Is 2022 the Year of the Robot?
2022 is shaping to be a rather formative year within the grand scheme of global progress. Coming off the heels of a pandemic, a polar political shift and a precarious economy, this reset period is forcing us to rethink the way we interface with both our working relationships and the world at large. For the past two years, we’ve been forced to evolve through a shared experience that impacted every individual in a different way. I believe one of the rare benefits to arise from these circumstances is the way we now use technology to adapt to our swiftly changing environment.
Within the first few months of living under lockdown, many businesses were able to bridge the communication gap and power through the pandemic workflow with the aid of technology. I believe this led to a big realization for many of us. We were able to see first-hand how technology could bring us together, bolster our society and even keep us safe. It was a huge milestone in our movement toward technological empowerment. Above all, it opened our eyes and minds to the possibilities inherent in this type of progress.
Breakthroughs in robotics
As someone who has spent my career tracking technology trends and applying new insights to growing the industry of restaurant and hospitality robotics, the last couple of years have given me a lot to think about. Robots in general have carried overtones of science fiction and futurist fantasy for almost as long as they’ve been a part of our collective consciousness. When I tell people that my company works to bring robots to real-world hospitality settings, I’m often met with curious looks or inquisitive doubt. And while the actual applications of autonomous workers are extremely helpful to the clients we serve, some others can’t get over that initial misconception stage.
Fast forward to 2022 and the entire standard of technological necessity has transformed. We’ve never been less inhibited, more adaptable or anywhere near as advanced as we are at this moment. One of the biggest breakthroughs in robotics came out of Beijing’s Olympic bubble. Yes, once again, circumstances tied to safety paved the way for an evolution in automation. From robotic baristas to automated bartenders, AI servers and beyond, the Olympic community rocked the robotics world by fully embracing this technology as a means to become more agile, efficient and advanced.
The Automation Age
And while Beijing is an indicator of imminent transformation, I believe the true building blocks for progress were laid years ago. This year, we may finally be emerging from many of the setbacks that impeded progress in 2021. Sure, there are lingering effects from labor shortages and supply chain backups — but these are both further opportunities for automation to shine. I think the table is now set for a technological revolution that will ultimately propel us even further than the Information Age, into the Automation Age.
To prepare for this shift, businesses must assess where they could be more efficient, while auditing any areas that might improve with the benefit of automation or robotics. At my own company, we’ve watched automation make up more and more of the workload equation each year. Even if it doesn’t take the form of a robot, many businesses already deploy automation to handle administrative tasks, customer service functions, data management and beyond. By automating repetitive work, they’re allowing employees to exercise their expertise in more creative, cerebral and specialized ways to benefit their business and improve their positions.
Ignoring the advantages of automation means leaving critical improvements on the table. In 2022, in the wake of one of the biggest technological realizations of our time, businesses must embrace the next era of intelligence and enter the Year of the Robot.
