Introduction
Technology has had a positive impact in our societies over the years economically and socially. The use of technology has revolutionized the way activities are being carried out in various settings by providing tailor-made solutions to major issues that affect service delivery.
This is evident since technology has been able to promote efficiency and effectiveness through which activities are executed in diverse institutions. Indeed, technology has been a critical pillar that defines performance levels in various sectors such as transportation, communication, healthcare, and food industry. It has ensured that services are executed effectively within these sectors and that customers receive quality services.
However, the use of technology presents some challenges that institutions must address amicably to facilitate the realization of good results. Thus, this paper focuses its discussion on the merits and cons of technology in business settings where food and processing sector has been adopted as the field under study. The researcher has selected the business field since technology has greatly contributed in revolutionizing service delivery in the sector.
Relevant technological equipments in the food-processing sector
As noted, institutions that operate in the food-processing sector require superior equipments to aid quality production of food items, reduce wastage, and provide proper storage facilities. The equipments are essential in ensuring that food safety is enhanced.
Key technological equipments that drive service delivery in this sector include computers, refrigerators, transportation coolers, processors, blending machines and packaging equipments. In particular, computers have been essential in the sector by providing an effective platform that aids communication between departments and staff. It also aids ordering, payments and delivery of items. This reduces time wastage in shipment and bureaucratic ordering processes by ensuring that customers receive their goods effectively.
The use of refrigerators and coolers have also contributed immensely in ensuring food safety by providing credible solutions to perishable products that gets bad if not stored in cool conditions. Consequently, blending and packaging machines give food providers the opportunity to process fruit juices and package them with ease. This enables them to produce more food items that hold the capacity to meet the consumer needs adequately.
Pros and cons relating to the past
Although technology was not all that advanced in the ancient days as compared to modern times, it still had a role in promoting delivery of services. The available technological equipments impacted performance positively in most institutions. Firstly, they facilitated communication and distribution of products in a more reasonable way.
The equipments such as first generational processing machines and blenders promoted processing of food items. The equipments also provided service providers with essential food preservative techniques or options that ensured food safety. However, the ancient techniques limited performance competitiveness of various business entities.
They limited production and timely delivery of products to consumers. This left more consumers disappointed most of the times. Much wastage was also occurring due to lack of requisite equipments that could aid food storage and treatment especially perishable foodstuffs. Indeed, these complications and challenges prompted the need for the adoption of modern technological support systems in most settings. Their adoption is designed strategically to enhance service delivery, quality of products and reduce wastage.
Pros and cons of the impact of technology in the present times
Presently, technology has been touted as an important element that foodstuff producers must consider adopting. This is essential in ensuring that they build the requisite capacity and incentives to enable them produce quality items that meet consumer needs. It also gives them the opportunity to counter competition and challenges that the environment presents.
Imperatively, technology affects operations in various business sectors such as food industry both positively and negatively. In particular, the positive impacts include production of superior and highly nutritious food items. This is evident since the current technological equipments or production machines such as blenders and processors foster manufacturing of customized food items. The equipments ensure that all the processes within the production chain are followed without omission.
Secondly, the use of technology facilitates food safety in most settings compared to the past. Technology especially the introduction of refrigerators has enhanced food safety by reducing the level of contamination of food especially perishable items such as milk. In modern days, technology has made it easy for perishable items to be stored for longer hours and be transported effectively.
This has made most companies to capitalize on their resources and reduce wastage that used to occur when coolers were not readily available. Thirdly, technology aids processing and delivery of food items to various destinations. The equipments enable producers to manufacture quality food items and transport them real time to consumers as compared to the ancient days. Further, it has promoted profitability in various institutions because food producers can now benefit from economies of scale.
Despite the noble gains that technology is presenting in various sectors, there are key setbacks that it poses. The setbacks or demerits include erosion of noble social behavior among employees, reduction of employee’s performance levels and cost of acquisition and maintenance of the equipments. Clearly, the use of technology to drive activities in diverse settings threatens heavily to impede employee’s performance.
Employees in most institutions are currently reluctant to employee their full potential into practice and rely on machines to execute various functions even the simplest activities. This may kill innovation and creativity in some institutions. The practice also threatens to erode the culture of work among individuals. This is evident because most individuals are not willing to put more effort in diverse activities as before.
Past pros and cons relating to the future
As noted, technology is essential performance determinant in any business outfit that is bound to present immense benefits to service providers in future. Firstly, it will be instrumental in ensuring that sanity and quality is upheld in the food processing industry. Secondly, the use of technological equipments will enable operators in the sector to further, enhance safety of food items, quality standards, processing techniques and delivery of services.
The use of technology will also facilitate reduction of resources wastages, enhance profitability levels and ensure customer satisfaction. Indeed, technology will transform operations in the food-processing sector that deals in high risk products. This is apparent since service providers in the sector will be able to manufacture and deliver key food items that are highly perishable effectively. However, technology is bound to present severe challenges to various individuals in the sector.
For instance, it may render more people jobless in the sector especially if food-processing companies adopt the use of technologically enabled systems to drive most activities. Secondly, integration of the equipments may expose companies to liquidity complications since they are expensive to acquire. Therefore, institutions that seek to benefit from technology especially in the modern days must make necessary preparations financially to guarantee their stability.