Why You Need to Automate in 2025

There is no escaping it. Automation is essential and should be at the top of your priority list in 2025. It’s no longer just about improving efficiency or reducing costs, which we’ve covered at length this year, but automating operations is and will continue to be more and more about security. In addition to unpredictable global and domestic challenges, we have rounded up some of the other influences pushing automation to the security forefront.

Trade Restrictions and Tariffs: Managing Supply Chain Volatility

Global trade policies continue to shift unpredictably, leading to higher tariffs, delays, or even outright restrictions on critical components and raw materials. Automation allows manufacturers to:

●      Reshore operations to reduce dependency on international suppliers.

●      Adapt quickly to changing regulations by enabling flexible, localized production.

●      Lower costs through operational efficiency, offsetting the financial impact of tariffs.

By automating production and logistics, businesses can mitigate the risks associated with trade disruptions. Automation can also help shield against repercussions associated with geopolitical decisions. For instance, with proposed tariffs on China put forward by the incoming administration, the chance of cyberattacks heightens. 

Workforce Challenges: The Ripple Effect of Immigration Policy

Workforce stability in 2025 faces a unique challenge. With immigration policies resulting in the potential for harsher deportation laws, there could be a strong ripple effect. As The Guardian reported, “A study by the Center for Migration Studies estimates undocumented workers contribute $97bn in federal, state and local taxes; their removal from the workforce would have a substantial impact on local economies, including pushing nearly 10 million US citizens into economic hardship.” The removal of undocumented parents could also cause family members to relocate voluntarily. This phenomenon exacerbates workforce shortages, particularly in skilled and semi-skilled labor.

Automation provides a sustainable solution:

●      Reduce dependency on manual labor, ensuring production lines remain operational despite workforce fluctuations.

●      Upskill remaining workers to manage and maintain automated systems, creating a smaller but more resilient labor force.

●      Maintain consistency and quality, even as workforce dynamics shift unpredictably.

Long-Term Labor Market Trends: Compounding Uncertainty

Even without immigration-related departures, the labor market in the U.S. faces challenges:

●      Aging workforce: A significant portion of skilled workers are nearing retirement.

●      Labor shortages: A limited pipeline of younger workers entering technical trades.

●      Increased competition for talent: Rising demand across sectors for a shrinking pool of workers.

Deloitte’s “2025 Manufacturing Industry Outlook” cited the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) outlook survey for the third quarter of 2024 which concluded that 60% of manufacturers still face the challenge of attracting and retaining talent. Automation addresses these long-term trends by reducing the need for labor-intensive operations while enhancing productivity.

Competitive Advantage: Staying Ahead of the Curve

As competitors adopt advanced automation technologies, businesses that delay risk falling behind. In Britain alone, a recent report found that 75% of companies plan to increase AI investment in the next year, according to The Manufacturer. Automation offers:

●      Scalability: Meet growing or fluctuating demand without additional workforce constraints.

●      Innovation: Leverage smart manufacturing, AI, and robotics to improve product design, quality, and customer satisfaction.

●      Resilience: Build operational systems that can withstand economic, geopolitical, and demographic shifts.

Sources:

●      “Trump 2.0 May Mean Fewer Cybersecurity Regs, Shift in Threats” - Robert Lemos, Dark Reading
https://www.darkreading.com/cloud-security/trump-20-mean-cybersecurity-regs-shift-threats

●      “This article is more than 1 month old Trump’s mass deportation plan would be ‘economic disaster’ for US” - Edward Helmore, The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/30/trump-deportation-plan-economic-disaster

●      “2025 Manufacturing Industry Outlook” - John Coykendall, Kate Hardin, and John Morehouse, Deloitte

https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/manufacturing/manufacturing-industry-outlook.html

●      “Industry set to increase investment in AI – Make UK/Autodesk report” - James Devonshire, The Manufacturer
https://www.themanufacturer.com/articles/industry-set-to-increase-investment-in-ai-make-uk-autodesk-report/