O que os robôs podem fazer pelo seu negócio

What robots can do for your business

May 23, 2024 Roberto Magalhães

While the world of robotics may still seem distant and foreign, business leaders would do well to explore how they can contribute to the organization's success.

Robots are no longer just something you see in sci-fi movies and TV shows. They are present in homes and businesses and will become more prevalent in 2022 and beyond. While the world of robotics may still seem futuristic and unfamiliar, business leaders would do well to explore how they can contribute to the organization's success.

The combination of speed and precision with which robots can operate allows companies that use them to reduce their error rate and increase efficiency, resulting in the development of higher quality products, less need for quality control, lower costs, greater profitability and greater customer loyalty. In the following sections, we look at some other ways robots can support businesses.

Taking jobs humans don't want

Robots can often take on repetitive or boring tasks, leaving humans to perform more rewarding work, such as high-level strategizing. The number of tasks robots can take on is almost limitless, including building cars and other machines, assembling and shipping products from warehouses, lifting weights, and working with dangerous chemicals.

Robots in the form of intelligent computer programs – often called bots – can greatly help companies improve customer service while relieving representatives of repetitive tasks. There are many opportunities to allow customers to have their issues resolved automatically, but the quality of this automated service is critical to customer loyalty. The right bot can guide customers through many predictable processes, such as returning an item or opening an account.

Keep workers safe

The COVID-19 pandemic has put pressure on companies as they try to determine how to keep employees a safe distance from one another. Robots are the perfect solution in some cases because they reduce the need for human involvement, ensuring fewer people in each space. For example, many processes can be converted into robot-driven tasks, eliminating the need for humans to be grouped together, such as on assembly lines.

Beyond the specter of a deadly virus, many jobs are dangerous in other ways. Factories often house heavy, hot, sharp or dangerous machines that can hurt humans, but not robots. Crews on construction sites are subject to other types of hazards, including heavy construction materials. Additionally, some jobs include working with hazardous chemicals or processes such as welding or casting.

Robots can be programmed to perform many of these tasks, reducing potential harm to humans. As the following video shows, safety is one of the main reasons to use robots.

Robots can go beyond keeping workers safe but also keeping them healthy. Nanorobotics is a specialized emerging area of robotics that deals with tiny machines that can be used in medicine, such as to attack cancer cells or deliver drugs to specific internal parts of the body.

Improve business flexibility

In a highly competitive business environment with many rapidly evolving complexities, companies that have the ability to adjust quickly will thrive. This agility includes a deep understanding of market forces, teams responsive to change, and the right technology. By taking on a wide range of tasks, robots are one of those technologies that can improve business flexibility in many industries.

Agriculture. Robots in different forms, including drones, can be used to harvest produce, care for plants and, through attached sensors, send information to farmers to determine required levels of water, nutrition and pesticides.
Automotive. The automotive industry uses robots for the product assembly and testing process. Assembly may involve welding, painting, coating, sealing, lifting and material removal.
Education. As in other areas, robots can take on repetitive tasks such as vocabulary building. They can also help students with special needs, even those who would otherwise be unable to participate in many classroom activities.
Health care. Robots are helping in surgeries that require great precision and accuracy, physiotherapy after procedures and in the form of exoskeletons to help with patient mobility and recovery.
Manufacturing. Robots can build and assemble anything from candy to computers. In conjunction with human counterparts, they can perform specialized tasks that require great precision.
Transport. Robots could be incorporated into vehicles, resulting in self-driving cars or cars with some self-driving abilities such as automatic braking, lane correction and adaptive cruise control.
Public utility services. Drones, a type of robot, can help utility crews after a storm by quickly and safely identifying areas in need of repair. Drones can also help with maintenance tasks, such as inspecting solar panels for damage.

But what about humans?

Will robots replace humans? Experts say no, because the existence of robots actually creates as many jobs as it eliminates. It is true that jobs can be in different areas. For example, a robot in a factory can replace one or more human workers, but the need for updates to the software that runs the robots creates the need for more software engineers. So, as with other technologies, the number of jobs may not change much, but their distribution will.

Another reason the feared scenario of robots replacing humans entirely is unlikely is that the need for human connection will never go away. While robots can perform certain tasks in medicine, for example, they cannot provide the compassion and safety that comes from dedicated healthcare professionals. Likewise, the human touch is essential in areas such as psychology, hospitality, education, entertainment and some aspects of customer service.

The use of robots also has other disadvantages, including the constant use of electricity, limitations in their programming, and acquisition and maintenance expenses. Every business leader must weigh these cons with the pros mentioned in the sections above. While robots are interesting and potentially highly useful, the decision to use them should be made with the same careful consideration of a company's needs, skills, and budget as would be employed for any other critical decision.

If you liked this article, check out one of our other articles on AI.