62% Indians perceive Automation positively; hail, as an enabler: Ipsos-WEF Global Citizen & Automation Survey

62% Indians perceive Automation positively; hail, as an enabler: Ipsos-WEF Global Citizen & Automation Survey

1 in 2 Indians fear Automation could risk current employment

Ipsos

MUMBAI: 3 in 5 Indians (62%) view the impact of Automation positively, placing India 2nd in the pecking order among the 26 markets covered in the survey (surpassed by China, with 64% Chinese endorsing the positive impact of Automation). 

Global Citizens & Automation Survey by WEF and Ipsos, highlights ramifications of Automation on a slew of products and services and its impact on how we work.

“Automation is doing wonders as an enabler and is improving efficiencies at work, in terms of cost and time taken and is redefining how we work.Automated services minus human intervention have become a reality, with high dependence on technology, there can be roadblocks sometimes,” says Anthony D’Souza, Executive Director, Innovation, Ipsos India.  

Products and Services most positively impacted!

Indians’ verdict on most profound impact of Automation on products and services has been on a plethora of them: 69% Indians approve of self-checkout/ check-in/ electronic ordering kiosks at stores, airports, restaurants etc.; 67% Indians feel internet connected appliances and home devices have had a positive impact on people’s lives; 66% approve of internet connected medical devices; 66% espouse benefits of voice recognition assistance (e.g. Siri, Alexa, Cortana, Google Assistant etc.). 60% approve of customer service online chatbots; 54% are positive of drones and 52% approve of robots. 

Net-Net – Is Automation a Boon or a Threat?

Early days, though the findings underscore the positive rub off of Automation and Indians go ballistic in espousing the benefits of Automation:  74% Indians say automation has improved quality of their work; 73% feel automation has made their job easier; 72% Indians feel automation has transformed their work, what it was 10 years ago; 72% are confident that automation will alter their jobs 10 years hence; 70% Indians feel automation has made their job more interesting; 65% Indians credit automation for reduced risks of injury while working.

On the flip side, across all the 26 markets polled, Indians are most wary of the negative impact of automation – 49% feel that automation is putting their current employment at risk. 43% Saudis and 42% Chinese too seemed worried on the impact of automation. 

Training on new technology & products – how does India stack up?

59% Indians say they have received internal training or education provided by employer for new technology and products; 31% have received external training; while 10% have received none. Interestingly, internal training was reported highest in the markets of India, Peru and Canada; and external training reported most in China, Saudi Arabia, India and Brazil. The survey also probed about training for technical skills - 66% Indians confirmed that their employer provides internal training and education for technical skills, 25% said external training was provided by employer and 9% received no training.