4 out of 5 knowledge workers believe that workplace automation will allow them to better focus on doing their jobs, that's according to Workfronts annual 'The State of Enterprise Work' report.
Workfront surveyed over 2000 employees in the UK, with a goal of capturing both how work is being completed, the day-to-day challenges knowledge workers face and how they see workplace trends playing out in the future.
Automation allows employees to work better
Nearly one-third of knowledge workers currently employ some form of automation. Unlike their blue-collar counterparts, knowledge workers are embracing AI and Automation as a way of making their jobs easier and more fulfilling. The report found that:
- 84% of participants saw automation as a chance to rethink the way they work in new and innovative ways.
- 82% of knowledge workers are excited at the opportunity to 'learn new things" as the workforce moves towards automation.
- 65% of office workers believe that at least 20% of their day-to-day tasks should be automated.
- Only 38% of knowledge workers surveyed feared that humans will have to compete with AI, robots and machines due to the rise in workplace automation.
"Popular culture may depict automation in dystopian terms, but the reality is that the majority of workers are optimistic about automation because they understand how it helps them focus on high-value tasks at work."
Alex Shooman - CEO of Workfront
Automation increases workplace flexibility
The concept of the workplace has evolved with technology. Companies are increasingly seeing the benefits of allowing their employees to work flexibly, either outside of traditional office hours or outside of the office itself. Flexible work arrangements will continue to be a major cornerstone of the workplace of the future. Many of the survey participants were embracing this trend, with:
- 82% of participants having the ability to use flexitime
- 63% of workers believing that traditional office hours will disappear in the future
- 56% of workers believe over half of the workforce in the future will be remote
A positive outlook for the workplace of the future
While there are many changes still to come, 77% of workers said that they felt "prepared for the workplace of the future". For most people, workplace automation represented a huge opportunity for greater flexibility, productivity and innovation in the workplace.