Tech innovation is prompting massive change—a transformation so significant it’s referred to as a fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0.  From facial recognition software to voice-activated virtual assistants and self-driving delivery trucks, the lines between human and machine “work” continues to blur. Businesses who embrace these technological advances will reap the rewards of increased efficiency and, ultimately, boost their bottom lines.

Here in Arizona, we continue to set a brisk pace for both population growth and jobs growth. As a matter of fact, Maricopa County ranks as the fastest growing county in the United States, adding 96,000 people in 2018 alone, and Arizona ranked #2 in the nation for year-over-year job growth, according to a recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

With job growth expected to continue, employers must prepare, because the workforce of the future will likely to look very different in the coming years than it does today. Here are a few insights into the workforce of the future and how businesses and employees can capitalize on new developments for greater performance.

Who will do the work?

A defining element of Industry 4.0 is rapid automation across all industries. Today, robots are not just replacing assembly line workers in manufacturing plants. With the rise of technologies like self-service ordering kiosks in restaurants, cashier-less convenience stores and driverless vehicles, they are even taking the place of some .

And while technology is undoubtedly replacing some jobs, its implementation is also creating new jobs and opportunities for employees. Now is the time for employers to start thinking about redirecting and retraining their workforce for roles that offer higher value work and require greater skill – not to mention training for the positions that will be needed to service the robotics and other technologies automating the workplace.

Harnessing the power of Industry 4.0 will require higher-skilled positions and technical talent. Therefore, businesses will also need to be more effective at identifying, attracting and retaining the talent they require. And as automation becomes more prevalent, it will be critical that businesses not to lose sight of the uniquely human qualities that have enabled them to succeed. The workplace of the future will need employees who can show empathy, adapt in the moment and understand customer needs.

How will work get done?

Some jobs will become fully automated, but other positions will require a unique blend of technology and the human touch. Businesses will increasingly use automation to manage repetitive processes; this will create a workplace in which some jobs are shared with technology as a transition, while some are shared permanently.

Workers will need to up-level their talents to qualify for higher-skilled positions.  According to the , no less than half of all workers are expected to require significant reskilling or upskilling over the next three years. Businesses should consider offering employees the resources and training support they need to be adequately prepared for these changing roles.

When will we do our work?

For many, the meaning of work-life balance has changed to be less about a distinct separation between work and personal life and more about being able to easily pivot between the two, no matter whether in the office or on the go.

Employees want the flexibility to make it to a child’s soccer practice or a family vacation, without missing a beat on their professional obligations. The workforce of the future will demand speed, convenience and ease of use from the technology they use to do their jobs, in the same way they expect those qualities from the products they use in their personal lives. Employees will need the ability to do things like approve payroll from the airport, access company files on their phones or sign a contract electronically.

This will be become increasingly important as Boomers retire and younger generations look for a work environment that offers anywhere, anytime flexibility and the technology they need.

The workforce of the future

Many businesses are already living these Industry 4.0 trends while others are just beginning to grapple with their company’s inevitable digital transformation. The shift may seem daunting, but automation was created to enhance our lives, and this will be as true in the workplace as in our personal lives.

 is a Business Banking Market Executive and the Arizona market president of Bank of America.

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The Arizona Chamber Foundation released a new policy brief Monday that indicates the new decade is likely to see substantial growth in Arizona’s autonomous vehicle industry.

“Economic Impacts of Advancing Arizona’s Competitive Position in the Autonomous Vehicle Industry,” the analysis authored by economist Jim Rounds and his team at Rounds Consulting Group, said Arizona is well positioned to capture a disproportionate percentage of the long-term economic benefits of the industry.

“Autonomous vehicle technology and testing has been growing in Arizona because of a strategic effort by the governor and other state and local lawmakers,” Rounds said. “When new technology is being developed such as AV, those early entries into the development process tend to earn a higher share of future economic activity.”

The national AV industry is expected to grow to $557 billion by 2026, and the automotive and tech sectors will have invested about $61 billion in development by 2023.

Rounds’ analysis also found that Arizona could increase its state and local tax collections by approximately $500 million by 2030, a number he said is conservative.

“We calculated the impact of the autonomous vehicle industry in Arizona using various models and assumptions, and any way you cut it, it’s clear that Arizona’s policies have positioned our state to reap a disproportionate share of the benefit from this growing industry,” Rounds said.

Glenn Hamer, chairman of the Arizona Chamber Foundation, said the data makes it clear that Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and the state Legislature are making a conscious decision to welcome new and growing business into the state, leading to the development of “the most exciting technological advancement in the 21^st century’s third decade.”

“Since 2015 when Gov. Ducey issued an executive order establishing the state’s support for AV technology, research and development, manufacturing and testing have all taken off,” he said. “That doesn’t happen without a regulatory environment that is encouraging this burgeoning sector to get off the ground.”

Arizona is one of just 11 states whose governors have issued executive orders specifically encouraging growth in the AV tech sector.

