Intelligent Automation: New Advances Are An Industry Game Changer

Intelligent Automation: New Advances Are An Industry Game Changer

While technology has been an integral component of labor for centuries, there were always limitations to what machinery was capable of. More complex analyses, computations, and procedures had to be left to humans because there was no device intelligent enough to automate the process. But the future is here: new technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) modeled on the human brain is about to remake labor entirely.

Intelligent automation involves analyzing operations to make them smoother. The idea is to take common manufacturing or warehousing activities and make them automatic. Doing so requires “cognitive” or thinking technologies—and the more capable the artificial intelligence, the more useful the outcomes. Smarter processes result in fewer errors, lower costs, and faster production. Businesses can run through processes faster, responding to market demand.

New technology using artificial intelligence allows for more powerful automation. 

With robotic process automation, a business can finally use machines for intricate activities like kitting and palletizing, instead of relying solely on human laborers to do the work. Until recently, machines required careful human oversight before and during their work, restricting the types of tasks that you could automate. But with artificial intelligence like that developed by Vicarious, intelligent automation can become the cornerstone of processes ranging from packaging to eCommerce fulfillment.

These advances in intelligent automation have become all the more critical as manufacturers and other firms deal with radical changes in the human labor market. Whereas the technological and financial limitations of previous robots hindered wholesale adoption, the invention of affordable and adaptable devices now allows businesses to resolve their labor needs reliably.

The Latest Advances In Intelligent Automation

As with other tools and techniques, intelligent automation does not remain stagnant. Recent advances have made this solution far more valuable for manufacturing and other applications, as devices can now handle tasks too difficult for previous robotic methods.

Intelligent automation is undergoing technological developments. 

For example, Vicarious has developed new technology that uses visual recognition to identify parts. This removes the requirement for human intervention and allows for rapid transitions between products. Vicarious robots do not require fixturing. You can install them in small spaces, and they can take on multiple complex duties.

Smarter automation devices can handle far more products at the same time. As you teach the robots to assemble or move products, each part requires some effort. Newer technology allows robots to find faster, more efficient routes.

New AI whose fundamental traits diverge from competitor solutions allows for more efficient process automation. The human brain contains tens of billions of neurons, connected together in a network that processes information to produce our thoughts and behaviors. Vicarious process automation uses artificial neurons that behave similarly, giving your business process automation more of the cleverness of humanity. While the others in the robotics market rely on relatively static techniques like machine learning, Vicarious is revolutionizing the field with a neural system that adaptively engages with environments.

What Makes These Advances Necessary?

Intelligent automation uses data analysis to increase worker productivity, task consistency, and output quality. This enhances customer experience while also aiding regulatory compliance. Automation, in general, is nearly always useful—but it needs to keep pace with the march of progress to continue meeting evolving customer needs.

Intelligent tools have become necessary to keep pace with customer demands. 

Rote, mechanical tasks were easy enough to automate. But industry needs new technology to tackle the more complex activities. Next-gen automation tech must be able to handle non-standard duties, calling for neural intelligence. We can’t just rely on fixed configurations or machine learning. We need robots that think adaptively.

As an example, companies can use intelligent automation to “repack” several products into a combination case. Logistics firms found this difficult to do with earlier solutions, as each production run requires its own configuration. However, devices employing intelligent automation can intuit how to combine different parts on their own.

Modern intelligent automation gives third-party logistics (3PL) and other such companies a competitive advantage. In one case, a large firm decreased its processing time and costs by over a third. The business had struggled to retain its sizable workforce, dealing with fluctuating employee needs and availability, not to mention increasing wages.

Faced with a new client, the firm wanted to automate, but without the technical restrictions or the upfront cost of conventional solutions. So they turned to Vicarious for custom-made smart robots. The new robots use advanced vision and manipulation capacities to pack kits with hundreds of new configurations per month!

The Evolving Influence of Intelligent Automation On Robotics

Intelligent automation affects every aspect of business, including robotics for manufacturing. While large corporations can afford to collect expensive robots, high prices have hitherto blocked smaller firms from tapping into this resource. Vicarious offers easy access to robotics that can make intelligent automation more commonplace. With Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS), you can rent robots for only as long as you need: no risk of obsolete devices and no upfront costs.

Robots-as-a-Service will become increasingly common thanks to smarter technology at a lower cost. 

Instead of being held back by the financial risks and constraints of the past, you can now gain far more powerful robots, paying only for how you choose to utilize them. If you decide that you want different features, to add or remove robots, or even end your use altogether, you can do so easily as well.

The robotics industry is developing to offer more competitive services at lower prices, accelerating the transition third-party logistics firms are already making to this smarter technology. The results will flow through other sectors and industries that rely on logistics providers. The industry as a whole will become far more responsive to customers with the use of intelligent automation, offering both increased personalization and fast product development that keeps pace with market forces.

Deploy Intelligent Automation With Vicarious

Industries of all varieties are quickly turning to smart robots, taking advantage of the cost savings, labor productivity gains, and safety enhancements that they offer. Ready to bring your organization up to speed with intelligent automation? Vicarious’s Robots-as-a-Service model allows businesses to use this advanced technology even for small production runs, without excessive capital requirements.

Sign up for only a year or two without a sizable financial commitment. You can adjust or cancel services as necessary, or expand your robotics use when you see how well it works for your business needs. Intelligent automation with Vicarious offers a new approach to labor. Get started now!