Zombie Robot Apocalypse of Call Centre Workers

geri1965_2

I had to phone EE today. I swear the first bozo I spoke to was working in that call centre in Swansea that's on BBC3. She didn't have the brains she was born with. Eventually she put me through to someone in the internet sales department who actually knew what he was talking about.

chewmylegoff

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Our call centres (quasi public sector) are full of highly trained individuals. The lower skilled fill the administrative processing roles and tasks.

Part of my job involves manning a public helpline. Thankfully I logged my phone off the helpline on my first morning and have never fielded a call on it. My colleagues provide an excellent service though and all have shed loads of industry experience.

Generali

So this is actually a coming robot zombie apocalypse of the actual middle class.

N1AK

Generali wrote: »

So this is actually a coming robot zombie apocalypse of the actual middle class.

Middle class may be pushing it, but we're certainly not talking about minimum wage unskilled workers in most cases. In a way it may be better that way. A decent call centre worker is able to quickly diagnose and assist a customer and has good people skills, there's plenty that someone with those abilities could do instead.

Generali

N1AK wrote: »

Middle class may be pushing it, but we're certainly not talking about minimum wage unskilled workers in most cases. In a way it may be better that way. A decent call centre worker is able to quickly diagnose and assist a customer and has good people skills, there's plenty that someone with those abilities could do instead.

The point being that if, say, a third of the million call centre operatives are displaced in a short period of time, what will they do?

I understand that my argument is basically the Luddite one and I am certainly not a machine smasher but at the same time if entire industries can be wiped out in years rather than centuries, getting the workers skilled and moved is likely to be hard to do with or without Government help.

kabayiri

Generali wrote: »

The point being that if, say, a third of the million call centre operatives are displaced in a short period of time, what will they do?

...

They best learn some key phrases, like

"Do you want fries with that?"

The day when we are conversing with a computer over the phone is coming, but it will first line the most initially, that means Indian workers too.

tomterm8

kabayiri wrote: »

They best learn some key phrases, like

"Do you want fries with that?"

The day when we are conversing with a computer over the phone is coming, but it will first line the most initially, that means Indian workers too.

Er, except that the Zombie Apocalypse of the Fast Food Worker (safe for work) is alot closer than the Zombie Apocalypse of the Call Centre Worker.

(I can't find the video of the machine that automatically cooks the burgers but I know I saw it a few months ago).

Generali

tomterm8 wrote: »

Er, except that the Zombie Apocalypse of the Fast Food Worker (safe for work) is alot closer than the Zombie Apocalypse of the Call Centre Worker.

(I can't find the video of the machine that automatically cooks the burgers but I know I saw it a few months ago).

Indeed and this is the problem. The coming zombie apocalypse of just about everyone is on its way.

Modern capitalism, as produced in the C19th was founded on the proposition that your employees effectively also became your customers.

The trouble is, if robots are cheaper to employ then for each individual company it makes sense to use robots. For all companies however that is a losing proposition. It would be best for all companies to use employees except mine.

Game theory tells us that people will often be pushed into making what is a bad decision for everyone together because it's a good decision for them. Google the prisoners' dilemma to see why the zombie robot apocalypse is probably inevitable.

vivatifosi

Then your best bet Gen is to do something that is straightforward for a human but difficult for a computer... like cutting hair or shelving books in a library. Though in the case of the latter you may still be replaced, but by a volunteer who has recently lost their job in a call centre.

Perhaps the biggest real benefit to boomers is not property or anything else, but the fact that they will be retired before the zombie apocalypse arrives.

Generali

vivatifosi wrote: »

Then your best bet Gen is to do something that is straightforward for a human but difficult for a computer... like cutting hair or shelving books in a library. Though in the case of the latter you may still be replaced, but by a volunteer who has recently lost their job in a call centre.

Perhaps the biggest real benefit to boomers is not property or anything else, but the fact that they will be retired before the zombie apocalypse arrives.

The benefits will accrue to shareholders. Those people are generally boomers just because of compound interest.

I fear that the gap between rich and poor is about to become a lot wider. It's going to bw tough to redistribute wealth from people who can afford zombie robots to protect it!