Gustavo Sepulveda

Gustavo Sepulveda is process automation business head at Panasonic North America.

Articles

Plant Automation September 15, 2020

Three reasons why businesses should invest in automation technology

Process automation is one of the most valuable additions a team can make in terms of digital transformation

By Gustavo Sepulveda

img.wp-smiley,img.emoji{display:inline !important;border:none !important;box-shadow:none !important;height:1em !important;width:1em !important;margin:0 .07em !important;vertical-align:-.1em !important;background:none !important;padding:0 !important;}body{--wp--preset--color--black:#000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray:#abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white:#fff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink:#f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red:#cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange:#ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber:#fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan:#7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan:#00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue:#8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue:#0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple:#9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,#9b51e0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan:linear-gradient(135deg,#7adcb4 0%,#00d082 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,#cf2e2e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray:linear-gradient(135deg,#eee 0%,#a9b8c3 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum:linear-gradient(135deg,#4aeadc 0%,#9778d1 20%,#cf2aba 40%,#ee2c82 60%,#fb6962 80%,#fef84c 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple:linear-gradient(135deg,#ffceec 0%,#9896f0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux:linear-gradient(135deg,#fecda5 0%,#fe2d2d 50%,#6b003e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk:linear-gradient(135deg,#ffcb70 0%,#c751c0 50%,#4158d0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean:linear-gradient(135deg,#fff5cb 0%,#b6e3d4 50%,#33a7b5 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass:linear-gradient(135deg,#caf880 0%,#71ce7e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight:linear-gradient(135deg,#020381 0%,#2874fc 100%);--wp--preset--duotone--dark-grayscale:url("#wp-duotone-dark-grayscale");--wp--preset--duotone--grayscale:url("#wp-duotone-grayscale");--wp--preset--duotone--purple-yellow:url("#wp-duotone-purple-yellow");--wp--preset--duotone--blue-red:url("#wp-duotone-blue-red");--wp--preset--duotone--midnight:url("#wp-duotone-midnight");--wp--preset--duotone--magenta-yellow:url("#wp-duotone-magenta-yellow");--wp--preset--duotone--purple-green:url("#wp-duotone-purple-green");--wp--preset--duotone--blue-orange:url("#wp-duotone-blue-orange");--wp--preset--font-size--small:13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium:20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large:36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large:42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20:.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30:.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40:1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50:1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60:2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70:3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80:5.06rem;}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap:.5em;}body .is-layout-flow > .alignleft{float:left;margin-inline-start:0;margin-inline-end:2em;}body .is-layout-flow > .alignright{float:right;margin-inline-start:2em;margin-inline-end:0;}body .is-layout-flow > .aligncenter{margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;}body .is-layout-constrained > .alignleft{float:left;margin-inline-start:0;margin-inline-end:2em;}body .is-layout-constrained > .alignright{float:right;margin-inline-start:2em;margin-inline-end:0;}body .is-layout-constrained > .aligncenter{margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;}body .is-layout-constrained > :where(:not(.alignleft):not(.alignright):not(.alignfull)){max-width:var(--wp--style--global--content-size);margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;}body .is-layout-constrained > .alignwide{max-width:var(--wp--style--global--wide-size);}body .is-layout-flex{display:flex;}body .is-layout-flex{flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}body .is-layout-flex > *{margin:0;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap:2em;}.has-black-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;}.wp-block-navigation a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)){color:inherit;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap:2em;}.wp-block-pullquote{font-size:1.5em;line-height:1.6;}.more-resources{padding:0 !important;}.more-resources li::after{content:"";float:left;width:6px;height:6px;background-color:#232323;margin:12px 10px 0px 10px;border-radius:50%;}.more-resources li:hover a{color:#0b72ba !important;}.inPage-header--lft h3{margin-top:0;padding:9px 30px 9px 15px;height:auto;background-image:linear-gradient(to right,#0b72ba,#0950a4);float:left;display:inline-block;font-family:"Oswald";font-weight:400;color:white;max-width:500px;width:60%;-webkit-clip-path:polygon(0 0,100% 0,92% 100%,0% 100%);clip-path:polygon(0 0,100% 0,92% 100%,0% 100%);min-width:320px;}.inPage-header--rt h3{margin-top:25px;padding:9px 15px 9px 15px;height:auto;background-image:linear-gradient(to right,#0b72ba,#0950a4);float:right;font-family:"Oswald";font-weight:400;color:white;max-width:500px;width:70%;min-width:360px;-webkit-clip-path:polygon(0 0,100% 0,100% 100%,9% 100%);clip-path:polygon(0 0,100% 0,100% 100%,9% 100%);text-align:right;}.CE-news.subscribe-newsletter a:hover{background-color:#0b72ba;color:white !important;border:none !important;}.CE-news.view-newsletter a h4:hover{color:#0b72ba !important;}.m2e{text-decoration:none;font-size:24px;font-family:"Roboto";text-align:center;display:inline-block;margin:auto;border:solid 1px #232323;padding:5px 15px;color:#232323 !important;}.m2e:hover{background-color:#232323;color:white !important;-moz-transition:all .2s ease-in;-o-transition:all .2s ease-in;-webkit-transition:all .2s ease-in;transition:all .2s ease-in;}@media screen and (max-width:991px){.giants-img--container,.giants-text{width:100% !important;margin:15px !important;}.audience-connect{width:50% !important;}.audience-connect h4{font-size:24px;}.audience-connect img{max-width:180px;}}@media screen and (max-width:768px){.subscribe-newsletter,.view-newsletter{width:100% !important;float:left;}}@media screen and (max-width: 600px){.more-resources li a{margin-bottom:10px !important;}.more-resources li::after{content:"";float:left;width:4px;height:4px !important;background-color:#232323;margin:12px 5px 0px 5px !important;border-radius:50%;}.more-resources{display:block !important;}.more-resources li::after{display:none;}.more-resources li{width:100%;display:block !important;}}@media screen and (max-width:531px){.audience-main{width:260px;display:block;margin:auto;}.audience-numbers{float:none !important;width:260px !important;display:block;margin:auto !important;}.reg-divs{width:100% !important;float:left;}}.personalization{width:300px;border-top:3px solid #1d407d;padding-top:4px;border-bottom:3px solid #1d407d;}.personalization .img{border-top:1px solid #1d407d;width:100%;padding-top:15px;}.personalization img{max-width:275px;width:100%;margin:auto;display:block;}.personalization .intro-text{text-align:center;margin:15px 40px;}.personalization .object-title{font-size:24px;font-family:"Playfair Display";text-align:center;margin:20px 20px 30px 20px;color:#1d407d;font-weight:500;}.personalization .reminder-text{font-family:"Roboto";font-size:12px;text-align:center;margin-top:15px;color:#1d407d;font-style:italic;}.personalization .cta-btn{width:125px;background-color:#1d407d;padding:15px 10px;text-align:center;color:white;border-radius:5px;margin:15px auto;margin-bottom:30px;}.personalization .cta-btn a{text-align:center;color:white;}.personalization-two{width:300px;border-top:3px solid #1d407d;padding-top:4px;border-bottom:3px solid #0b72ba;}.personalization-two .intro-text{text-align:center;border-top:1px solid #1d407d;padding-top:15px;}.personalization-two .object-title{font-size:24px;font-family:"Playfair Display";text-align:center;margin:20px 20px 30px 20px;color:#1d407d;font-weight:500;}.personalization-two .reminder-text{font-family:"Roboto";font-size:12px;text-align:center;margin-top:15px;color:#1d407d;font-style:italic;}.personalization-two .cta-btn{width:125px;background-color:#1d407d;padding:15px 10px;text-align:center;color:white;border-radius:5px;margin:15px auto;margin-bottom:30px;}.personalization-two .cta-btn a{text-align:center;color:white;}.no-frame{border:none !important;}#personalization-top iframe{display:block;margin:auto;}.news-title{font-size:22px !important;}.per_527{min-width:100%;padding:0 !important;}#olyticsPopup{bottom:10px;top:unset !important;}#olyticsModal{max-width:unset !important;background-color:transparent !important;box-shadow:none !important;}#metered{border:none !important;}@media screen and (max-width:768px){#metered{width:100% !important;height:375px !important;}}.personalization-alert{background-color:white;color:#1d407d !important;}.personalization-alert-link{color:#1d407d !important;border:1px solid #1d407d;}#olyticsPopup{bottom:140px !important;background-color:transparent !important;border:none !important;box-shadow:none !important;max-width:none !important;left:-10px;}.shadowBox{-webkit-box-shadow:0px 0px 19px 2px rgba(0,0,0,.75);-moz-box-shadow:0px 0px 19px 2px rgba(0,0,0,.75);box-shadow:0px 0px 19px 2px rgba(0,0,0,.75);}.olyticsBandBR{position:absolute;right:34px;top:50px;height:36px;z-index:305;opacity:0;cursor:pointer;}.learn-obj ul{list-style:none;}.learn-obj li::before{content:"•";font-size:18px;margin-right:5px;line-height:1.3;}.advertisement-desktop-300x600{height:600px;width:300px;border:1px solid #e4e4e4;}.advertisement-desktop-300x250{height:250px;width:300px;border:1px solid #e4e4e4;}.advertisement-desktop-728x90{height:90px;width:728px;border:1px solid #e4e4e4;}.advertisement-mobile-300x50{height:50px;width:300px;border:1px solid #e4e4e4;}.advertisement-mobile-300x50{height:50px;width:300px;border:1px solid #e4e4e4;}.inline-me{display:inline-block !important;}.contribute-link-container{font-size:12px;font-style:italic;margin-top:15px;display:block;float:left;padding-top:25px;border-top:1px #e4e4e4 solid;}.singlePost__content img{display:block;max-width:100% !important;height:auto;margin:auto;}.per_483.olyticsmodal a.close-olyticsmodal{z-index:300;top:16px;right:35px;height:50px;width:50px;opacity:0;}.contribute-link-container,#breadcrumbs,.singlePost__content p,.authorInfo__bio,.wp-caption-text,.singlePost__author{font-size:16px !important;}@media screen and (max-width:991px){.postCard__author{display:none;}}@media screen and (max-width: 991px){#breadcrumbs li span,#breadcrumbs li{line-height:42px;}.relatedArticles__list li{line-height:2.4;}}.authorInfo{border-top:1px #e4e4e4 solid;border-bottom:1px #e4e4e4 solid;}.authorInfo__avatar,.authorInfo__content{margin-top:25px;margin-bottom:25px;}.authorInfo__avatar{width:100px;height:100px;}.authorInfo__avatar img{object-fit:cover;width:100px;height:100px;object-position:top;}.authorInfo__content{display:flex;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.authorInfo__name a{color:#232323;text-decoration:none;font-family:"Roboto",sans-serif;}.singlePost__author a:hover,.authorInfo__name a:hover{color:#0b72ba;text-decoration:underline;}.author__page .authorInfo__avatar{margin:25px auto;}.author__page h1,.author__page p{text-align:center;}.author__page li{list-style:none;height:20px;width:20px;margin:10px;}.author-social{display:flex;justify-content:center;height:60px;margin-bottom:0;}.author-social ul{display:flex;margin:0;padding:0;}.author-social ul li:hover svg{fill:#0b72ba;}.author__page h3{font-weight:300;border-top:1px solid #232323;padding-top:15px;}.author__page .postCard__media,.author__page .postCard__author{display:none;}.author__page .all-articles{text-align:center;padding-bottom:25px;}.author__page .postCard__excerpt{text-align:left;}.author__page .view-all-author{padding:10px 25px;border:1px solid #232323;text-transform:uppercase;text-decoration:none;color:#232323;}.author__page .view-all-author:hover{padding:10px 25px;border:1px solid #0b72ba;text-transform:uppercase;text-decoration:none;color:#0b72ba;}.author__page .postCard__content{border:none;}.page-id-33015 .singlePost__title{display:none;}.nosell{font-family:"Roboto","Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,"sans-serif";font-weight:300;text-align:center;}.yas5{position:relative;margin:30px auto;display:block;width:305px;height:277px;}.yas5 .All{position:absolute;background:white;width:100%;height:100%;}.yas5 .svgWrapper{position:absolute;position:absolute;width:305px;height:277px;top:0px;left:0px;}.yas5 .tickC{position:absolute;fill:none;stroke:#0b72ba;stroke-width:5;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-miterlimit:10;stroke-dasharray:304;stroke-dashoffset:0;animation-name:yatickC0;animation-duration:490ms;animation-delay:1368ms;animation-timing-function:cubic-bezier(.25,.46,.45,.94);animation-fill-mode:both;}@keyframes yatickC0{0%{animation-timing-function:cubic-bezier(.215,.61,.355,1);stroke-dashoffset:304;}100%{animation-timing-function:linear;stroke-dashoffset:0;}}.yas5 .tick-B{position:absolute;fill:none;stroke:aquamarine;stroke-width:5;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-miterlimit:10;stroke-dasharray:304;stroke-dashoffset:0;animation-name:yatick-B0;animation-duration:492ms;animation-delay:1237ms;animation-timing-function:cubic-bezier(.25,.46,.45,.94);animation-fill-mode:both;}@keyframes yatick-B0{0%{animation-timing-function:cubic-bezier(.215,.61,.355,1);stroke-dashoffset:304;}100%{animation-timing-function:linear;stroke-dashoffset:0;}}.yas5 .tick-gray{position:absolute;fill:none;stroke:#ececec;stroke-width:5;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-miterlimit:10;stroke-dasharray:304;stroke-dashoffset:0;animation-name:yatick-gray0;animation-duration:476ms;animation-delay:1037ms;animation-timing-function:cubic-bezier(.25,.46,.45,.94);animation-fill-mode:both;}@keyframes yatick-gray0{0%{animation-timing-function:cubic-bezier(.215,.61,.355,1);stroke-dashoffset:304;}100%{animation-timing-function:linear;stroke-dashoffset:0;}}.yas5 .circleDarkBlue{position:absolute;fill:none;stroke:#0b72ba;stroke-width:5;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-miterlimit:10;transform-origin:138px 138px;stroke-dasharray:675;animation-name:yacircleDarkBlue0,yacircleDarkBlue1;animation-duration:1017ms,1029ms;animation-delay:570ms,578ms;animation-timing-function:cubic-bezier(.25,.46,.45,.94),cubic-bezier(.25,.46,.45,.94);animation-fill-mode:both,both;}@keyframes yacircleDarkBlue0{0%{animation-timing-function:cubic-bezier(.215,.61,.355,1);transform:rotate(-180deg);}100%{animation-timing-function:linear;transform:rotate(0deg);}}@keyframes yacircleDarkBlue1{0%{animation-timing-function:ease-in-out;stroke-dashoffset:-675;}100%{animation-timing-function:linear;stroke-dashoffset:0;}}.yas5 .circleLightBlue{position:absolute;fill:none;stroke:aquamarine;stroke-width:5;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-miterlimit:10;transform-origin:138px 138px;stroke-dasharray:675;animation-name:yacircleLightBlue0,yacircleLightBlue1;animation-duration:1017ms,1029ms;animation-delay:359ms,357ms;animation-timing-function:cubic-bezier(.25,.46,.45,.94),cubic-bezier(.25,.46,.45,.94);animation-fill-mode:both,both;}@keyframes yacircleLightBlue0{0%{animation-timing-function:cubic-bezier(.215,.61,.355,1);transform:rotate(-180deg);}100%{animation-timing-function:linear;transform:rotate(0deg);}}@keyframes yacircleLightBlue1{0%{animation-timing-function:ease-out;stroke-dashoffset:-675;}100%{animation-timing-function:linear;stroke-dashoffset:0;}}.yas5 .circleGray{position:absolute;fill:none;stroke:#ececec;stroke-width:5;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-miterlimit:10;transform-origin:138px 138px;stroke-dasharray:675;animation-name:yacircleGray0,yacircleGray1;animation-duration:1017ms,1029ms;animation-delay:128ms,128ms;animation-timing-function:cubic-bezier(.25,.46,.45,.94),cubic-bezier(.25,.46,.45,.94);animation-fill-mode:both,both;}@keyframes yacircleGray0{0%{animation-timing-function:cubic-bezier(.215,.61,.355,1);transform:rotate(-180deg);}100%{animation-timing-function:linear;transform:rotate(0deg);}}@keyframes yacircleGray1{0%{animation-timing-function:ease-in-out;stroke-dashoffset:-675;}100%{animation-timing-function:linear;stroke-dashoffset:0;}}