Our jobs are the one absolute thing that gives us security and assurance that our well-being is taken care of. But what if one day, you’re called into the office and you’re informed that your services are no longer needed… it’s not because of anything you did or didn’t do but more so because your position has been replaced.
That would be some devastating news to receive, and unfortunately, it’s news that millions of people have received as technology continues to advance. Everything from robots to automation, technology is getting so advanced that it’s eliminating the need for human interaction in certain positions, putting many workers’ job security at risk.
This rise in technology has given way to the economic crisis many have called the Rise of the Robots. In the minds of many, it was perceived that robots were literally being created in the image of humans and taking away the jobs of workers because workers are simply more accurate in precision-related tasks like dispensing and the various dispensing methods.
This theory was once brushed off like “it’s not real,” “that’s only in movies”… (think of the movie “I, Robot”). And as much as people brushed that theory off then, it’s not looking so unrealistic now. There are technological advancements being made that are turning robots into humans by “humanizing” their names and faces.
But if you think that technology may be threatening your job simply in the form of human-like robotics, think again. There is technology being used right now that has already replaced the jobs of many hard-working people, but you may not have even realized it.
The truth of the matter is that no job sector is truly safe from technological advancements, but it’s also important to note that technological advancements aren’t bad either. Because of technology, our lives have been made so much easier and it has done wonders in several industries such as medicine, communication, and travel.
The big question here is if technology has impacted your industry, and if it has, has it put your job security at risk? If it hasn’t threatened your job security, then that’s great; hopefully, technology won’t ever put your job security at risk, but there’s no denying the fact that it potentially can.
Let’s take a look at jobs that have already been affected by advancements in technology. Keep in mind that these are advancements that you may see as a standard today but just remember that before these machines came to be, there were people performing those jobs.
Jobs Impacted By Technology Advancements
Receptionist — Automated Voice System
How many times have you called a business during business hours and you’re automatically sent to an automated system that has you push specific numbers to redirect your call to a certain department? That’s how most businesses operate these days, and according to CBS News, these voice prompting systems are a large reason why consumers hate certain businesses.
Before these automated voice messaging systems came, there were receptionists sitting at the front desk ready to answer any and all phone calls a business would receive. This allowed for speedy responses and happier customers. But at the same time, automated systems cut back on phone time, which is beneficial for businesses, especially if customers are calling for minuscule information like business hours, address, etc… A receptionist isn’t needed for that.
Some businesses do indeed still use receptionists but there’s no denying the fact that technology has dominated this particular position.
Car Vending Machines — Car Salesmen
This particular advancement in technology is very new, so it definitely hasn’t done away with car salesmen but it has the potential to if enough car vending machines are made.
People in the market to buy a car can now hop on a website, find the car they want, and have it dispensed right to them, similar to how a can of soda is dispensed in a vending machine. The car buying experience is still there (somewhat) but the purchase is made online and there’s little need for a dealership to have as many car salesmen as it normally would, again, because the purchases made online.
Grocery Store Cashiers — Self-Checkout Machines
All the high-volume grocery stores like Wal-Mart, Kroger, and Publix have self-checkout lines in addition to cashiers. True enough, cashiers haven’t been completely replaced, but for every six or seven self-checkout machines there are, that could have been six or seven grocery cashiers.
These machines sometimes help lines go faster, especially for shoppers who only have a few items to ring up but it can also make lines move slower for shoppers who don’t quite know how to use machines but try to use them anyway.
People have their own opinions about it all together but it does take away the shopping experience for some people, and for others, it makes shopping go much faster. So it just all depends on what the customer is hoping to get out of their shopping experience.
