SUPERCHARGING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

THE HUMAN FACTOR IN INTELLIGENT AUTOMATION

STEPHEN GILL, ACADEMIC HEAD, SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICAL AND COMPUTER SCIENCES AT HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY DUBAI CAMPUS, ANALYSES THE KEY SUCCESS FACTORS OF INTELLIGENT AUTOMATION.

Within the past two years, Intelligent Automation (IA) has climbed to the top priorities for enterprises to achieve technological resilience. Not only that, but IA has been linked to agility and responsiveness for its role in facilitating lean and costefficient operations at an optimum pace in comparison to traditional approaches. There are clear signs that companies and enterprises have started embracing the disruption. In fact, the latest trends indicate that the intelligent process automation market is expected to reach $13.75 billion in the next two years, as quoted in Forbes. This is double the value comparing to three years ago. However, recent reports have uncovered that most organisations are struggling to secure value from their IA activities. Upon a quick overview of the challenges, it becomes clear that the challenges are more related to skills, leadership and data than they are to tools and technologies.

A survey by KMPG in 2019 of nearly 600 business leaders across 13 countries pinpoints the main barriers and challenges along the road to IA implementation. The most notable include organisations being hindered by a lack of integration and prioritisation. Several organisations are failing to see that intelligent automation is a business issue, rather than a purely technological

endeavour. This accounts for the lack of communication surrounding the integration of IA. Additionally, companies are also dealing with skill shortages and securing the talents they need, particularly in machine learning and AI capabilities, which is increasingly inhibiting IA growth. Finally, despite enterprises recognising the way AI will change the way people work, companies are concerned about the impacts of IA on their workforce and development.

On the plus side, there has been a keen determination by executives to supercharge their IA investments and activities. These are some potential solutions enterprises can undertake to support the strategic integration of IA within their systems:

User-centric design

Most employers have not been able to reap the full benefits of IA and the way it can significantly increase efficiency - the very purpose behind its implementation - due to a lack of usercentric design. Intelligent automation solutions need to be created through the user’s eye to assess its impact and ease of accessibility. The lack of a user-centric design and a comprehensive design system that outlines touchpoints, user interactions and data flaws inhibit the growth of IA system resiliency. Uncertainties that arise from partial information availability and algorithmic errors can be resolved by adopting an integrated design approach that clearly addresses the entire technological process of an end-to-end IA ecosystem.

Getting more people on board and involving as many relevant people with diverse views as possible in each stage of the process to visualise what IA solutions means for them is necessary. It is also important to keep in perspective that these technologies are developed to facilitate the work process of employees. Therefore, integrating their perspectives within it is a must to ensure quick adaptability.

Shortage of talents

As is the case with fast-developing technologies, securing the right talents is not an easy task. There is certainly a shortage of talents that can process, design and develop complex IA solutions. This can cause uncertainty over solutions for knowledge-based task automation.

Several companies have already started adopting AI to automate the process of deriving cognitive knowledge especially in customer support departments. For example, AI is used in decoding cognitive knowledge from phone calls, transactions and online chats. Additionally, many firms are leveraging IA initiatives to build integrated planning systems that can reduce organisational silos as much as possible. As such, IA and AI are being used to address higher-order tasks that require cognitive abilities, thus reducing the need for securing talents in certain processes. However, this certainly does not underscore the need to redesign job roles, reskill employees and incentivise working with technology.

Have a clear automation strategy

Many companies lose sight of integrating corporate strategy and organisational structure with the automation strategy. This lack of integration accounts for the challenges enterprises are facing in prioritising IA and effectively streamlining it across work operations. Alignment with the company strategy and culture is critical to support the delivery of automation capabilities. In addition, viewing IA from an enterprise level can scale up its usefulness and broaden its scope as the lack of proper integration can risk redundant efforts due to lack of communication. As such, a coordinated enterprise approach will lead to consistent technologies, resources, governance and investment pools — and will elevate the best practices.

Considering the quick pace by which IA technology has developed in the last two years, it is no surprise that organisations are struggling with its integration and securing talents. Fortunately, enterprises are embracing the disruption and are aware of their need to scale up the usefulness of IA. However, in its pilot stage, it is essential to consider the human factor and always keep in perspective that technology must be led, not the other way around.

