Software automation impact on companies dealing with too many data

Are we all Luddites at heart? Well, maybe. Maybe not. Who knows? And even if we really are Luddites, who can blame us? After all, human nature has a deep-seated change aversion. All inventions, technologies or breakthroughs are met with suspicion at first and software automation is no exception. However, it has been proven time and time again that software automation systems can yield huge benefits to businesses and organizations. Through the application of such systems, businesses can reduce money and time spent on their daily operations. Whether you’re a startup or a full-fledged business, the amount of data you generate grows at an exponential rate. As the saying goes, with power comes responsibility. Here’s the kicker: the more data you generate, the less time you have to analyze and gain insight into your data. Provided that you still don’t use software automation platforms, of course. More and more companies are embracing software automation, and with good reasons. Point is, how do help your business avoid the course of drawing in data?

We live in a world which is increasingly run by algorithms. From stock exchanges to retail; from banks to individual investors; from pharmaceutical industries to small drug stores, from large construction companies to real estate agencies, brokers, etc. We have been living in the Digital Age for the past four decades or so, and we are no longer surprised at the sheer amount of information generated every second. But let’s face it.  Vast amounts of data are useless if you can’t extract insights from them. That’s where automation software systems come in handy. You might be thinking: “How can automation software help my business?”  Good question.  For starters, many transactions in the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, London Stock Exchange and in many other stock exchanges across the globe, are carried out through computers. Millions of stocks are sold and bought each second, with just a click of a button.  You can book a room, a flight ticket or make a restaurant reservation online, from every device. Hotels, airlines and restaurants are just a few businesses among many others that have adopted automated software solutions.

It’s doesn’t matter the industry you’re in; you generate more and more data. Too many transactions, vast amounts of data, and you might as well start praying you don’t drown in your own data.  Noah was no smarter than us, or was he? Granted, none of us needs to build an ark in order to save animals from extinction, but we all need to navigate through the vast oceans of data. By automating business processes that were previously done manually, you save both time and money. Software automation helps companies increase operational efficiency by automating as many business processes as possible, such as sales, marketing, client support, etc. Through the application of automated software solutions, you can achieve much more, using less resources. Believe or not, software automation has saved many businesses who were on the verge of bankruptcy.  Still incredulous? Enter Ford Motor Company.

The giant American automaker company was in dire straits since late 2006, where they reported a $12.6 billion loss. Earlier that year, Ford had announced that the company was forced to close 14 factories, thus cutting 30,000 jobs. At the time, Ford had huge stakes in Land Rover, Jaguar, Volvo and Aston Martin. None of these companies were doing well either. Enter Alan Mulally.

Mulally devised a plan called ‘One Ford’. In addition to fostering a culture of co-operation, building cars and trucks that people loved, and envisioning a sound financial strategy, he had to leverage the process of automation, too. Ford had vast amounts of data accumulated through the years. Through the application of software automation solutions, Ford not only extracted immense insights from the sheer amount of data, but also turned its cars into a source of entertainment and communication. Think of MyFord Touch entertainment panel, a system which allowed drivers to use smartphones, various apps and music systems, all via verbal commands. Still, Ford incurred a $14.6 billion loss in 2008.  The U.S government intervened by lending $5.9 billion to the Detroit-based carmaker. Ford didn’t file for bankruptcy, but it was a really close call.

In the early 1900s, Henry Ford introduced the moving assembly line. It was revolutionary. More than one century later, Ford is still the kingpin of automation.  Admittedly, software automation is at the forefront of many developments. New rules, new technologies, new methodologies, but still the same core philosophy: increase efficiency, cut costs and save time. About the Luddite thing. Was Henry Ford a Luddite? Or for that matter, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Sergey Brin, Larry Page and Mark Zuckerberg. I think not.

Ask no more “To be, or not to be”. Rather, the question is “to automate, or to automate”.