Human-centered technology is the future
Karen Newton, Managing Director, Credit Suisse shared thoughts on how human-led technology–specifically automation, augmented reality, and virtual reality–would be game-changers for operations professionals in the future. “Automation allows us to point our talent in more challenging and mentally stimulating directions, whether that’s client service, problem solving, future design, or strategic thinking,” she explained. And while some people associate bots and artificial intelligence with eliminating human jobs, Karen stressed that when it comes to operations workflows, the types of responsibilities automation can take over tend toward time-consuming busywork like manually transferring or mining data. These are tasks a bot can do instantly and flawlessly, and most professionals are happy to hand them off in order to focus on work that is both more rewarding and adds more value.
Looking to the future, our panelists expressed excitement about innovations still to come. From interoperability that enables seamless collaboration across supply chains and lifecycles, to augmented and virtual reality tools that “shrink the world” by replicating our sense of physical presence in virtual meetings, human-led technology presents myriad opportunities to evolve operations workflows and enhance collaboration.
Today, the world is fragmented, siloed, linear, and batched. The future is more connected, more circular, and more real-time. Digitization can play a significant role not just in automating manual processes, but also by acting as the fabric within the frame of larger and more connected workflows. Professionals and teams can leverage this technology for improved outcomes to better share information, increase transparency, and collaborate to solve challenges.
Many thanks to Lou, Karen, and Raj for joining me in this informative discussion during Innovate New York 2020. To watch the video of this panel and other sessions from the event, visit our event replay page. You can also read my blog that recaps my other panel which dives further into the Future of Markets and our new human-centered digital reality here.