Office Automation:

Office automation system (OAS) is the technology by which a process or procedure is

performed with minimal human assistance. Office automation is the use of process and
technology to automate the components to every and each endeavor which has input,
processing, submission, reporting, archiving etc.

Preliminary office automation is characterized by the transition from manual work on paper
to electronic platforms. This often provide exponential time savings and improve their
productivity and suggest them easier way to try to do business in profit. Office automation
consists of hardware, software, and networking, all working to accomplish different office
tasks like processing, email, etc. The system works by collecting the information, storing,
manipulating and relaying office information and data digitally, to complete basic tasks and
goals.
Office automation helps companies to enhance their productivity and suggest them easier
ways to do business in profit. Office automation System (OAS) helps in optimizing the
prevailing office procedures by reducing the cash, time and money efforts.
The most common type of Office automation system is a Microsoft Word suite which
consists of various programs sort of a spreadsheet, PowerPoint presentation and data
managing application. Today Office automation system has become more advanced and has
integrated with various tasks of a workplace to work out itself as a broader solution for
problems related to communicate, data management, etc.
OAS is the application of computer technology to process and use information in office. It
provides faster use of information. The more advanced technology we become, the better
prepared will be the world in the quick adoption of machines in offices. The best example of
OAS can be a facility management that permits to manage and automate various operations
associated with our workplace. These can be tracking receivables, payable and rented
properties.

ACTIVITIES IN OFFICE
AUTOMATION

These are basic four activities in office automation which can be explained as-
Data Application: It includes editing documents, producing reports and documents,
modifying digital images.

TYPE OF DATA APPLICATION EXAMPLE

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Data Analysis Spreadsheet, statistics Microsoft Excel, SPSS

software

Digital Image Image editing software Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft

Modification Photo Editor, Paint.Net

Document Production Word processor Microsoft Word,

OpenOffice.org Writer

Report Generation Database Management Microsoft Access, MySQL,

System Oracle Enterprise Manager

Data Storage: It includes office records, documents and various kinds of multimedia
materials.

SECONDARY STORAGE DEVICE USAGE

Hard Disk Storage of data and transfer

Compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM) Files backup or transfer

and Digital Versatile disc (DVD)
Magnetic Tape System Backup

Memory Card Storage of files in portable electronic devices

Data Exchange: It can be carried out through electronic communication channels such as
voicemail, Fax, E-mail, etc. Electronic transfer is a general application that involves the
exchange of information between two or more users. System automation allows the user to
share resource online through computer or audio exchange with video capture.
Data Management: It is used to track both short-term data as well as long-term data within
the financial plans, workforce allocation plans, marketing expenditures inventory purchases
and other aspects of business task scheduling or management system monitor and control
various projects and activities within the office.
Role of Office Automation in Infrastructure, Real estate and Construction operations:

Office automation plays a pivotal role in IT Infrastructure projects, real estate firms and
construction operations.
1. Virtual Reality During Project Planning and Training: It allows construction
companies to plan for a project even before they lay down one brick.  A video game
simulates a practical environment that enables builders to interact with a selected
structure employing a series of scanned images.  It's one amongst the foremost important
style of automation because it uses programmed 3D scans that are highly accurate and
not vulnerable to human error.
2. Drones to Survey Working Areas and Employees: Drones are employed by
construction companies to conduct pre-project inspections and other important site
monitoring activities. Drones will be programmed to automatically scan the working area
for any potential hazards, after which signals will be sent back to a centralized system.
3. IoT Sensors to gather and Process Data: Sensors are accustomed to take real-time
readings of location, temperature, pressure, and other conditions which allows
construction companies to automate many various machines and robots in keeping with
their preferences.
4. Programming for Construction Site: By using GPS and programming movement of
the machine, construction site workers can remotely operate machinery and revel in more
efficient & safe processes.

