‘Embrace technology that creates an inclusive work culture’: More companies invest in comms tech to facilitate future of work

By Jessica Davies

Trying to envision the future of work has become an elemental part of the business mindset since the coronavirus pandemic emerged, with the firm International Data Corp. forecasting that FoW spending will reach nearly $656 billion this year, up more than 17% compared to last year.

To facilitate the new reality of work and the evolving workforce, companies are investing in a growing range of technologies and services. IDC predicts the largest area of investment this year will be in hardware, encompassing enterprise hardware, infrastructure as a service (IaaS), robotics and drones.

Data intelligence firm The Morning Consult partnered with The New York Times and payroll firm TriNet on a study which revealed that the pandemic has accelerated digital transformation and adjusted workplace scenarios at small businesses in all industries, with 87% of small businesses acquiring or upgrading one or more pieces of digital technology since the pandemic began.

Top technologies being embraced centered on people connecting with people as remote work has surged, the report said, with video communications technology ranking as the primary product being purchased or upgraded (58% of those polled have done so), followed by internal communications platforms (40%) and customer relationship management tech (29%). All told, 71% of companies in the survey said they had adopted new means of communicating with their audiences.

“Technology was key for companies getting through the pandemic,” said Michael Mendenhall, svp and chief marketing and communications officer at TriNet. “But it’s people who make the biggest difference.”

“While technology is not a panacea for company culture issues, it can be an integral part of a more holistic approach.”

Dan Schawbel, managing partner, Workplace Intelligence

Another recent study, from the virtual and hybrid event platform Glisser, noted that businesses are struggling to move from concept to reality when it comes to hybrid work arrangements — suggesting that upgrading technology is the answer. “Hybrid working solutions need to enable messaging, collaboration, employee unification, irrespective of where they’re working, and engagement, which is hard via a computer screen alone,” the report said.

Yet another study, this one from the global learning platform Kahoot and HR research and advisory firm Workplace Intelligence, found that 77% of respondents said remote workers are treated fairly at companies that offer best-in-class collaboration technologies, versus only 32% at companies with “unsatisfactory solutions.” With remote work now a way of life, 84% of those polled predicted that the adoption of collaboration and engagement technologies would increase over the next year.

“Businesses that want to succeed within the hybrid model need to address these issues, or they’ll risk losing their best talent to companies who do prioritize the fair treatment of all workers,” said Workplace Intelligence managing partner and co-author of the report Dan Schawbel. “While technology is not a panacea for company culture issues, it can be an integral part of a …read more

Source:: Digiday