DBE Core - automation and humanity

A lot of unnecessary work is still done in everyday work done through systems. The digital promise is still lacking, and there is a lot to digitize.

Part of the current work is related to transferring data manually between different documents and systems, such as compiling a purchase order. Humanly, such a situation causes unnecessary stress and frustration for the employee. The possibility of making mistakes combined with the experience of unnecessary work does not increase well-being at work, on the contrary.

Employees attach various human values to system work task automation, such as caring about the well-being and continuity of their own work team, acting as a reliable member of the work team themselves, and increasing their own productive and creative time.

In addition to this, the value experience is created by the fact that the accuracy of supply chain data generated by automation can reduce waste and positively affect nature. Human values are therefore associated with automation, which fact is often ignored in a purely result-oriented discussion.

But, it is also a fact that an employee who is satisfied and motivated by the company's goals is more productive from the company's point of view than one who is barely getting by and feels frustrated.

In general, people have a need to succeed in their work, and to feel that they are an important part of success. However, working days often consist of routine tasks that are important, require concentration and where it would be desirable to make as few mistakes as possible, but which do not produce experiences of success and meaning. The days go by in a hurry, and yet the experience of many is that they don't focus on the right things, and never have enough time to brainstorm with colleagues, for example.

Encounters and presence are talked about a lot these days, also in business discussions. But what do they really mean in a work environment and how can eliminating routine tasks strengthen them?

So what is an encounter? At its simplest, it is taking time to be human with a human. To speak and above all to listen in that moment, without the need to hide behind a professional identity.

The most important thing in creating an authentic encounter is presence. If the mind, feelings and thoughts are in the here and now, in a conversation with another person, an authentic encounter automatically arises. Understanding and accepting the thoughts and feelings of another. Everyone can immediately see how it's really easy to fail in these, even in a normal rush, or in frequent remote meetings.

In the work environment, we tend to talk in a matter-of-fact way, and often with the next task in mind already in mind, but then meeting the other person is left half way. However, being heard and seen are basic human needs.

A genuine encounter in the work environment creates a sense of one's own relevance, which strengthens the employee's commitment to his employer's goals and improves both work well-being and results.

The feeling of significance has come up in almost all studies dealing with happiness. A person longs for his happiness to feel that he and his actions are meaningful. Through the encounter, one of these requirements is fulfilled. If communication in companies changes from the transmission of information to the direction of meeting, the entire staff will feel that they are more important, relevant factors in terms of the company as a whole, and doing work will immediately become much more meaningful.

Today, the rush and lack of resources are obstacles to calm workplace discussions, developing issues and exchanging perspectives. Automating the right things frees up both time and mental capacity for the benefit of developing things, working together and achieving results.

When energy and time are freed from routine tasks that require precision to tasks that require a person's own core competence, the experience of the meaning of one's work also increases; a person feels that he is an important part of the company's success, and that he is doing important work to achieve the goals.

And all of this can be achieved by removing simple work tasks from people that free up time, and by changing the working culture of the work community to more present communication that respects people and individuals.

Moving forward in digitization and task automation also requires data to be stored away from individual systems and the ability to authorize data for reuse.

The current situation does not cost-effectively allow this ability, an operator is needed who can handle this neutrally. In the future, the eLVIS service (https://elvis.vastuugroup.fi/ ) launched for the construction industry on 24 November 2022 will increase these presented human value experiences for the end user, who still transfers, for example, order information from systems to e-mail or tries to manage the so-called paperwork until late at night.

You can also feel the impact of technology.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2023!

Karri Mikkonen, COO, DBE Core & Taija Mikkonen, encountering coach