Published: Jun 27, 2022

how technology is reshaping the role of the IT department

Globalisation and new technologies have in recent years wrought profound changes in the way we work. These changes have become more pronounced in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted labour markets and forced organisations around the globe to adopt remote or hybrid working models.

As a result, organisations are increasingly thinking about what the future of work will look like. Gerard Koh, Vice President People and Culture at NCS Group, says that there are three key trends to watch:

Today’s rapid rate of technological change is causing lines between industries to become increasingly blurred. Organisations in the property, finance, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) spaces are adopting more IT-based business models. As Koh says, “every company today wants to become a tech company.” 

In the healthcare sector, tasks like screening, monitoring, and diagnostics can be handled by applications, freeing up doctors’ time to focus more on patient care.

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) will cause some industries and jobs to disappear altogether.

Automation technologies are becoming ubiquitous in the workplace. However, a recent study conducted by Bain & Company and UiPath uncovered an interesting paradox: while 86 percent of employees want to use automation, only 30 percent of business leaders give them access to it, and only 5 percent allow them to create their own automations.

Despite fears about robots replacing humans in the workplace, automation is actually creating new jobs. This is because innovative technologies create new needs and alter existing ones.

The jobs least at risk of being taken over by AI and robotic process automation (RPA) are those that are creative in nature or involve empathy or the ability to organise and lead teams.