Top Trends 2023 - Automation

Someone once said that automation was cost-cutting by tightening the corners, not cutting them. We agree – automation technologies should enable your business to reduce costs and manual liabilities, however, not at the cost of quality and output. This is why we’re giving you the lowdown on the top 5 Automation Technology trends of 2023 that can enhance your business operations without sacrificing quality!

Last year we explored trends such as hyper-automation, technology stack integration and semantic automation. This year, automation has grown smarter, leading to even smarter strategies and approaches for businesses to undertake. Without further ado, let’s dive in and explore the top 5 Automation Technology Trends of 2023!
 

Trend 1: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will Take Automation To New Heights

Is there anything that AI is yet to transform? We think not! This year, Artificial Intelligence will be used to enhance automation processes across industries, especially manufacturing. The market size for Artificial Intelligence in manufacturing was USD 2.9 billion in 2021 and is estimated to jump to USD 78.7 billion by 2030! This shows the incredible rate of adoption of AI in industries that want to leverage automation in routine processes.

Moreover, AI will be used in several industries that will create smarter automation strategies. Traditional processes such as manufacturing production, warehousing, data analytics, etc. will be automated using AI algorithms. Most of all, businesses will develop Intelligent Automation (IA) strategies (also called cognitive automation) through the integration of Artificial Intelligence into existing automation processes, tools and services.

Emerging use cases that stand out in terms of their suitability for AI integration are intelligent maintenance, product quality control and capacity planning. However, we expect businesses to innovate unique applications for using AI for automation. In fact, according to research from the Capgemini Research Institute, more than half of Europe’s top manufacturers are already implementing at least one Artificial Intelligence use case to automate operations. This trend is expected to go global in 2023!

TechDogs' Opinion: Automation is smart, however, with AI integrations, it will become smarter! We expect automation leaders to widen the scope of Intelligent Automation utility this year by improving the AI algorithms that drive them. This will also enable the deployment of intelligent automation to tackle increasingly complex tasks. Moreover, with Artificial Intelligence, businesses will focus on connecting automation silos to achieve more seamless process automation across the enterprise. Using AI-driven automation over conventional approaches will be an influential trend in 2023 and beyond.
 

Trend 2: Businesses Will Explore Collaborative Bots (Cobots)

We know having a robot co-worker sounds like something out of a science-fiction novel, yet that's what the next trend is all about! A quickly emerging automation technology is that of cobots. A cobot (or collaborative robot) is a robot that's been developed for direct human-robot interaction within a shared space. Cobots will become more commonplace in 2023, with businesses offloading certain tasks to these robotic employees.

Although humans and robots have been working in close proximity for streamlined operations for some time, unlike RPA (robotic process automation) and virtual assistants, cobots will be physically present in the shared working space. Cobots will be different compared to traditional industrial robots as they won’t be isolated from human contact or operate independently.

The global market value of cobots is projected to leap from USD 1.2 billion in 2021 to USD 10.5 billion in 2027. Moreover, a study by Interact Analysis estimates that cobots will account for 30 percent of the total robot market by 2027. The adoption of cobots will be aided by the fact that they can be tailored according to the workers’ preferences. Additionally, collaborative robots are lighter and more portable compared to fully automated devices, making them simpler to assemble and deploy.

TechDogs' Opinion: Cobots will look to shake things up in 2023 by providing augmented automation capabilities. Creating digital workforces has been a priority for many businesses, which will be possible by leveraging cobots. Essentially, businesses will ditch traditional approaches where automation replaces human workers and instead opt for cobots to assist humans across activities; from decision-making and brainstorming to execution of routine tasks with better effectiveness. Hence, developers will focus on providing improved interfaces and the ability for end-users to redeploy cobots for different tasks in the workplace. We believe that collaborative robots will streamline complex tasks, especially ones where humans need to collaborate with automated bots instead of assigning them a task independently. Get ready to see new shared working spaces like never before! #CoWorkingWithCobots
 

Trend 3: Predictive Maintenance Will Become Automated

Automation of processes, operations and workflows has become the industry standard in today’s age. However, in 2023, rather than simply automating existing processes and tasks, businesses will focus on automating one of the most expensive aspects of operations: maintenance.

Instead of following a routine schedule for the maintenance of equipment and devices, businesses will deploy Automated Predictive Maintenance (APdM) that uses AI models to optimize maintenance schedules and automate the deployment of updates and patches. The concept of Automated Predictive Maintenance will enable businesses to integrate automation within their maintenance strategies, taking Industry 4.0 initiatives to the next level!