Ducey issued a second executive order in 2018 updating guidelines to meet technological developments and creating the Institute of Automated Mobility under the Arizona Commerce Authority, a public-private consortium of businesses, higher education institutions and government officials to promote greater collaboration in the AV industry.

According to the analysis, if Arizona companies invest just $6.1 billion in AV-related research and development, it would lead to nearly 40,000 direct new jobs and $4.3 billion in economic output, with another 35,000 new indirect jobs.

“The ideal situation is for the state to be the Southwest hub for not just testing, but for R&D and manufacturing of related products,” Rounds said. “This industry is going to be very large, and even a small share of the economic and fiscal benefits will be sizable.”

Rounds said the return on investment for the AV industry is among the highest he’s ever seen for a policy-related issue.

The policy brief also addressed road safety, a widespread issue in Arizona, where more than 1,000 people die each year due to auto accidents. Automation could dramatically reduce the danger of vehicular travel if used more broadly, according to estimates from national consulting firms.

“As the father of a teen driver and two more who will be behind the wheel very soon, the positive effect this technology has on driver safety can’t be ignored,” Hamer said. “Safer roads, lower insurance costs, and more jobs is a sort of triple crown of transportation public policy.”

To read the full analysis,

Banner photo source: Waymo

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Carondelet Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tucson recently acquired new GPS-guided surgical robot technology to help surgeons perform complex spinal fusion surgeries.

The computer-guided, robot-assisted platform is the first of its kind in Tucson.

“Robotic guidance is an assistant for the surgeon,” said Dr. Matthew Wilson, a surgeon at CNI. “The robotic arm aligns tools along a planned pathway to place screw implants to stabilize the spine. Navigation is a way for the surgeon to see the tools in relation to a patient’s body on a screen as the tools are being used.”

According to CNI, the system acts “like a car’s GPS navigation system” by following an individualized map based on images of the patient’s anatomy imported into the computerized robot, guiding the robotic arm to specific areas of the spine.

All this helps the surgeon calculate the accurate size and placement of screws and implants during spine surgery.

“Much like a GPS in your car, the surgeon plans the route to place screw implants in the spine and the robotic system helps aligns that pathway to accurately place the screws,” Wilson said. “The surgical tools and implant are visible on the GPS screen throughout the entire procedure.”

CNI is in Arizona investing in state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgery equipment.

“Minimally invasive surgery combines a surgeon’s understanding of anatomy with x-ray imaging to treat spine conditions using small incisions,” allowing the surgeon to separate the muscles surrounding the spine rather than cut through them, according to CNI.

The GPS-guided system at CNI is approved to place in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine.

Common procedure options that may involve pedicle screw placement include:

• Posterior Fusion
• Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
• Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion
• Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
• Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Carondelet Neurological Institute, part of the Carondelet Health Network, is located at St. Joseph’s Hospital at 350 N. Wilmot Road in Tucson.

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Discussions about the economy generally touch upon jobs, wages, capital, and other measurements, but they don’t often recognize “innovation.” Arguably the most important metric in assessing an economy’s growth, innovation helps to assess the ways companies are becoming more efficient in their practices. And last year, it reached its highest mark since 2010.

The official measurement of , multifactor productivity, grew 1 percent last year – the fastest growth rate since 2010. Multifactor productivity measures the growth in output after measuring the effect of capital and labor. In other words, without adding more employees or capital, how are firms increasing output?

Productivity is crucial because it improves Americans’ standard of living under all circumstances. This occurs because as firms increase their profit margins through more efficient methods, they are able to increase employee salaries and/or lower prices. Either way, consumers cash in more money than they would with lower productivity.

Arizona Tech Council president and CEO Steven Zylstra highlighted the reasons why productivity has increased at its highest rate in nine years.

“I would attribute a significant amount of that enhanced productivity to technology,” Zylstra said. “I think all sorts of technologies are being used to streamline making things more productive than they historically could have been. I think that’s just going to increase significantly as we move into an era of AI and machine learning because so much will be able to be done with so little.”

Between 2000 and 2007, the U.S. experienced, on average, a 1.4 percent growth rate in productivity, which is much higher than the 1 percent growth rate last year. However, economic skeptics shouldn’t forecast an economic slowdown. Zylstra points out that this period followed the dot-com boom; because the internet was arguably the greatest technological advancement of all time, comparing the two growth rates isn’t a reasonable assessment.

With the rise of smartphones, robotics, and information technology, Zylstra believes we are well-positioned to ride this productivity wave moving forward. In fact, some of this growth even , which ranks in the top third of US states for innovation.

“Here in Phoenix, we’re in the process of outfitting the most significant chip processing plant on the planet,” he said. “It’s going to produce semiconductors with seven nanometer feature sizes. The amount of capability that we’re able to put in people’s hands is mind-boggling. I think robotics and automation, software and IT, and the massive processing power have been some of the main drivers in enhancing our productivity.”

U.S. productivity is in its best position since 2010, and the economy will react accordingly. With the development of more efficient technologies and practices, everybody wins.

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