The scope of office automation in Real Estate and construction is wide and involves the
complete construction stages such as prefabrication of construction components, on site
construction, production of construction material, operation and maintenance of buildings,
and demolition and recycling of structures.
Automation of construction addresses different issues associated with construction for
instance, quality of ultimate product, shortages of skilled labor, safety of labor, poor weather,
and short construction period which nowadays are features of project.
The scope of automation within the industry is sort of broad, extending from initial planning
stages all the thanks to operating and maintaining the ultimate structure.  The subsequent OA
activities are extensively utilized in automation being employed within the construction
industry.
Advantages of OAS in Infrastructure, Real estate and Construction operations:
Accuracy: It is greatly improved as programs and applications assist manpower in getting
100% accuracy in day-to-day business processes.
Save time and resources: It can simplify and automate complex tasks. Network
communications mean that companies are now not restricted by geographical limitations, and
there's less need for expensive travel. Electronic and digital forms handling equipment imply
that less staff is required for such tasks and longer is saved. Digital storage eliminates the
requirement for hard copies, which not only saves money and office space, but it helps the
world too.
Reduce costs: By not investing an excessive amount of on hiring new resources to require
care of tasks which might be easily executed by an office automation system. By saving on
overall expenditure, investment in office automation will improve profit margins.
Area of improvement in OAS of Infrastructure, Real Estate and Construction
Operations:
Automation using 3D and 4D Modeling: It allows visualization of the development
schedule, showing which pieces of the project are constructed in what sequence. All members
of the team can easily visualize their specific tasks. 3D and 4D modeling helps in increased
productivity, less rework, fewer requests for information and reduction in time from the
beginning of the construction to the ability turnover Automation and robotics perform jobs
much easier which is difficult for labors. It allows construction planners to review and
generate better construction plans.  The development professionals can readily identify
design, constructability, sequencing etc.
RFID for Asset Identification: The development industry frequently worries about
protecting, tracking, and managing their tools, equipment, and supplies. Such inventory is
commonly vulnerable to theft, loss, hoarding, stock-outs, maintenance slips, and even
improper usage by an employee who does not have the specified certifications to work certain
specific tools. it's reported that the industry loses around 5-8% of project cost from equipment
and theft. The frequency identification (RFID) technology has proven to be an efficient tool
to deal with a number of these problems. It is a wireless technology that permits one to
automatically identify and track assets in an exceedingly construction site.
Application used in Infrastructure, Real estate, Construction operations: 
1. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): it's widely called a system for the seamless
integration of all the data that flows through enterprise like finances, accounting, human
resources, the availability chain, and customer information. Enterprise resource planning
(ERP) systems have become more and more prevalent throughout the business world.
These systems are meant to integrate and partially automate many of an enterprise’s
business processes. A construction company draws on two major categories of resources:
internal (company owns) and external (company obtains from the open market at a
price). By operating this way, the company maximizes the usage of its internal resources,
and uses the market to balance its functioning. 
2. Autodesk BIM 360: This enables programs for quality, safety, commissioning, and
documentation, including building information management (BIM). It allows to
produce management programs and store information in one easy-to-access place. With
mobile technology at the construction site, it is better equipped to organize teams and
tackle challenges more efficiently. Web-based reporting helps turn data collected within
the field into information that assists in management, ensures better safety, and
minimizes risk for contractors. Reports and dashboards allow users to simply share
information with everyone on the project, and quickly identify trends and measure
quality. In this system checklists and issues are more easily managed, and libraries of
documents, including models, can be created, managed, and distributed to workers in the
field. This system has improved safety, better project quality, streamlined inspections
and consistent procedures. 
3. Drone Deploy: We can survey our site accurately in a fraction of time, with drone maps
and 3D models. Also, it gathers accurate measurements.

Future Aspects of OAS in Infrastructure, Real estate and Construction operations

The growing economic importance of information within the modern society has led to
characterize our society as modern era. With the planet becoming a worldwide village. The
simple approach to achieve effective, faster and reliable mode of information processing for
effective service delivery in any organization is to adopt office automation. Office
automation is not any longer a luxury, this costly resource can improve productivity, though
hitches in turning office fully automated is inevitable, the prospects is gigiantic. Office
automation enables the user to perform duty effectively and efficiently with great ease.
To achieve maximum benefits from office system automation organization should take the
subsequent measures-
1. Old workforce should be frequently trained to use the new technology and to adopt
change in occupation and work environments.
2. To deal with national and international competition, electronic system should be link
globally, enabling to move and share information.