From Email to AI:  How Administrative Professionals are Evolving with the Latest Tools and Software

       Administrative professionals have long played essential roles in offices around the world, managing calendars, scheduling meetings, answering phones, and keeping operations running smoothly. However, as technology has advanced at an exponential pace in recent years, administrative roles have also undergone a transformation.

    Advances in automation, artificial intelligence, and cloud-based software have given rise to tools like Siri, Google Assistant, automated calendars, and workplace chat apps like Slack and Teams. At first glance, these technologies may seem threatening to administrative roles. But in reality, they are opening up new opportunities for administrative professionals to explore, adapt, and take on higher value work.

      Admins are at the forefront of testing, using, and providing feedback on new workplace technologies. As early adopters and power users, they are helping identify bugs, point out areas for improvement, and determine how the tools can best complement human workers, rather than replace them. Admins expertise in managing complex schedules and coordinating teams makes them well-suited to be guides for how AI and automation should be incorporated into their organizations.

      Tech tools are also freeing up administrative workers' time by automating routine tasks like data entry, form filling, and repetitive communications. This allows admins to spend more of their time advising management, developing new processes to improve workflows, participating in strategic planning, and performing other higher value work that leverages their experience, judgment, and years of institutional knowledge. 

      As offices continue to embrace new technologies, the roles of administrative professionals will continue to evolve and adapt. Those who embrace the change and seek out opportunities to explore new tools will find that tech exploration opens up new avenues for career growth, expanded skill sets, and increased job satisfaction. The future of administrative work looks bright for those who lead the way in testing technologies, providing practical feedback, and determining how AI can best augment, rather than replace, human intelligence in the workplace.