Ways AI and Automation Are Changing Project Management

Change has been met with opposition in the past. Many believe something not broken doesn't need to be fixed. Trying to add new things to a process already working fine seems like a detriment. Adding in automation is even worse because of machinery replacing jobs.

The number of jobs doesn't lower because a process became automated. Jobs have moved to other sectors, making the mundane task obsolete for a person to handle. Automation leaves the employee able to do more complicated work.

For project managers, artificial intelligence makes the job faster and easier. With more automation taking care of tedious work, project managers can focus on the bigger picture. Here are six examples of automation changing project management.

1. Faster Progress

With your employees not working on menial tasks, they have time to do the important jobs. Meanwhile, the easier and tedious jobs are done faster and more efficiently, removing the prospect of human error. AI is also able to track time and report progress schedules, keeping employees more up to date.

When the easier jobs are done faster, the rest of the project moves faster. With time becoming a more efficient commodity, more projects can get done. Employees being free to work on complicated jobs means bigger projects can be completed too. Automation is all about the progress of the company.

2. Risk Assessments

Automation drops the margin for risk on every project. An AI can find more potential problems and solve them all faster than a human can. Delays are one of the most common issues for a project. An AI processes weather and traffic information and decides on how long a delay may take.

Automation is also able to discover and account for machinery failure during the work process. Employees can be notified instantly of anything needing repair.

Automation can also consider human delays. AI can detect problems with suppliers and failed quality checks on the project. Any personal issues with employees or management can be worked around in automation.

3. AI Memory

Data is collected by the AI to be stored for later use. AI can learn routines, predict patterns and improve the work done. When an employee takes a different step than usual, the AI can learn more routes and decide which ones are more efficient.

The project managers and other team members are the ones needed to decipher the data for usable function. The AI can determine efficient routes but may not always decide what's best for the current job and team.

4. Resource Management

The AI may also keep track of an employee's performance while collecting data. Data can be obtained on what jobs individuals do better or worse with. The data allows project managers to move employees to where they’re most useful to be as efficient as possible. Information can also be gathered about which employees are doing the best job and who can do more.

While humans are the most important resource in any work environment, more components are involved. The automation process uses only the materials needed and does the job correctly the first time. Automation cuts down on waste in all areas, including time. Saving resources by not over-packing workloads saves money.

5. Instant Communication

With everything automated on the project, keeping updates automated makes sense. The AI working on the project is the only one able to tell managers how the job is going. Instant notifications or alerts sent to phones or other devices can ensure everyone involved in the project knows everything. Consolidating all notifications into one program is more efficient.

Instant messaging between AI and employees or employees with each other cuts down on time spent talking. Emails and meetings don't have to be put together anymore. Instant communication gives everyone more time to work on the project.

With streamlined communication comes less room for miscommunication. Entire conversations are stored on a record, documented and shared with everyone. Lack of miscommunication among employees cuts down on human error. Everyone is also able to check on the project's status at any time, cutting down on progress meetings.

6. Employee Growth

With data collected on individuals and everyone working to their most efficient capacity, employees benefit. The employees on the project team can build on the skills they have while learning new traits and correcting weaknesses.

Helping employees grow builds a better team for the company and keeps workers happy. Employees can advance and earn more. As long as the goals employees work toward are manageable for them, everyone benefits. The workers' opinions, wants and personal goals are also able to be taken into consideration.

Automation Means Progress

Change is going to be faced with suspicion. Human nature is to be wary of the unknown. Losing a job to a robot is a big fear for many in modern times. Automation should be used to advance the business and the employees. In a perfect world, no one would lose their job because of progress, but this situation is sometimes inevitable. Keep employees calm and reassured when business is moving toward AI production.

Automation has the power to benefit everyone, from the company to the employee. Work can be easier, quicker and safer. The project manager is given an extra tool with AI, which they can use to run projects more efficiently. The ways automation and AI change management are endless and can be specific to the job being done. Technology is driving society to the future, and progress begins in industry.