The past few years have seen artificial intelligence and similar technologies come to the fore in terms of expected marketing ecosystem disruptors, but it really isn’t time to do away with human input – not yet. According to Forbes, the habit of companies dispensing with valuable human resources in lieu of sophisticated machine learning systems is creating a huge skills gap that is difficult to replace and, crucially, means that new technology is not being put to its best use.
While it’s true that automation is a great way for many businesses to cut overheads, you shouldn’t aim to automate every single process – in fact, having your skills sat at the top, with a high-level capability with software, will allow you to make the most use of your tech.
Applying tech to business
If your business is not already tech-savvy, there are clear findings to be seen that support the use of technology in transforming your bottom line. According to McKinsey, the use of technology at all levels of business could add up to $300bn to industry-wide revenues. What’s more, this technology doesn’t necessarily mean the sort of top-end products that lend themselves to hyper-advanced tech work – though there is a place for that, too. No, simply introducing a greater level of technical aptitude into a range of daily tasks can help. Industry experts in workplace administration Mail Smartly note the benefits of this approach to simple day-to-day things like managing emails. Having an in-depth grasp of your inbox can help you to use products in a way that focuses your time and energy in the right places.
A coding platform
Behind every bit of software is one programming language or another, and its becoming increasingly beneficial for business owners to have at least a working knowledge of some of these languages. According to CNBC, several key languages such as Python, React (web) and Angular are going to be important tools for people to have a grasp of, or if not, knowledge of, to help find the best software for their business and to obtain the right talent. How can you procure the right skills if you don’t know what you’re looking for?
Emerging tech
What these skills will give you a basis for is an inquisitive and tech-oriented mind that looks out for new developments and seeks to make the most out of them. Digital technology is indelibly linked with businesses of almost all sizes these days, and even those businesses you might have thought of as more labor-focused – for instance, natural resources – have been using software for longer than many service industry based startups. Building awareness of technology is important and knowing how to use it even more so. If you aren’t able to deploy the skills yourself, it’s helpful to get the most out of your talents and, crucially, to build a knowledge base that allows you to identify the best talent to help you grow your business.
