Automation does not have to come at the cost of jobs, can help with staff retention and help employees feel challenged, and that they are growing, contributing and learning new things, insurtech BizCover says.

Rsearch indicates companies that adopt automation technologies are more productive and their staff more engaged, and BizCover says the need for automation is made more crucial by a skills shortage in Australia.

“Rather than worrying that automation will take away jobs, we should be thinking about how this technology will transform employment for the better,” BizCover GM Brad Miller said.

Technology can pivot workers away from repetitive, unskilled tasks so they can focus on more complex work, he says.

“If automation is going to take mind-numbing tasks that give no real satisfaction away from people and allow them to focus on creative and strategic work, then it’s all the better for the workforce.”

Mr Miller says it is key that businesses utilise their workers – both human and robot – to “do what they do best,” and used correctly, automation can drastically help scale a business, which means job creation in the long run.

BizCover says it has created a streamlined experience for more than 200,000 customers across multiple jurisdictions with a customer service team of 20.

“It's not a question of getting rid of people – it's about creating the best possible value for customers.”