The role of administrative professionals is evolving to encompass a variety of multi-skilled tasks, like online sales and marketing, website development and management, online customer service, and other web-based responsibilities.
Admins need to jump on the moving train, embrace the future of administrative work, and adapt to evolving technological advancements to stay relevant.
As an administrative professional, are you ready to up your tech knowledge and be ahead of the game?
Will AI Replace Administrative Work?
As automation becomes more advanced, there’s a lot of fuss about whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) will replace human jobs. But will it? A tweet that went viral earlier this year said:
“AI will not replace you. The people using AI will”.
– Santiago
AI is already automating many administrative duties and will likely continue to replace some administrative careers. AI can streamline workflows and reduce errors, leading to greater efficiency and productivity. Routine tasks like data entry, scheduling, and filing can be automated, allowing administrative staff to focus on more complex tasks.
This doesn’t change the fact that human oversight is still needed for many administrative tasks, especially those requiring personal touch and human judgment, such as problem-solving, decision-making, and managing interpersonal relationships.
What’s the Job Market Saying?
According to the World Economic Forum, over 80% of corporate leaders are expediting their efforts to digitize work processes and implement novel technologies. Also, half of these executives are already planning to automate some of the roles in their organizations.¹
- Around 43% of organizations plan to decrease their workforce because of technology integration.
- Another 41% intend to rely more on contractors for task-specific jobs.
- Lastly, 34% plan to expand their workforce due to technology integration.
Based on this data, there is no doubt that the job market is adopting technology in their organizations and adjusting where necessary to integrate new processes, which will likely lead to an increase in job displacement.
Urgent Need for Reskilling and Upskilling
The demand for green economy job experts, data, and AI roles is expected to increase. Organizations still recognize the value of investing in their human resources as they continue to offer reskilling and upskilling opportunities for employees.
The only issue is the need for more employee participation in the courses organizations offer to reskill and upskill their workers, as only 42% of employees are taking advantage of these opportunities.
“To retain and continue working in their current roles, 50% of the current workforce will require reskilling of their core skills.”
– Amanda Russo
Emerging Admin Technologies Every Administrative Professional Should Know to Stay Relevant in Their Role
To keep up with the latest innovations, it’s necessary to know what technologies people use today. It’s not simply going with the latest trends, but also taking advantage of how tools today can improve efficiency in your daily operations.
1. Blockchain
Blockchain technology has gained popularity in recent years due to its ability to secure and decentralize transactions. Administrative professionals can leverage this technology to improve the security and transparency of processes such as contract management, supply chain management, and record-keeping.
In Contract Management
It can create a tamper-proof, decentralized record of contract changes to ensure that all parties have access to the latest version and an auditable trail of changes.
In Supply Chain Management
It can create a transparent, immutable record of the movement of goods and products through the supply chain, reducing fraud and improving efficiency.
In Administrative Management
It can secure crucial administrative information, improve security, and reduce risks of data breaches for information, like:
- Employee records
- Financial transactions
- Legal documents
2. Cloud Computing
Enables users to access data, software, and services over the Internet. In administrative work, cloud computing is accessible, scalable, cost-effective, collaborative, and secure. Administrative professionals can leverage cloud-based tools to streamline workflows, automate tasks, and improve communication with colleagues.
Project management tools can assign tasks, track progress, and collaborate on projects. Document management systems can help store and organize documents, share files, and maintain version control.
By staying updated on cloud computing trends and best practices, administrative professionals can be more efficient, productive, and effective in their work.
3. Chatbots
Chatbots are AI-powered software programs that can interact with users through natural language processing.
Customer Service
It can improve responsiveness and customer satisfaction and allow administrative professionals to focus on more urgent tasks by handling simple customer service inquiries and support requests, like:
• Resetting passwords
• Tracking shipments
• answering frequently asked questions
Lead Generation
It can generate leads by engaging with website visitors and collecting contact information. This can help identify potential customers and improve lead-generation efforts.
Data Collection
It provides valuable insights into customer preferences and helps improve products or services by collecting user data, like:
- Feedback
- Survey responses
Workflow Automation
It boosts efficiency and productivity, reduces errors, and improves consistency by automating administrative tasks, like:
• Scheduling appointments
• Sending reminders
• Processing forms
Employee Support
Chatbots can be used to provide employees with support and assistance, like:
• Answering HR-related questions
• Providing training materials
• Scheduling meetings
4. Virtual and Augmented Reality
These technologies are primarily associated with gaming and entertainment but can also benefit the workplace.
Administrative professionals can leverage these technologies to conduct virtual meetings, host training sessions, and create immersive presentations. It helps increase engagement and collaboration while reducing travel costs.
5. Internet of Things (IoT)
IoT refers to a network of interconnected devices that can communicate with each other and exchange data.
Administrative professionals can leverage IoT devices such as smart assistants and smart calendars to automate tasks and manage schedules. Additionally, IoT sensors can help monitor and track office resources such as energy consumption, allowing administrative professionals to make informed decisions to reduce costs.
6. Mobile Technology
Administrative professionals can leverage mobile technology through various apps and tools, such as email clients, messaging apps, project management tools, document management apps, and finance management apps.
By implementing mobile technology, you can improve remote access, communication, task management, document management, and financial management, making it easier to stay connected and productive.
In-Demand Administrative Skills
According to the World Economic Forum, humans are likely to maintain their competitive edge in management, advisory roles, decision-making, reasoning, communication, and interaction.
While there’s an urge to stay updated about the future of administrative work trends, organizations will still need you to possess the following skills and boost your administrative career to be considered a competitive candidate.
- Strong communication skills, including both written and verbal
- Customer service skills that provide a positive experience for clients and customers
- Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Effective time management and deadlines to achieve goals
- Proficiency with various software applications used to streamline workflow and increase productivity
- Think critically and creatively to solve problems to make informed decisions
- Adapting to changing situations and working collaboratively with others to succeed in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment
- Knowledge of project management techniques and tools to efficiently manage projects and teams
IN SEARCH OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE POSITION? ACS PROFESSIONAL STAFFING IS HERE TO HELP!
If you’re an administrative professional looking to adapt to the changing landscape of administrative work, we can help you take your career to the next level. At ACS Professional Staffing, we offer career guidance, job opportunities, and personalized service to help you thrive in the age of emerging technologies.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your career growth and success.
References
1. Russo, Amanda. “Recession and Automation Changes Our Future of Work, but There Are Jobs Coming, Report Says.” Weforum, Oct. 20, 2020, https://www.weforum.org/press/2020/10/recession-and-automation-changes-our-future-of-work-but-there-are-jobs-coming-report-says.