Managing Robots Strategically

Adapting to the age of the robot will be one of the biggest challenges that managers and workers will have to face. A company that understands survival and success will need to adopt a positive approach to the use of automata, learning about the business implications as robots impact on blue‐ and white‐collar jobs, fundamental departmental functions of production, delivery, storage and merchandising, and company/customer relations. A range of examples illustrates robots' influence to date on warehousing, retailing and manufacturing. Safety training will be important, as well as emotional support and practical guidance for employees working alongside robots. A multi‐functional technology planning task force within the company would be a valuable aspect of overall strategy, delineating possibilities, plans and actions to be taken in the light of constantly updated technology.