Over the last few decades, large companies around the world have successfully automated their back office operations.

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"We might as well bring back the ice and the elevator operators, " he added, referring to two symbols of the old days: daily deliveries of ice to every congressional office, and automated elevators so lawmakers wouldn't have to push buttons.

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The ODA press office's phone line was answered by an automated message saying it was closed until after the Paralympic Games end in September.

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Technology allows firms to offshore back-office tasks, for instance, or replace cashiers with automated kiosks.

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