Richard and Jillian Corbett Explore the Human Side of an Increasingly Automated Workplace

• The Phoenix-based professionals discuss why AI, automation, and better business systems still depend on clear communication and understanding the people who use them.

PHOENIX, Ariz., Sep 30, 2026, ZEX PR WIRE — As artificial intelligence and automation become more common in everyday business operations, Richard and Jillian Corbett believe an important part of the conversation can sometimes get overlooked: the people expected to use the technology.

The Phoenix-based couple sees the issue from two different professional perspectives. Richard works in business technology, with experience in software implementation, workflow improvement, process development, and technology support. Jillian works in marketing and event coordination, managing campaigns, vendors, schedules, communication, and event planning.

Together, their experiences have led them to a similar conclusion. Better technology does not automatically create better communication, stronger processes, or better experiences.

“Sometimes the best technology decision is not adding another tool,” Richard said. “It is figuring out why the process became complicated in the first place.”

Technology Should Solve a Defined Problem

Richard has been interested in computers and technology since high school. After studying Business Administration with a concentration in Information Systems at Colorado State University, he began building a career around the connection between technology and business operations.

His current work has increased his interest in AI and automation, particularly their potential to reduce repetitive work and simplify everyday processes.

However, Richard believes organizations should first understand the problem they are trying to solve.

A process might require employees to enter the same information multiple times, move between several systems, or complete steps that no longer serve a clear purpose. Adding automation without examining those issues can simply make an inefficient process move faster.

“You have to look at what people are actually doing, not only what the process says they are supposed to be doing,” Richard said. “If employees have created workarounds or keep getting stuck at the same point, that usually tells you something.”

For Richard, employee feedback is therefore an important part of technology decisions. People completing a task every day can often spot problems that are hard to see in a process map or software dashboard.

Efficiency Is Only Part of the Experience

Jillian encounters many of the same questions from a different direction.

Her work in marketing and event coordination requires managing numerous details at once. Technology can help organize schedules, coordinate vendors, track projects, manage communication, and keep campaigns moving.

Those systems are valuable, but Jillian believes the final experience still depends heavily on human judgment.

“People rarely know every system working behind an experience,” Jillian said. “They just know whether it felt organized, easy, and thoughtful.”

An event provides a simple example. Scheduling software can help organize the timeline. Shared platforms can keep vendors informed. Marketing tools can help communicate with attendees. None of those systems, however, can completely account for how someone feels when they arrive, whether instructions are clear, or how a team responds when something unexpected happens.

Those moments still require people to communicate and make decisions.

The Human Side of Automation

The same principle applies beyond events.

As workplaces introduce more automated systems, Richard and Jillian believe communication becomes more important, not less. Employees need to understand why a process is changing, what a new tool is supposed to accomplish, and how it affects their responsibilities.

Technology may also create time for work that requires more human involvement.

If automation removes a repetitive administrative task, an employee may have more time to solve customer problems, work with colleagues, think creatively, or focus on decisions that require context.

That is where Richard sees some of the most practical potential for emerging technology.

“The goal should not just be to automate as much as possible,” Richard said. “It should be to identify where technology genuinely makes the work easier or more useful.”

Jillian sees a similar balance in marketing and events. Tools can make planning more efficient, but communication, creativity, and personal attention remain central to creating an intentional experience.

Two Fields Moving Closer Together

Richard and Jillian’s careers also show how business areas that once seemed separate are becoming more connected.

Technology affects how marketing teams communicate and organize their work. Marketing and customer experience influence how technology is introduced and understood. Operations affect both.

For professionals working in either field, that creates a reason to look beyond the boundaries of a job description.

Richard believes technology professionals benefit from understanding how employees actually work. Jillian believes marketing and event professionals benefit from understanding the systems supporting their projects.

Their shared perspective is straightforward: technology works best when it supports people rather than becoming another obstacle they have to manage.

As AI and automation continue to change everyday work, that distinction may become increasingly important.

About Richard and Jillian Corbett

Richard and Jillian Corbett are professionals based in Phoenix, Arizona. Richard works in business technology, with experience in software implementation, workflow improvement, process development, and technology support. He is particularly interested in artificial intelligence, automation, and practical applications of technology in business operations.

Jillian works in marketing and event coordination, with experience in marketing campaigns, vendor coordination, scheduling, communications, and event planning. She is particularly interested in combining creative ideas with the organization and attention to detail required to create effective experiences.