I get this sentiment for sure but I also employ a lot of hard working people who might have even written your post but whom I could automate today if the motivating causes were strong enough. Right now the cost implications are such that I could automate my sales force down from about 25 to 4 and save close to a million dollars in the process. I don’t do it because, as of yet, there is still value to having boots on the ground in the territories. But that’s only valuable because most of the industry is still operating in that paradigm and it’s an expectation on the part of retailers. But that expectation is shifting and there WILL come a point in the foreseeable future where road warrior sales reps are relegated to history. Similar conditions are evolving on our factory floor as well. One sharp economic downturn and management will be sitting around, twiddling our thumbs, wondering how to reduce expenses rather than expand capacity as we currently are. Worst part is, there’s nothing unique about my business. This grim picture is entirely common.