# Six in 10 business believe automation will drive productivity, reveals Robert Half
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2017-08-21
Category: BUSINESS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business
Meta Title: Impact of Digital Transformation on Businesses and
Meta Description: Discover how digital processes will transform finance roles by 2022 and the skills needed for the future of business. Get insights from Robert Half's new
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Tag URLs: featured (https://financedigest.com/tag/featured)
URL: https://financedigest.com/six-in-10-business-believe-automation-will-drive-productivity-reveals-robert-halfhtml

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_New report highlights the impact digital transformation will have on businesses and recruitment strategies_

Robert Half’s new report, [_Digital transformation and the future of_ hiring](https://www.roberthalf.co.uk/news-insights/reports-guides/recruiting-digital-world) has found that digital processes will be extended to manual, data entry tasks such as financial modelling (41%), generating financial reports (40%), project management and reporting (38%) within the next three years. As a result, payroll (37%), financial planning (33%), accounts payable (38%) and accounts receivable (32%) are expected to be the roles impacted by automation by 2022.

Digitalisation has already emerged as a business priority and is set to impact the future of business by offering new technologies to address threats and opportunities for a competitive advantage. Overall, 87% of executives have recognised the positive [impact that the growing reliance on technology](https://www.financedigest.com/impact-of-technology-on-education.html "Impact of Technology on Education") holds for organisations.

“Digitalisation will offer a new approach where [labour and time-intensive processes can be shifted](https://www.financedigest.com/record-numbers-resign-in-france-as-bargaining-power-balance-shifts-labour-ministry.html "Record numbers resign in France as bargaining power balance shifts -labour ministry") to allow for more value-added work to take place,” explained Matt Weston, Director at Robert Half UK. “Automation is [impacting traditional business functions in a big way](https://www.financedigest.com/four-ways-impact-acts-as-a-source-of-value-for-startups-and-investors.html "Four ways impact acts as a source of value for startups and investors"). [Finance is no exception and professionals will need to be prepared to hold a more prominent and integrated influence on the wider business](https://www.financedigest.com/is-it-risky-to-use-bridging-finance-for-my-business.html "Is it risky to use bridging finance for my business?"), gaining new skills that will see them through the technological shift.”

The main benefits that businesses are expecting, or already achieving from [digital transformation](https://www.financedigest.com/the-root-of-all-good-sustainabilitys-role-in-digital-transformation.html "The Root of All Good: Sustainability’s role in Digital Transformation"), include improved efficiency and productivity, better decision-making and employees taking on more value add work leading to more fulfilling careers in the long-term. Overall, finance executives believe digitalisation will increase the productivity of each individual (59%), enable employees to [focus less on data](https://www.financedigest.com/sterling-falls-vs-dollar-as-focus-turns-to-uk-data.html "Sterling falls vs dollar as focus turns to UK data") entry and more on the execution of tasks (53%), providing opportunities to learn new capabilities (51%).

“While a technical understanding will remain the core competence that provides professional credibility, it will need to be enhanced with soft skills,” added Peter Simons, head of [future of finance](https://www.financedigest.com/sustainable-finance-the-wave-of-the-future.html "Sustainable Finance: The Wave of the Future"), CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants). “We are already seeing this move occur within the finance department with the shift from technical to commercial skills. In the future, financial insights won’t just come from financial analysis but collaborating with other [areas](https://www.financedigest.com/4-areas-of-finance-you-should-be-watching.html "4 Areas of Finance You Should Be Watching") of the business. Traditionally labelled ‘professional services’ executives will need to engage with people, ask questions, have empathy and [communicate in a compelling way to make informed business](https://www.financedigest.com/business-texting-an-essential-communication-tool.html "Business Texting: An Essential Communication Tool") decisions.”


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