Armed with this knowledge, we think Brexit can be a positive trigger for change, and we are encouraging organisations to use the opportunity to rethink their whole business, from strategy and organisational design to workforce and recruitment. We are already seeing automation picking up in industries such as farming and hospitality, which rely heavily on overseas workers, particularly from the EU. Cognitive technologies are beginning to replace certain functions in financial services, too. Indeed the Harvey Nash / KPMG Chief Information Officer (CIO) Survey 2017 shows that 34 percent of leaders are already investing or planning to invest in digital labour this year, while 62 percent of respondents from larger organisations are already investing in digital technologies. What we are encouraging organisations to do is plan staging posts. Some sectors, particularly those that rely on migrant labour, might have to accelerate their transition. But the process should be mapped out with a clear business-wide strategy and by applying new technologies in specific pilots that target certain processes, rather than an all-out investment. It is not just about technology, either. Leaders must consider the cultural change that has to take place. Increasingly, CEOs must understand the impact of the technological revolution in order to cascade the knowledge down to managers and other staff. Businesses have an opportunity to engage employees to help them better understand AI and robotics, but this must be led from the top.The pace of technological change is unlikely to slow over the coming years, but the transition to greater automation is not a straightforward path. Many challenges lie ahead.
KPMG's Head of Brexit, Karen Briggs, has addressed the use of AI to mitigate the impacts of labour supply disruption. Briggs suggests that rather than this being a concern, the labour shortage caused by Brexit could be a "catalyst for automation", as the UK is forced to pull ahead in its application of AI - improving productivity and reducing costs.