Automation is a wonderful thing, but when it fails and airlines/ATC/whoever rely on it too heavily to squeeze schedules to the absolute minimum, it leaves a major headache to get it all running smoothly again using 'old fashioned' methods. Just have a look how many delays there were today when easyjet's system crashed and left all their crews sat without wx and flight plans.
Let's hope it is a good and reliable system, and nobody forgets how to manage things smoothly using the current systems.