs can be redesigned in order to attract new workers.
- Another factor that could play a role in the relationship between new technology and the fear of job loss is skill level. It could be argued that skill level follows the same argument that high skilled workers would be less afraid of oncoming technological changes while low skilled workers that have menial responsibilities are more prone to the fear, as workers well into their careers are more likely to be high skilled. It could hold true for low skilled workers however we argue that high skilled workers would also be afraid. High skilled workers are generally more educated and more informed about their career prospects. But it can also be argued that highly educated workers would be more willing to accept automation as they can comprehend more fully how it affects their occupation in general.
It should be expected that If Robotic Process Automation (RPA) became industry standard, then job destruction is inevitable. However, job creation is also necessary. People who are starting to enter their careers should reasonably expect changes on how their job is performed in the future. It also falls under organisations responsibility to redesign their job and re empower their workers to mitigate the negative aspects of job loss fear.
- Acemoglu and Autor proposed that with the application of automation technology, that would come up polarisation effect on employment where job opportunities will decrease for the middle skill workers, which shifts the demand from these positions towards both low skilled jobs and high skilled jobs. This consequently affects job earnings where both high and low skilled jobs are paid more. On the contrary, it was also pointed out that automation technology was not detrimental to employment but rather increased labour demand and labour quality. Search technology has a negative effect on the wages of workers as it automates their jobs.
- Robotic Process Automation essentially changes job characteristics. Workers have more time to do more thoughtful work which can upskill them. Through reducing monotonous task, workers can focus more on the complex and analytical part of the jobs or they could be introduced to newer or more interesting tasks. Increased responsibility and complexity are a part of the job enrichment process where through these two actions, organization can increase workers productivity, motivation and subsequently satisfaction with their job.
- The factors such as fear of job takeover, change in pay and change in job characteristics have direct relationships towards job satisfaction. Management decisions can play a major role in dictating how RPA can affect employee and therefore consequently affect job satisfaction. There is a complex relationship between RPA and job satisfaction where it could be positive for one group of workers but on the other hand, it could be dependent on other factors that are under the control of organization.
Conclusion
The adoption of automation technologies like Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is inevitable. Thus, it is necessary for both the employers and the employee to familiarise themselves with the operation of Robotic Process Automation (RPA). Workers attitude towards the automation process could be negative before adoption, but would go towards positive after adoption. Therefore, organizations should be more transparent with their motives and get their workers to be more involved before starting the process. It can be simply used as a tool to enhance the efficiency of workers and to improve their performance.