CONSIDERING THE QUICK PACE BY WHICH IA TECHNOLOGY HAS DEVELOPED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT ORGANISATIONS ARE STRUGGLING WITH ITS INTEGRATION AND SECURING TALENTS. FORTUNATELY, ENTERPRISES ARE EMBRACING THE DISRUPTION AND ARE AWARE OF THEIR NEED TO SCALE UP THE USEFULNESS OF IA.

FUTURE-READY LANS

ARAFAT YOUSEF, MANAGING DIRECTOR – MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA, NEXANS DATA NETWORK SOLUTIONS, ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE LOCAL AREA NETWORKS

The role of the LAN is changing and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Failing to keep up will affect productivity, competitive position and reputation. So how do you keep up with the demands of new technologies, platforms, and users? Or ensure you have enough useful redundant spare capacity? Let’s take a look at the key drivers for change.

Convergence

Just a few years ago, in-building resources were devoted to single functions, such as telephony, internet, or security. The technology and business drivers for bringing these services together on a single converged platform are here to stay. However, trends such as hot-desking and smart-desking are now being adopted more widely following COVID-19 measures. More and more network managers are discovering the cost and efficiency benefits of having only one network to manage. An ‘Everything over IP’ or ‘All-IP’ approach, linking building management and devices to the building network over Ethernet/ Internet Protocol, allows previously separate systems to merge. Cabling provides Power over Ethernet (PoE) as well as a physical communication layer.

Power over Ethernet

The fast global uptake of connected LED lighting, sensor technology, and IPequipped devices are making Power over Ethernet a necessity. Providing current over Ethernet cabling allows devices to be installed and moved around without having to worry whether there’s an electrical outlet close by. Power delivered through new generations of PoE is more than six times the level of the initial PoE standard. What’s more, some applications, for example in the areas of signage, lighting and security require continuous power. This means a significantly increase heat build-up inside cable bundles, which may disrupt network IP traffic. This requires a new look approach to planning, installing and operating the network.

Wi-Fi 6

Evolution in wireless technology is inevitable, with 24 billion webconnected devices. Over half of these are connected wirelessly and are capable of transmitting HD content. WiFi 6 is ideal for the Internet of Things and designed to connect the largest possible number of devices. As more devices share wireless bandwidth it can become increasingly diluted, even to the point of becoming unusable. As Wi-Fi6 makes more advanced applications possible, the LAN needs to provide ubiquitous capacity, with plenty of bandwidth reserves, to the Wireless Access Point (WAP). To benefit from the higher speeds and lower latency Wi-Fi 6 brings, it is important that there are no weak – outdated – links in your connectivity chain. Wi-Fi 6 WAPs will often require compliance with the PoE+ standard (802.3at).

Flexibility

We’ve touched on the importance of adapting to changing functionalities of the LAN, taking this into account from the outset. The LAN may need to adapt as a result of new technologies and protocols, or changes to the building in which it is being used. However, the LAN may also need to scale up or down with regard to the number of connections or physical footprint. You may need to accommodate a large number of new devices to support IoT or edge computing applications. Or you might need to introduce a large number of new employees. Production plants may need to increase the number of connected devices or accommodate machine-tomachine communications. You won’t want to mix different devices, standards, or protocols as incompatibility may introduce issues related to management, operation and security. A Fibre To The Office (FTTO) solution can help. It provides Gigabit Ethernet to end user devices by combining passive fibre cabling and active switches. High bandwidth reserves and availability of a single fibre bundle with up to 144 connections ensures readiness for future growth. Short link lengths (3-5m) between switch and end devices, and the absence of cable bundles, reduce power and heating losses. FTTO grows with user needs and may easily be adjusted to new technologies and applications.

And now?

As systems merge, user needs develop, building usage changes, and numerous new devices and technologies are introduced, demands on the LAN are changing fast. Nexans LANactive FTTO and digital ceiling solution can help introduce the flexibility and redundancy required to make sure your network remains up to the task. As each network is different, we do this on the basis of your specific requirements and business goals. Feel free to get in touch and discuss your needs!