Essay

Advantages and Disadvantages of Replacing Human Dashers with Robots

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Replacing Human Dashers with Robots

1.0 Introduction

The increasingly competitive and globalized business world requires business enterprises to adopt strategies that will provide them with a competitive edge in their respective industries. Such strategies need to be geared towards improving the quality of products, speeding up the production process, improving reliability, and reducing wastage. Ideally, automation of business processes is one way of achieving a unique competitive advantage in the production of goods. Automation of an organization’s business processes is possible through the use of the latest information and communication technology (ICT) including robots. According to Malenje, Otanga and Wabwoba (2014), business enterprises invest in ICT resources in an attempt to enhance their productivity with regard to efficient, improved service delivery at minimal costs. For this to be achieved, business enterprises need to ensure that the adoption of any technology is aligned with the vision, mission and strategic goals and objectives of the business. The business enterprises also need to ensure that their ICT resources are specifically designed to meet the challenges of today’s competitive global business environment in order to realize the desired improvement in productivity (Malenje, Otanga & Wabwoba, 2014). This essay examines the benefits and shortfalls associated with replacing human dashers with robots in business enterprises.

2.0 Advantages

2.1 Reduced Cost of Production

The act of replacing human dashers with robots is advantageous to a business because it helps in reducing the cost of production. The reason is that unlike human dasher, robot dashers have a consistent rate of production when it comes to using of raw materials. The robot dashers have an automatic way of performing hence utilizing raw materials without wastes and also do not waste time (Martinez, 2013). Thus, robot dashers have a quick return on investment (ROI) rate than human dashers. A quick ROI implies that the business can get back the initial investment amount at a faster rate than it could have been the case with the use of human dashers.

2.2 Better Floor Space Utilization

Human dashers require a wide floor space for effective and quality results to be achieved. The big space is required because human dashers need space to turn and allow adequate body movement. With ample space, human dashers can be able to see properly and also avoid accidents (MacKenzie, 2012). On the other hand, robot dashers do not need ample space for quality results to be obtained. They require a small space, and this allows a business to occupy a small space for a relatively high production. The use of small space further makes it possible for the business to have a large number of robot dashers in a small space thus increasing the rate of production as it could have been the case with human dashers.

2.3 Improved Quality

Replacing human dashers with robots can help a business to enjoy improved quality. The reason is that robots are formatted and they follow the instructions installed on them and this means that the robots produce products that are of the highest quality to the point of being classified as error-free products. This is almost impossible with human dashers because human is vulnerable to error and hence cannot meet the highest quality or error-free products. With improved quality products, the business/services enjoy a unique competitive advantage over its rivals because such products attract a larger client base compared to inferior quality products.

2.4 High Reliability

Replacing human dashers with robots can be of benefit to the business because robots are more reliable than human dashers. In light of this, reliability refers to offering quality results and also being available at all times without being compromised by fatigue and long working hours. Thus, with robots, the business is assured of consistent production, and hence it becomes easy to plan daily performance and supply of products to the market without challenges (Martinez, 2013). In contrast, human dashers sometimes fail to perform as expected hence becoming unreliable and hard for the business to make advance projections and planning.

2.5 Shorter Cycle Time Hence Leading to Increased Performance and Productivity

Unlike human dashers, robots have a consistent working speed and do not pause for vacations, sleep, or break. This ability makes it possible for the robots to use a shorter time to go through the entire production process (MacKenzie, 2012). This is a great benefit that a business would enjoy after replacing human dashers with robots. The shorter cycle time means that the business can record a higher production and performance rate.

2.6 Increased Safety

Human dashers are vulnerable to errors and accidents, which could have adverse effects on the business. With the use of human dashers, the business has to take care of workers safety and in case an accident or incident occurs, the business has to incur the expenses hence compromising the operating budget. The advantage of replacing human dashers with robots is that the latter do not cause accidents or incidences and hence the business is saved from incurring unexpected or unbudgeted for expenses as a result of accidents. Moreover, when using human dashers, the occurrence of accidents results in reduced safety and hence the workers’ morale and performance also reduces due to fear of accidents. Thus, with robots, the business does not have to suffer any operation slowdown as a result of accidents, and hence the working place becomes a safer place.

2.7 Reduced Waste

Robots can count the adequate raw material needed for quality products of good and services that the business is dealing in (MacKenzie, 2012). As a result, robots only takes up some raw materials necessary eliminates wastes hence doing the business to utilize all the raw materials and other resources diligently.

2.8 Ability to Provide the Market with High-Quality Products at Low Prices

The production of high-quality products at low prices is possible with the use of robots instead of human dashers. This is because robots are highly efficient and they can reduce the cost of the product, time taken to produce products, and also reduce wastage. This being the case, the business can have the results without incurring a high cost and this grant the business the opportunity to provide the market with high-quality products at lower prices thus beating competition professionally.

3.0 Disadvantages

Despite the many benefits associated to replacing human dashers with robots, robots also have various setbacks. Some of the disadvantages are given below.

3.1 Inflexibility

Unlike human dashers, robots are not flexible. The inflexibility of robots results from the fact that robots are formatted and hence they work as per the instructions. In-as-much-as they are less prone to errors, they cannot be adjusted as well (Martinez, 2013). This means that in case there is the need for any change which is inevitable in any business, it is hard for the business to implement the change if it has anything to do with production. This means that the firm has to incur another expense of purchasing another robot that is formatted in a manner that aligns with the required changes.

3.2 Risk of Failing to Understand the Significant Initial Investment

Robots unlike human dashers are put in place for long-term purposes, and this means that before a purchase is made, the big initial business investment has to be determined and correctly understood. This means that the firm has to have a clear understanding of the long-term goals, mission, and vision of the business. The reason is that failure to have a clear understanding would lead to purchasing of robots that cannot help in achieving desired goals, and company mission. Thus, lack of proper understanding of goals can make the replacing of human dashers with robots to adversely affect company purpose or the real essence of investment.

3.3 High Cost of Purchasing and Implementing Robots

Despite the reality that robots are efficient in their operations as compared to human dashers, they are extremely costly to install and implement until it is determined that the robots are working as expected. The business needs to have ample resources to invest in robots and have the proper skills that will help in making sure that the robots are working efficiently. Also, the business needs to have other advanced arrangements like ready markets for the products. The reason is that the amount required is high and hence the company needs to have a defined way that the investment capital will be achieved from the sales of the products and services. Failure to have advanced plans in place would adversely affect the businesses financial status. Lack of ample skills would also lead to the replacement with robots a disappointment or incomplete project.

3.4 High Training Required

Robots do not do everything by themselves, and this means that the business would also need some employees. Robots are fast, effective, and accurate and this means that the employees working with the robots also needs to have a similar expertise (MacKenzie, 2012). Thus, the business needs to conduct quality training for the purpose of making it possible for the employees to be programmed like the robots and interact with the robots. Such training is costly and time-consuming, and this has a direct adverse effect on the business. The reason is that the investors or business owners have to hire quality tutors and grant the employees ample time to be taught and during this time the employees are not productive, they still have to be compensated. Moreover, in the case the shareholders fail to have a qualified tutor, the employees would not be in a position to work effectively with the robots, and hence the intended purpose would not be achieved.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the benefits associated with replacing human dashers with robots overwhelm its potential shortfalls. Some of the benefits relating to the use of robots instead of human dashers include; reduced cost of production, better floor space utilization, improved quality and reliability, reduced wastage, and increased safety. However, robots are inflexible and require trained manpower. The implementation of robots also requires huge initial capital outlay.

References