Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) in AGILEHAND:

Enabling Human-Centred Digital Transformation

The AGILEHAND project places Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) at the core of its mission to develop advanced robotic and AI-driven solutions for handling, grading, and packaging soft and deformable products. Beyond technological innovation, AGILEHAND recognises that the successful adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies depends on human, organisational, and societal readiness.

Digital transformation is reshaping production environments, workforce roles, and organisational structures. The integration of artificial intelligence, flexible robotics, and data-driven systems offers significant opportunities for efficiency, safety, and flexibility. However, it also raises important questions related to workforce skills, occupational safety, ethics, trust, and technology acceptance. AGILEHAND addresses these challenges through a comprehensive SSH approach, ensuring that innovation remains human-centred, inclusive, and sustainable.

The AGILEHAND Handbook: Supporting Skills, Safety, and Engagement

A key outcome of AGILEHAND’s SSH activities is the AGILEHAND Handbook: Strategies for Employees’ Skills Development, Health and Safety, Communication and Engagement. This handbook provides a comprehensive guide to facilitate the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in the food handling and processing sector.

The handbook explores the impact of digitalisation, automation, and artificial intelligence on production processes and workforce dynamics, while addressing regulatory frameworks, ethical considerations, and human factors. It also presents best practices for implementing occupational safety and health systems in digital environments and offers practical guidance to support organisations in managing technological change.

This first version establishes a strong theoretical foundation based on scientific research and case studies. The final version will incorporate empirical insights gathered during AGILEHAND’s industrial pilot implementations. The handbook serves as a valuable resource for companies, workers, and stakeholders seeking to successfully integrate advanced technologies while ensuring workforce well-being and organisational resilience.

Raising Awareness through Collaboration and Dialogue

AGILEHAND actively contributes to European dialogue on the human dimension of robotics and AI. Through its joint webinar with sister projects, titled “Shaping Ethical and Inclusive Futures: The Human Side of Innovation in Robotics,” AGILEHAND highlighted the importance of workforce preparation and organisational readiness.

AGILEHAND’s contribution, “Bridging the Skills Gap: Preparing the Workforce for AI and Flexible Robotics,” addressed the evolving skill requirements in smart manufacturing and emphasised strategies to support workforce adaptation, foster trust, and promote ethical and inclusive innovation.

These collaborative activities strengthen knowledge exchange across projects and contribute to shaping human-centred approaches to digital transformation at the European level.

Building Skills for the Future: The AGILEHAND Online Course

To further support workforce development, AGILEHAND has developed an online course dedicated to Workers’ Skills Development in the Digital Handling-Processing Industry.

As digital technologies transform industrial environments, organisations must ensure that workers are prepared to adapt to new roles, collaborate with intelligent systems, and operate safely in increasingly automated environments. This course focuses on the human, organisational, and strategic dimensions of integrating robotics and AI into industrial processes.

The course is structured into three lessons:

• Human Resources Roles and Skills in the Digital Handling-Processing Industry
  Exploring how HR supports digital transformation through change management, skills development, and workforce planning.

• Bridging the Skills Gap: Preparing the Workforce for the Integration of Flexible Robots and AI
  Examining evolving job roles, new competency requirements, and strategies for safe and ethical technology adoption.

• Communication and Engagement for Enhancing Trust and Acceptance of Integrating Flexible Robots and AI
  Highlighting the importance of communication, employee engagement, and human-centred change management to foster trust and acceptance.

Through this course, AGILEHAND provides practical tools and knowledge to support workforce readiness and ensure that digital transformation strengthens both industrial performance and human well-being.