Most people spend at least part of their day doing repetitive tasks that a computer could do faster. Automation software does these tasks for you, but only three in five knowledge workers (61 percent) use automation software at work. Nearly all of those users (98 percent) say it benefits them.
These figures come from a recent survey, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Zapier, which explored who's using automation at work—and why. Here are the previous results:
Automation helps people do more in less time
Here are the top reasons knowledge workers gave for setting up automation software:
It helps me be more organized at work – 45 percent (up from 35 percent last quarter)
It helps me complete tasks faster – 45 percent
It improves the way I work overall – 40 percent
To help me and my team focus on important work – 37 percent
I want to reduce human error and oversight in everyday tasks – 35 percent
I like to experiment with new technology – 33 percent (up from 26 percent last quarter)
My employer started using automation software – 30 percent
I believe automation is a skill employers value – 27 percent
I believe using automation will help me advance my business or career faster – 27 percent
I use a number of apps that wouldn't work well together without automation – 19 percent
To compensate for a talent shortage – 18 percent
Automation helps people get more done
Nearly all knowledge workers who have used automation at work (98 percent) say they have benefited from doing so. Here are the top benefits.
I get more done – 43 percent
I save time – 41 percent
It makes me better at my job overall – 36 percent
It reduces the number of errors in my work – 35 percent
It saves me a significant amount of time each week – 33 percent
It enables me to complete my projects faster – 33 percent
It enables me to accomplish more with fewer resources – 32 percent
It saves my company money – 29 percent
It allows me more time to work on other things I value/enjoy more – 27 percent
It prevents work from falling through the cracks – 27 percent
It allows me to work fewer hours – 26 percent
It makes me look more professional – 25 percent
It sets me apart from my coworkers – 20 percent
Why do people avoid automation software?
Not everyone uses automation software—22 percent of respondents said they don't use it and don't intend to.
The top reason remains the same from previous surveys: they don't see how it could be useful to their job right now. Other reasons people give for not using automation software include:
Their workplace is not tech savvy – 19 percent
They didn't know it was an option for them – 15 percent
They don't use different apps and software at work – 14 percent
I/my company can't afford automation software – 11 percent
I don't understand what automation software is – 11 percent
Automation software is difficult to set up – 9 percent
It's difficult to find time to learn a new skill – 9 percent
I am afraid using it will drastically change the responsibilities of my role – 8 percent
I'm afraid of using it – 7 percent
