Indeed, which is why pretty much every European country is moving in that direction, most certainly including Schengen area countries. This has been delayed and in many countries poorly implemented (largely because the infrastructural choices are precisely organised by each country whilst the Schengen rules are area wide so discrepancies lead to huge problems) but be sure that if the whole continent could use a magic wand and switch to full automation they'd be waving like crazy!! Numerous trials of passport less border crossing too for the same reason.