Moreover, businesses that have adopted IoT (Internet of Things) will be able to leverage IoT devices to resolve predicted defects or breakdowns in machinery, before it causes downtime or permanent damage. According to Gartner, 60 percent of IoT-enabled predictive maintenance solutions will be delivered as part of enterprise asset management products by 2026, compared to just 15 percent in 2021. Business leaders will hence focus on automating the predicting, scheduling, monitoring and execution of maintenance end-to-end in 2023.

TechDogs' Opinion: Automated predictive maintenance (APdM) initiatives will lead to better planning of downtime and maintenance schedules in enterprises. By doing this, businesses will be able to divert production away from affected equipment, turning maintenance into a parallel task rather than using the conventional approach which may impact output and productivity. Using APdM strategies will also reduce the chance of human errors in the identification and implementation of maintenance processes, which may otherwise cause delays and disruptions. We expect manufacturing businesses to explore the use of IoT robots that will act on real-time insights to execute automated predictive maintenance approaches.
 

Trend 4: Robotic Process Automation Will Transition To RPAaaS

We are quite confident that you've heard about SaaS or Software-as-a-service! After all, it is among the most adopted technologies in recent years. This cloud-based deployment service delivers applications to businesses over the Internet – and soon, it will be used to deliver Robotic Process Automation (RPA)!

RPA has been the star kid of automation for a long time. It was initially designed to handle heavy, repetitive tasks but is now helping in the automation of complex processes that require a greater level of dexterity. Hence, automation vendors will start deploying various RPA services through cloud-based platforms – automation experts are terming "RPAaaS" or RPA-as-a-service. 

Thanks to the popularity of RPA bots, RPAaaS is bound to take over the automation industry in 2023. Leveraging the effectiveness and convenience of SaaS models, automation leaders are expected to deploy their RPA services through the same cloud model. Naturally, RPA-as-a-service will become a crucial component in automation strategies for businesses that want to experiment with RPA, without investing in hardware or software. Moreover, RPAaaS will enable companies to create smarter workflows, boost productivity, scale automated processes and reduce operational costs. 

TechDogs' Opinion: Nearly every business with an eye toward digital transformation is looking for ways to modernize by operating in the cloud. Moving automation to the cloud will become easier for such businesses thanks to RPAaaS. We expect the demand for Robotic Process Automation (RPA) services delivered via a SaaS model will only increase with time. Moreover, as this model allows businesses to only pay for what they consume, as is the case with all SaaS models, RPA will become a key automation strategy for emerging, fast-growing businesses. We believe RPAaaS vendors will play a key role in offering businesses unlimited scalability of automation as they evolve.
 

Trend 5: Sustainable Automation Will Be In Focus          

Sustainability is no longer a buzzword but a genuine demand of consumers worldwide; something businesses can no longer ignore. As more businesses take note of this and alter their operations accordingly, they will also need to do the same with their automation strategies. Building more sustainable automation strategies should be on the agenda of all businesses in 2023 – irrespective of size and industry.

Sustainability is quickly finding its way into the decision-making of businesses and organizations across domains. After all, consumers are more inclined towards organizations that adopt sustainable policies and eco-friendly initiatives – automation is not an exception. Naturally, businesses will look to align their automation activities with overall sustainability practices starting this year. Although it is a relatively new trend, organizations that apply sustainable automation will find themselves in a better position in the coming years.

Adopting practices that help sustainably transform automation will also promote increased efficiency, better consumer loyalty and higher return on investment. Moreover, intelligent automation approaches will help businesses create new strategies for their target of achieving sustainable and greener automation. While the aim of automation has always been to reduce the utilization of materials, energy and effort, sustainable automation takes it further and aims to reduce toxic emissions and waste products. Additionally, this trend will help businesses reduce their carbon footprint, forging a better bond with the local community.

TechDogs' Opinion: In 2023, sustainability cannot be optional! Businesses need to create sustainable processes and frameworks that extend to their automation initiatives. Sustainable automation will be an inevitable convergence between automation technology and corporate social responsibility (CSR) objectives that aim to create environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional methods. Additionally, by utilizing sustainable automation, businesses will be able to fast-track their commitments and targets for creating an environment with less waste, pollution and energy use. It will reshape automation so that it not only saves money and time but also adheres to the sustainability guidelines of government and environmental agencies. #TwoBirdsWithOneStone
 

Summing It Up

Automation has been a driver of progress since the first Industrial Revolution. It has enabled breakthroughs, from the invention of the assembly line to the rise of robotics and artificial intelligence. Automation has amplified business revenue through optimized and streamlined processes. These trends will further improve your automation strategies by showing you the best technologies, approaches and tools for it!