Is your IT team ready for the robots?

TECHNOLOGY has made a big impact on our day-to-day lives and will soon have a greater influence on our working lives too.
In his latest LinkedIn blog, Hays CIO, Steve Weston, asks as the fourth industrial revolution beckons, how can we expect technology to impact the workplace and what skills are needed? Hays is a leading global professional recruiting group.
The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics in our everyday lives has grown at an increasing pace within the past decade; from how we order a taxi to how we access entertainment. While technology has changed the workplace in many ways already, we could be on the verge of a leap forward in how robotics and AI is used within business.
Roles and sectors which have traditionally not featured any automation are now seeing robotics become part of the process, ranging from fruit picking to health care. One area where we can expect to see many big changes over the next decade is the automotive industry, as self-driving cars are introduced and new technology is incorporated into vehicles.
While we may not know the full extent of what the fourth industrial revolution could involve, one thing we know for certain is as the impact on IT infrastructure and departments will be huge, it will require the support of CIOs and their IT teams.
Meaning humans will play a crucial and important role in making sure the technology is a success. Weston said: "It's hard to deny that even the most sophisticated robot is a simple and expensive pile of parts without a legion of highly-skilled humans to design, program and repair it."
The emergence of this new generation of workplace robots has led to an increase in demand for IT professionals or 'robot creators'. Steve shares some of those new niche areas of expertise and the skills and qualifications required;
>>Robot programmers – It is the role of a robot programmer to create tailored code to enable the machine to execute its tasks efficiently and effectively. As well as a relevant degree and extensive training, robot programmers require people skills to liaise with clients so they can customise each machine to perform its desired function.
>>Robotics engineers – Robotics engineers combine skills from a range of engineering disciplines in order to design, build and maintain complex robotic machines. They are typically qualified to degree level in either electrical, manufacturing, industrial, electronic or mechanical engineering.
>>Senior engineers – Educated to at least degree level, and those at the cutting edge are likely to have specialist postgraduate qualifications in cybernetics and systems science research.
>>Machine learning engineers – This role focuses on enabling computer technology to acquire intelligence in addition to that contained within its programming. Requiring skills beyond traditional computer science and programming, machine learning engineers need a solid understanding of probability and statistics as well as data modelling and evaluation.
>>Various technicians – A multitude of technicians provide support and specialist expertise typically gained through hands-on apprenticeship schemes and classroom instruction.

Companies need to prepare themselves for the evolution in roles by ensuring their IT infrastructure is fit for purpose and they have the necessary skills at their disposal. IT departments have a big responsibility in making sure they are ready to take advantage.
Wetson added: "It's important to realise that whilst automation is here to stay, it won't happen overnight, so we still have time to prepare. Even so, we mustn't rest on our laurels. These new technologies will demand different skills from our IT teams and create new jobs."