I worry about the future. The world is changing fast, but in many ways, people aren’t prepared for it.
Sure, we are all connected now, with mobile phones that we use to respond instantly to anyone who has our number, email or twitter handle. In a way, it’s great – my kids have no excuse for not contacting me when I want to know where they are.
There have been many news reports about the changing world barreling down on us.
In the next 15 years, 40 per cent of all jobs might be replaced by robots, according to some analysts. Usually I discount this as fear mongering, but this time, I’m not so sure. I think a lot of companies and even governments may be looking in this direction.
Almost nothing is safe. If a job has any sort of protection from competition, or is repetitive in any way, I see it at risk. It’s happened before – just look at vehicle assembly plants. How many are now staffed with robots? With a few humans to watch over them to make sure the power is on.
A big story in the news is about Uber coming to Vancouver. The taxi industry, through expensive licensing, has been protected for some time. Because of that, it’s tough to get a cab. There is a gap in service that consumers expect, and Uber fills it. My guess is, if Uber is not allowed, there will be another alternative, if there isn’t one already. Where a gap exists, the market will fill it.
Many stores have self-serve kiosks. It only takes one person to oversee several stations. Why? People scan their own stuff. Our new Walmart is like that. Pushing for a higher minimum wage will result in this type of technology accelerating - $15 an hour doesn’t help when the job has been replaced by technology.
So what’s next? Self-driving cars will turn a lot of industries upside down.
Truck drivers? Bus drivers? Taxi drivers? Sorry, not needed. I’d bet car dealerships disappear as well. The only differences between vehicles will be the seats and the colour, performance is irrelevant. We might not even own one, we just use an app to order a vehicle. Likely what Uber will become anyway, less the independent driver.
I can see a day when education completely transforms as well. There are so many disputes and confrontation in our education system, I would not be surprised if governments get fed up and replace teachers with technology, and just have a few people helping out with specifics in a classroom. A lot of teaching is repetitive, people repeating it may not be required. Kahn Academy is a perfect example.
Complaining about it won’t help, it’s like trying to hold back the tide. Ignoring it won’t help either, just ask Kodak. Remember them? They didn’t want to give up selling film and processing when most people did want to give up film and processing, thanks to digital cameras. No more Kodak.
So what do I tell my kids to do for a living? Make sure you choose a career that adds value to another person’s life, because they will pay you for it. Do something almost anyone else can easily do, and you’ll struggle.
The future is coming, like it or not.
Brad Sherwin, MBA is a long-time resident of South Delta, and has over 25 years’ experience in marketing, public relations and business strategy. He teaches Marketing at Douglas College.
