8 Roles You No Longer Need in Your Organizations in the 21st Century

First published: May 27, 2022 @ 6:00 pm

We have established some roles for every organization and perpetuated them for decades. However, these roles, or even business processes, can often become outdated and burden the organization. 

Therefore, it is essential to ask yourself: What functions in my organization? Are these functions needed in the 21st century?

These eight roles will help you assess if you still need them in your organization.

Roles of the Past:

Photo by Tyler Franta on Unsplash.

1. Clerk

A clerk handles incoming information from outside sources, maintains accurate records, and distributes information to the right people. 

The clerk’s role has remained unchanged for decades, yet today’s organizations are not as concerned with keeping track of data and distributing it to the right people. In fact, with new technology at our fingertips, it is more efficient to do away with these roles altogether. 

The modern office does not need a secretary or an assistant responsible for receiving incoming calls, voicemails, emails, etc. Plenty of other apps and websites can handle these functions. 

2. Administrative Assistant

The administrative assistant has been a staple in every organization for decades. The administrative assistant maintains the organization’s daily operations, such as organizing information, handling appointments, and ensuring that employees are getting paid on time. 

However, the administrative assistant is getting replaced by an automated system that can take care of these tasks more efficiently and effectively than a human. 

This role is unnecessary in today’s modern office because the systems that handle these tasks are already available to organizations via email, websites, and cloud-based software applications. 

For example, most websites can quickly create an email or contact list on their database. You don’t need to have an assistant manually enter emails into a contact list each day or week. We can do this automatically via software applications and other online platforms.

3. Hiring Manager

Hiring managers hire employees, keeping track of employee data, and interviewing to ensure that the company’s hiring process gets done correctly. This role is vital to the success of any organization.

However, with the advancement of technology, we no longer need humans to stand behind this role.

Today, you can use a more advanced machine learning software to scan through many resumes to find the best fit for your company. Many SaaS also offer this as a service.

That’s why, in the future, we might no longer need human hiring managers.

4. Marketing Manager

Marketing managers handle the company’s marketing strategy and identify new markets for the company to target. This role is crucial to a company’s success. 

However, today, with the advance in technology, we can easily manage our marketing campaigns via email marketing software and other online platforms. 

We no longer need human marketing managers in our modern office. 

5. Executive Assistant

We often refer to executive assistants as executive secretaries and work closely with the executive manager of an organization or department. 

However, the role of an administrative assistant has remained essentially unchanged for decades. They provide invaluable support to executives by handling routine tasks such as scheduling meetings, setting up travel arrangements, managing calendars, organizing files and notes, etc. 

The executive assistant is also often responsible for giving feedback to the executive manager on their performance or behavior to improve their management skills and overall leadership abilities. 

However, in today’s modern office environment, most executives already have a virtual assistant who works closely with them daily and provides them with constant feedback on their behavior and performance can improve their leadership skills. 

Therefore, the executive assistant role is unnecessary in today’s modern office environment.

Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash.

6. Accounting Officer

Accounting officers manage accounts, financial reporting, and bookkeeping. These roles have remained essentially unchanged for decades because they keep track of the company’s finances and ensure that it has enough funds to support its business operations. 

However, today, with the advancement of technology, we can easily keep track of our finances through various software applications and online platforms. 

We no longer need human accounting officers in our modern office. 

7. Translator

Translators translate the information from one language to another. They ensure that the communication between the two parties is clear and interesting.

However, with technological advancement, we can use virtual assistants to help us translate our information from one language to another. 

Therefore, the translator role is unnecessary in today’s modern office environment. 

8. Warehouse Manager

Warehouse managers keep track of materials in a warehouse or distribution center and ensure they are in proper condition for shipping. 

However, with the advancement of technology, we can use online software applications to keep track of our inventory levels and material conditions. 

We no longer need human warehouse managers in our modern office environment. 

Use Time More Effectively with Automation

In today’s modern world, many roles are no longer necessary. Digital technologies and automation tools that handle these tasks much more efficiently and effectively than humans have replaced many of these roles. 

Sometimes, we have reduced the part of the employee to nothing more than an automated email system that takes care of a wide variety of tasks for an organization, such as organizing calendars, emails, and contact lists. But, of course, the more you automate your organization, the less it will cost you labor costs.

The bottom line is this: If you do not have an automated system to handle all your daily tasks, you waste time and human labor by running them manually. So instead, use time effectively by doing other important things like revenue generation or new product development.

Our blog, WorkDeputy, focuses on helping organizations save time and money by automating their daily tasks. For more info about automation technologies, check out our blog now!