Automation Offers Millennials Limitless Learning Potential

3 things to keep in mind

Predictions around what workplace automation will mean for the future of work are vast and varied. Some reports showing that more than 47 percent of jobs in the U.S. are at risk of being replaced within the next 20 years, while others claim that very few occupations (less than 5 percent) consist of activities that can be fully automated.
 

The workplace is becoming increasingly digitized, which will inevitably lead to job disruption, but that does not make it synonymous with job displacement. In fact, the more businesses invest in understanding how to integrate AI into day-to-day processes - alongside employees - the better positioned they are to retain the top talent needed to thrive in the age of AI.
 
This is particularly critical when it comes to recruiting and training the Millennial workforce, who demand a greater stake in their work and a greater influence on the companies that employee them - including flexible work options, mobile feedback and continuous learning opportunities via blended-learning solutions. If businesses want to prioritize automation and AI adoption, they need to create an environment that will accommodate for the 71 million U.S. Millennials, who will make up 35 percent of the American workforce by 2020, to help them actualize digital transformation.
 
Here are three items to keep in mind when it comes to creating a culture that will enable Millennials - and, as a result, your business - to thrive alongside AI: 

Two of a Kind

The fact is,Millennials and automation are hardwired with the same core character traits - efficiency, speed and connectivity. Automated tools like chatbots provide the personalization and instant gratification this demographic craves, while voice-assisted technology offers the ease-of-use and tech savvy that Millennials have come to expect with every new iPhone launch.
 
What’s more, research shows that Millennials are largely optimistic about the role automation could play in their future, especially in terms of productivity (62 percent), economic growth (53 percent) and opportunities to learn new skills (46 percent). In sum, Millennials’ digital know-how and passion for “the next best thing” make them the perfect candidates to drive automation forward.
 
So what does this mean for your workplace?
 
To recruit, hire and retain top Millennial talent, brands need to carefully consider this generation’s primary expectations, and how they align with your overall business goals. For instance, if you are hoping to automate 50 percent of your operational tasks within the next three years, you might consider adopting a flexible work-from-home policy. Research shows that Millennials who work in highly flexible work environments report increased levels of health and well-being (82 percent), productivity (81 percent) and engagement (80%). Thus, working from home will enable them to achieve peak performance while collaborating with your teams via the tools - i.e. chatbots - that your business seeks to optimize and adopt. 

Continuous Growth

The rapidly changing and ever-evolving nature of automation and AI feed into Millennials’ constant desire to improve personally and professionally. For brands, this means investing in training tools that provide unlimited learning and development opportunities. Social media hubs, for example, enable connectivity among multigenerational teams via an agile framework, while online training courses - i.e. MOOCs - allow employees of all ages to become experts in new areas.
 
What’s key for brands to keep in mind is that training tools must be offered ubiquitously across the devices and platforms that are most preferable to your Millennial workforce - whether it’s through a Slack channel, Facebook Community or integrated messaging app. What’s more, 59 percent of Millennials hold employer-provided technology in high regard when considering a job, which they habitually use alongside their own. In other words, just as consumers crave seamless transactions, Millennials will be more receptive to omni-digital, AI training experiences that allow them to fit self-improvement into the crevices of their busy lives. 

Employees for Life

The value of a fulfilling employee experience is not to be underestimated. Brands that recognize the benefits of automating the learning and development of all employees will not only be rewarded with a highly-skilled and technical workforce, but one that is emotionally invested in their work and loyal to your company - something that will give your business a competitive edge, as 60 percent of Millennials are considering new employment opportunities. What’s more, the employees that grow with your company are more likely to stay. This is critical as estimates show that Millennial turnover costs the U.S. economy $30.5 billion annually.
 
Employee retention remains a daunting challenge for any training program. The use of AI to better understand and fulfill employee expectations and cultural assimilation could not only have a direct bottom line impact but also, morph the company’s culture to fit with the reality of the market they serve.
 
Human knowledge and expertise will remain vital to the workplace - and future success of your business - regardless of how automated our tasks become. In fact, the increased adoption of automation, AI, virtual reality and other next-gen technologies only make the human role - especially the Millennial role - even more significant. Don’t be fooled into thinking that automation can displace the jobs of this irreplaceable generation. The truth is that automation can only succeed alongside them.