Organizations can leverage artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and blockchain to create a holistic approach to improve employee experience.
According to Forbes, 43% of millennials plan to quit their jobs within two years, while only 28% plan to stay in their current positions for more than five years. Millennials cite poor business ethics, low diversity, lack of flexibility, and a lack of technological advancement in the workplace as reasons for their dissatisfaction. A McKinsey study indicates that 82% of Fortune 500 executives do not believe their companies can attract top talent, and 93% do not believe their companies can retain top employees. These statistics are causing concern among employers.
Customer experience, or CX, has consistently been a top priority for organizations aiming for substantial customer satisfaction. With the external aspects of the company taken care of, organizations need to focus on the internal. Employees are the core strength and driving force of any successful organization, therefore, organizations need to focus on creating a satisfying employee experience in the workplace. For example, Adobe Systems Incorporated ranked 8th on the list of companies people care about in 2017. 93% of Adobe employees believed that their workplace fostered an employee-centric work culture because of Adobe's focus on employee development policies, benefits, and programs. Similarly, every organization can create a workplace experience that meets employee needs and helps them grow. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has generated innovative technology use cases that can deliver a satisfying digital employee experience. By continuously working in the right direction, organizations can create employee-centric business models that drive the digital employee experience.
How can modern technology help create a digital employee experience?
1. Artificial intelligence can automatically complete multiple tasks.
Every industry sector recognizes the potential of artificial intelligence (AI). Similarly, employees can benefit from AI. AI helps automate routine tasks, saving employees time. For example, Gmail automatically sorts emails based on updates, promotions, social activities, and purchases, aiding in inbox organization. Because of these categorizations, employees can see which sections contain important emails, and they can also customize their emails based on their own categories. Likewise, AI-based automation frees up employees' time for other important tasks. In the near future, AI and natural language processing can be used for sentiment analysis. Sentiment analysis will help HR managers assess employee feedback on the workplace.
Another application of artificial intelligence is big data analytics. Organizations can collect employee data to generate analytics that help business leaders gain deeper insights into work culture, employee engagement, productivity, and progress. These insights contribute to developing employee-centric business strategies. Furthermore, organizations can integrate voice-enabled chatbots into systems that can resolve employee queries. For example, HR chatbots can conduct interactive employee training, guide employees through benefits registration processes, and answer questions related to company policy. AI-driven applications can also be industry-specific; for instance, content marketing companies can use grammar checkers (such as Grammarly) to find grammatical errors in blogs.
2. The Internet of Things (IoT) can manage workplace facilities.
Workspaces can be equipped with IoT sensors to create an interactive and connected digital employee experience. Coffee machines and air conditioners can connect to the internet and be operated using smartphones. Furthermore, IoT sensors can help maintain workplace facilities by alerting stakeholders to full trash cans and empty water dispensers.
Another time-consuming task for employees is finding available meeting rooms or waiting for an ongoing meeting to end. In such cases, IoT sensors can help employees locate available meeting rooms or notify them when the current meeting concludes. Similarly, IoT sensors can be used to guide employees to available parking spaces. For example, Golden 1 Center stadium has installed beacons and IoT sensors to help fans find seats, available parking spaces, and guide concession lines in real time. Introducing such applications into the workplace can improve the overall employee experience. Furthermore, IoT can enable access control by allowing users to unlock doors using smartphones instead of keys or key cards.
3. Cloud computing can help store important documents.
Modern work culture is built on the principles of collaboration and communication. Creating a digital employee experience will generate collaborative business models. To this end, cloud computing can help store important documents and data online for real-time access. Using such cloud services, employees can share data when needed and update it remotely. Such alternatives are more secure and user-friendly compared to traditional pen and paper or software methods.
4. Blockchain can provide payroll management and smart contracts.
Another crucial aspect of creating a digital employee experience is transparency. If a company's finances are opaque, employees may lose trust in its leaders. Therefore, organizations need to be as open as possible about their finances. Blockchain appears to be a viable solution here. It provides a transparent ledger for payroll and expense management. Furthermore, organizations can implement smart contracts that can automatically make payments upon fulfilling the terms of the agreement.
Blockchain can also be used to generate digital identities for employees. Employees' personal information, performance, job title, and salary can be stored in a decentralized database to form their digital identities. These digital identities can be used to build reputation systems, enabling performance evaluations of employees. Reputation systems can also assist the recruitment process by assessing past performance. These systems can also help organizations select appropriate business partners.
Why should organizations focus on employee experience?
1. Enhanced Collaboration: With the rise of digital technologies such as cloud computing in the workplace, easy communication and collaboration have become the norm. This technology ensures an effective digital employee experience by providing a medium connecting different employees and departments within an organization. Using this approach, employees can work remotely and collaborate with colleagues in real time. Furthermore, department leaders can use tools to track project progress and calculate the estimated time required to complete specific projects. Additionally, employees can share key data, documents, and approval reports at different stages of a project.
2. High productivity
Digital technologies such as artificial intelligence are fostering a culture of efficiency and productivity in the workplace. With the help of advanced technologies, even the most mundane tasks in the workplace can be automated. Modern technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) can help develop interactive workplaces, saving employees time by informing them of the status of workplace facilities such as meeting rooms.
3. Improved data analysis and security
Digital employee experience focuses on developing data-driven business practices. Digital technologies democratize the process of collecting and processing critical data to generate necessary analytics. Through analytical methodologies, organizations can make informed decisions that benefit employees and the business. Furthermore, digital technologies bring enhanced security measures that can monitor critical information and data exchanges on networks. Enterprises can set up authentication models to protect data from unwanted individuals and intruders.
4. Better retain talent
Modern technology will help create a digital employee experience, fostering a positive work environment and providing better career development opportunities. Keeping up with the latest technological trends will ensure employee convenience and introduce personalized privileges to meet the needs of each employee. Furthermore, digital technology can help build a work culture that appreciates and promotes innovative thinking and applications. In such a work environment, employees will realize their potential within the company, thereby increasing employee retention. In addition, over 60% of jobs are obtained online, so satisfied employees will promote their organization's work culture online, which will help attract more talent.
Summarize
Soon, organizations may integrate immersive technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality to save time and money spent on traditional meetings. These immersive technologies will provide an interactive medium enabling comprehensive, seamless communication to improve the digital employee experience. This advanced technological trend will impact workplaces globally. Therefore, organizations must stay up-to-date to benefit from modern technologies.
