Automation – the development of machines and processes that complete tasks with minimal human input – is taking place in just about any industry you can think of. It is making more of a mark, however, in some fields. If you are curious to know which areas are considered to be the most fascinating, keep reading, as this article looks at the five most interesting.
- Marketing
The power of digital automation is increasingly being felt in the realm of marketing. Programmatic marketing is an innovation that is making big waves and earning some companies big money. Nuanced Media’s Amazon PPC management system, for instance, automatically buys and sells advertising space using an algorithm to decide which space is better for purchase than others. Because automated online advertising systems can assess the worth of an advertising space far more quickly than a human being, they are being employed more and more regularly by companies looking to make big bucks in eCommerce or online services.
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing is an area in which automation has always played a part. The industrial revolution that started in the late 17th century and continued into the 20th century was driven in part by the increased automation of factories using steam-powered machines and production lines. Perhaps the most famous example of manufacturing automation was the development of the production line by Henry Ford so that he could produce the Model T car in absolutely huge numbers. Today, automation in manufacturing has reached something of a fever pitch. Products are assembled by robotic single-function limbs and checked using completely automated sensory equipment.
- Inventory Management
Managing an inventory has traditionally been a rather time-consuming and easy-to-mess-up task. If an inventory is mismanaged, then a company will struggle to fulfill orders or waste precious space and money. Automation has been extremely important in the field of inventory management in recent years. Automated systems can order new stock as soon as old stock is taken out of a building. They can use data collected from previous stocking patterns to order new objects well ahead of time – preventing stock bottlenecks from forming. Some automated inventory systems use sensors to detect when stock moves – further reducing the human interference in inventory management tasks.
- Transport
Transport automation is well underway in many areas of the industry. Modern subway trains effectively drive themselves. The Elizabeth and Victoria lines on the London Underground require minimal driver input. Self-driving cars are already on the roads in limited numbers – with manufacturers promising a general swift maturation process and eventual dominance of the streets. Commercial aircraft have – for over 60 years – used autopilots to keep them on the correct heading during long flights. Automation in transport is already here: you just have to know what to look for.
- Agriculture
Agriculture was one of the first industries in which automation was significant. It is likely that the wheel was invented purely for agricultural purposes. In the 19th century, the Luddites were so concerned with automation that they formed machine-breaking gangs. Today, robotic watering and harvesting systems are becoming more popular.
