--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first rule of any technology used in…" description: "\"The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c53/bill-gates-137_business_the-first-rule-of-any-technology-used-in_1481798.jpg" --- # The first rule of any technology used in a business is… ![“The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.” quote by Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c53/bill-gates-137_business_the-first-rule-of-any-technology-used-in_1481798.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c53/bill-gates-137_business_the-first-rule-of-any-technology-used-in_1481798.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c53/bill-gates-137_business_the-first-rule-of-any-technology-used-in_1481798.jpg) > “The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.” [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Automation amplifies existing processes; it improves efficiency if the process is already good, but worsens inefficiency if the process is poor. **In simple terms:** Automation strengthens what’s already there. Key Takeaway Improve processes before automating. Themes efficiency automation process improvement Mood analytical pragmatic cautious Type strategic practical When to use this quote - manufacturing - software development - customer service - logistics Key Concepts systems thinking lean management Questions to Reflect On - Is your current workflow optimized before adding tech? - How can you identify inefficiencies early? A Different Perspective Automation cannot fix fundamentally flawed workflows. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Automation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/automation/) [Automation Applied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/automation-applied-3622909/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Business Automation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-automation-3554612/) [Efficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efficiency/) [Inefficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inefficiency/) [Productivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity/) [Robotics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robotics/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [Automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/automation-applied-to-an-inefficient-operation-will-magnify-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [In the early days at Asymetrix, we were focusing on business automation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/in-the-early-days-at-asymetrix-we-were-focusing-on-business-automation/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Everything I do is 100% automation, which means I'm just doing it live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/everything-i-do-is-100-automation-which-means-i-m-just-doing-it-live/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [“Automation is a force multiplier, not a panacea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-beyer/automation-is-a-force-multiplier-not-a-panacea/) [Betsy Beyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-beyer/) > [As a technologist, I see the trends, and I see that automation inevitably is going to mean fewer and fewer jobs. And if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/as-a-technologist-i-see-the-trends-and-i-see-that-automation/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [“We have such high levels of automation and we still wonder why we are suffering. We walk around in our robotic states and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mateo-tabatabai/we-have-such-high-levels-of-automation-and-we-still-wonder-why-we-are/) [Mateo Tabatabai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mateo-tabatabai/) > [When I think about strong innovations in term of automation, robotics, cognitive computing, and artificial intelligence, they are coming a lot from the Philippines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-nanterme/when-i-think-about-strong-innovations-in-term-of-automation-robotics/) [Pierre Nanterme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-nanterme/) > [Automation is no longer just a problem for those working in manufacturing. Physical labor was replaced by robots; mental labor is going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/automation-is-no-longer-just-a-problem-for-those-working-in/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [An organised system of machines, to which motion is communicated by the transmitting mechanism from a central automation, is the most developed form of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/an-organised-system-of-machines-to-which-motion-is-communicated-by/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [As technology advances, it reverses the characteristics of every situation again and again. The age of automation is going to be the age of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/as-technology-advances-it-reverses-the-characteristics-of-every/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Automation is going to cause unemployment, and we need to prepare for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/automation-is-going-to-cause-unemployment-and-we-need-to-prepare-for/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [To be sure, robotics are not the only job killers out there, with outsourcing stealing far more gigs than automation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lyons/to-be-sure-robotics-are-not-the-only-job-killers-out-there-with/) [Daniel Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lyons/) > [And a revolution of automation finds machines replacing men in the mines and mills of America, without replacing their incomes or their training or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/and-a-revolution-of-automation-finds-machines-replacing-men-in-the/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [“Automation is cost cutting by tightening the corners and not cutting them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haresh-sippy/automation-is-cost-cutting-by-tightening-the-corners-and-not-cutting/) [Haresh Sippy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haresh-sippy/) > [I think the automation of vision is a much bigger deal than the invention of perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-paglen/i-think-the-automation-of-vision-is-a-much-bigger-deal-than-the/) [Trevor Paglen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-paglen/) ## More by Bill Gates > [If you’re a person struggling to eat and stay healthy you might have heard about Michael Jordan or Muhammad Ali, but you’ll never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-re-a-person-struggling-to-eat-and-stay-healthy-you-might-have/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I really had a lot of dreams when I was a kid, and I think a great deal of that grew out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-really-had-a-lot-of-dreams-when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-think-a-great/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Understanding science and pushing the boundaries of science is what makes me immensely satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/understanding-science-and-pushing-the-boundaries-of-science-is-what/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [We're focused on providing innovations in software, driving the continuous improvement for a much better experience, and there's a lot going on here that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/we-re-focused-on-providing-innovations-in-software-driving-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Paper