Maxx & I went to a seminar on robotics recently.
Maxx is my 10-year-old son. He was out of school.
We began our day with a visit to the gas station as we had a
3 hour drive to get to the seminar location. The robotics of the
automated gas pump attendant processed our order without
flaw. We did not have to go inside the store and wait in line for
a cashier. I’m thankful.
My smart phone provided flawless turn-by-turn instructions and
we navigated the traffic of the big city like we might have done it
a hundred times before. I received an e-mail alert just about the time
we departed, reminding me of the day’s planned event. Cool. I
don’t have to remember meeting dates and times.
We passed through a toll booth in route to the seminar and quickly
tossed 50 cents into the toll collection tray. The toll booth robotic arm
raised quickly and we were on our way. No big deal.
We arrived at the hotel and found a drink machine near the restroom.
We slid three one dollar bills into the machine and an amazingly quick
robotic drink machine picked up the can of Monster Energy drink and
gently placed it in the tray for pick up. The speed and precise movements
of the robotic arm were clearly visible through the clear glass on the machine.
Maxx and I were amazed. We don’t have machines like this in our small town.
We sat through the two-hour presentation on how to better use robots
to improve our company’s sales processes and customer service. We looked
at the most detailed mind maps I had ever seen in my life. Unlike the basic
process maps we typically use in documenting “lean” manufacturing, the
“if then” statements seemed to go on and on. It all made perfect sense.
Think poster board size maps. No way this plan fits on 8.5 x 11 paper.
As I sat there, I began to wonder… “Will a robot run my company? Could a
robot run my company? Could a robot run my client’s companies?” As I
considered these thoughts, I thought about how many interactions I had
this very day with robotic machines.
During the morning preparation for our trip, my wife had purchased a
new work-out video program online. The transaction was completed in
just a few keystrokes. We never spoke to a person. We received an e-mail
confirmation of the order and shipping date within a few minutes.
During the day trip, my cell phone and a half dozen phone calls were merged
through the communication system built into my car for hands free
communication. I’ll admit I feel safer not having to dial numbers. I simply
speak the voice commands while driving. Funny. Much of that car was built
by robotic welding machines.
I watched a commercial on TV late in the afternoon about the i-robot company.
And at 6:03 pm I received my email confirmation of daily automated deposits from
my corporate online robot. I smiled. 🙂
Big companies are not hiring today because businesses are automating processes
of all kinds. The government doesn’t understand this. Small companies would rather
NOT HIRE due to the frustrations many will find from increasing government regulation
tied directly to hiring employees (who might not show up for work on time). So, just the
same, small businesses, on the cutting edge of technology, are finding ways to automate
their work using robots. I’ve been on this cutting edge since 2010.
Are you like me? Are you employing robots in your company? If you’re not hiring
robots yet, I’ll predict you will sooner than later. Here’s why. Companies that
automate routine tasks develop lower cost structures along the way. As they do,
profits improve or business outputs become more predictable.
You might not think of the gas pump or the toll booth as a robot. You might not
think that your website is a robot. And, based on my review of hundreds of lawn
and landscape business websites, your website is much more like a brochure than
a robot. But that will change.
The gas pump was once manually operated and pay phones lined the street corners
of cities. The merger of robotics, phones and websites are already well underway. I
find this in the elite firms I work with. These are the companies that produce superior
profits. I’ll call them companies in the top 5% today.
The way to employ robots is to gently move from a technician, working IN your
business, to a manager and entrepreneur working ON your business. There’s much
to do!
Profit Greatly,
Tony
Tony Bass
866-923-0027
PS – Regardless of your age, regardless of how long you’ve been
in business, working ON it always pays better than working IN it
over time. I hope you will get this.
If you want to learn more about how we use robots at Super Lawn
Technologies, visit this link.
https://crm.infusionsoft.com/go/viewdemo/a42034/
