Is It the End for Office Workers?

Automation has long since moved beyond factory floors and assembly lines. Today, digital and AI-powered solutions are rapidly gaining ground in offices, transforming workflows and job roles. While many fear a future where machines steal human jobs, experts argue that reality is far more nuanced.

According to McKinsey’s 2024 report, nearly 27% of working hours in Europe could be automated by 2030 — and much of this could already be handled by existing technologies, even without AI. The study also revealed that three-quarters of employees believe a significant part of their daily work could already be delegated to a computer.

Automation: Freeing Up Human Talent, Not Replacing It

Anita Zakrzewski, Marketing and Sales Director at TOPdesk, stresses that automation doesn’t mean replacing people with machines. Rather, it’s about liberating employees from repetitive, time-consuming tasks so they can focus on intellectually stimulating, value-adding work.

“Automation fundamentally reshapes the future of work. But when and how it happens largely depends on corporate culture, technological readiness, and the adaptability of employees,” Zakrzewski notes.

Many business processes — from IT and HR to finance — are already prime candidates for automation. Examples include handling frequently asked questions, managing routine administrative tasks, or streamlining task transfers between departments.

A Practical Example: Automating Onboarding

When a new employee joins a company, automation can ensure that the IT department is only notified to set up a laptop after HR completes the necessary paperwork. Internal knowledge bases can also lighten workloads by automatically answering common inquiries with template-based responses, accompanied by email status notifications.

Not an Option, but a Competitive Advantage

Zakrzewski emphasizes that automation shouldn’t be viewed as an optional extra but as a long-term strategic advantage. By reducing repetitive tasks, companies can combat burnout, lower staff turnover, and enable employees to focus on higher-value, creative work.

“The better a company integrates automation, the stronger its competitive edge will be — both in operational efficiency and employee satisfaction,” she adds.