is no longer a big part of my day. I get 90% of my news online, and when I go to a meeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/paper-is-no-longer-a-big-part-of-my-day-i-get-90-of-my-news-online/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Software will get to be somewhat more mature, ah, but it will never be as predictable as most areas of engineering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/software-will-get-to-be-somewhat-more-mature-ah-but-it-will-never-be/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Students deserve great teachers. And teachers deserve the support they need to become great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/students-deserve-great-teachers-and-teachers-deserve-the-support-they/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [The machines need to get faster. They need to get cheaper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-machines-need-to-get-faster-they-need-to-get-cheaper/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Like many others, I have deep misgivings about the state of education in the United States. Too many of our students fail to graduate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/like-many-others-i-have-deep-misgivings-about-the-state-of-education/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Over time, yes, countries will need to look at specific GMO products like they look at drugs today, where they don't approve them all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/over-time-yes-countries-will-need-to-look-at-specific-gmo-products/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Competition is always a fantastic thing, and the computer industry is intensely competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/competition-is-always-a-fantastic-thing-and-the-computer-industry-is/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I don't think there's anything unique about human intellience. All the nuerons in the brain that make up perceptions and emotions operate in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-unique-about-human-intellience-all-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [At every juncture, advanced tools have been the key to a new wave of applications, and each wave of applications has been key to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/at-every-juncture-advanced-tools-have-been-the-key-to-a-new-wave-of/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Software is more important than hardware.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/software-is-more-important-than-hardware/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Talking to mothers, always brings it home because they're so anxious to do everything they can for their kids and so tragic for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/talking-to-mothers-always-brings-it-home-because-they-re-so-anxious/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) [Explore all 1,165 Bill Gates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) ## More Automation quotes > [“But it will make mistakes," she says. 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Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [Life in this society being, at best, an utter bore and no aspect of society being at all relevant to women, there remains to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-solanas/life-in-this-society-being-at-best-an-utter-bore-and-no-aspect-of/) [Valerie Solanas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-solanas/) > [I think the automation of vision is a much bigger deal than the invention of perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-paglen/i-think-the-automation-of-vision-is-a-much-bigger-deal-than-the/) [Trevor Paglen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-paglen/) > [Many Western nations have made significant gains through automation and operational excellence, while emerging markets rely on ever-increasing numbers of workers. Each will improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-paliwal/many-western-nations-have-made-significant-gains-through-automation/) [Dinesh Paliwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-paliwal/) > [“Best4Automation is the industry marketplace, which combines all the advantages of a modern on-line shop with the fast logistics of large manufacturers. Our well-known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/best4automation/best4automation-is-the-industry-marketplace-which-combines-all-the/) [Best4automation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/best4automation/) > [“Automation is cost cutting by tightening the corners and not cutting them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haresh-sippy/automation-is-cost-cutting-by-tightening-the-corners-and-not-cutting/) [Haresh Sippy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haresh-sippy/) > [And a revolution of automation finds machines replacing men in the mines and mills of America, without replacing their incomes or their training or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/and-a-revolution-of-automation-finds-machines-replacing-men-in-the/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [When the manufacturing decline began in earnest in 2001, the main culprits were the offshoring of jobs to China, with which we have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-daley/when-the-manufacturing-decline-began-in-earnest-in-2001-the-main/) [William M. Daley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-daley/) > [To be sure, robotics are not the only job killers out there, with outsourcing stealing far more gigs than automation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lyons/to-be-sure-robotics-are-not-the-only-job-killers-out-there-with/) [Daniel Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lyons/) > [I see three forces militating in favor of growing inequality: increasing measurement of worker value added, automation through smart software, and globalization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/i-see-three-forces-militating-in-favor-of-growing-inequality/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [Our whole economy and society is already being changed by the fact that we have increasing unemployment, mass unemployment and that's what we're facing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-chan/our-whole-economy-and-society-is-already-being-changed-by-the-fact/) [Gemma Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-chan/) > [Look at trade and automation: two competing but slightly overlapping forces in the shrinking of the duration of jobs right now. We have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-sasse/look-at-trade-and-automation-two-competing-but-slightly-overlapping/) [Ben Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-sasse/) > [“intech automation is the study regarding automotive engineering for light and heavy vehicles in Brisbane Australia. Intech.edu.au is availing the courses automation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inetch/intech-automation-is-the-study-regarding-automotive-engineering-for/) [Inetch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inetch/) > [The bottom line is that while automation is eliminating many jobs in the economy that were once done by people, there is no sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moshe-vardi/the-bottom-line-is-that-while-automation-is-eliminating-many-jobs-in/) [Moshe Vardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moshe-vardi/) [Browse all 125 Automation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/automation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. 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