Access to the right technology can transform the employee experience and ensure maximum productivity and innovation from your team.
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An exceptional workplace experience should be at the top of many companies’ lists when it comes to attracting and retaining top talent. Company leaders are increasingly turning to cutting-edge technology to transform their workplaces for this reason.
Here, Fast Company Executive Board members explore how forward-thinking leaders can harness the power of workplace technology to design a workplace experience that’s both engaging and efficient. Read on to discover the key strategies and emerging trends that are turning workplaces into dynamic hubs of productivity and collaboration.
1. USE ANALYTICS TO DETERMINE NEEDS.
Harness the power of analytics to uncover unrealized employee needs. Craft a culture where technology is used to liberate, not confine, and the experience is distinct, not an attempt to recreate the traditional office mold. Value internal tech insights as you do customer truths, resulting in an ever-progressing digital workplace, custom to your organization’s pulse. – Spencer Steliga, Shuddl
Subscribe to the Compass Newsletter. Fast Company's trending stories delivered to you daily2. BUILD A VALUABLE TECH STACK.
Technology, by itself, does not create thriving experiences. What matters is the information, insights, and time-savings that good technology delivers. If technology is helpful, then it will create strong experiences. If it looks great but under delivers, then it will hurt. Technology cannot and should not replace leaders. Focus on building a tech stack that delivers the most value to employees. – Matthew Wride, DecisionWise
3. PRIORITIZE TOOLS THAT ENHANCE YOUR WORKPLACE EXPERIENCE.
In banking, where risks constantly evolve, leaders must prioritize tools that enhance safety, collaboration, and well-being. Adopting platforms for communication and project management streamlines workflows and collaboration. Investments in video surveillance are crucial for maintaining a secure workplace. AI also plays a role in automation to free up employees to engage in more strategic tasks. – Matthew Tengwall, Verint Systems
4. LEVERAGE COMMUNICATION SOFTWARE.
Good leadership requires a happy team. Workplaces can become complacent or resentful no matter how good the salary or benefits are, so staying connected with your team is crucial, especially with remote work. Supply software that offers accessible video conferencing features and keeps as much communication as possible transparent and collaborative via online message apps and workflow services. – Abhilash Patel, Within Health
5. GET EMPLOYEES INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN PROCESS.
Tech-enabled workplace experience solutions benefit from involving workers in co-design—it ensures the technology meets the actual needs to solve the problem(s). Solutions also should be accessible and intuitive so they are easy to use for everyone, regardless of their skills or location. This leads to a wider adoption, better impact on workplace experience, and a sense of mastery and efficacy. – Stela Lupushor, Reframe.Work Inc.
6. FOCUS ON EFFICIENCY.
Company leaders can design a better workplace experience by leveraging workplace technology to help teams improve efficiency, eliminate unnecessary manual labor, and automate routine processes. This will improve the workplace experiences as teams are freed to focus on tasks that move business goals forward and are meaningful and rewarding to them, enabling more professional development. – Andrew Becks, 301 Digital Media
7. USE TOOLS THAT HELP WORKFLOW AND BUILD CAMARADERIE.
I love using technology tools, such as Slack, to collaborate on projects, and then celebrate the teams, their successes, and their work. It’s also great when an expert on the workplace technology platform trains the users on shortcuts and cool features showcasing how to make things easier to boost skills and collaboration! – Jo Ann Herold, Herold Growth Consulting
8. FOCUS ON COLLABORATION-SPECIFIC SOFTWARE.
You can enhance the workplace experience by integrating collaborative tools such as project management software, communication platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams, and file-sharing systems. Also, I’d strongly recommend implementing a single source of truth for all sales and marketing campaigns such as HubSpot. These technologies facilitate seamless teamwork, communication, and collaboration. – Solomon Thimothy, OneIMS
9. PUT YOUR EMPLOYEES’ NEEDS AND PREFERENCES FIRST.
Invest in technology that prioritizes your employees’ needs and preferences, such as user-friendly collaboration platforms, flexible scheduling apps, and personalized productivity tools, to create a more engaging and efficient workplace experience that enhances overall employee satisfaction and retention. – Kristin Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
10. FOCUS ON SOLVING PAIN POINTS.
Technology is simply a tool, so it’s not the sole answer to improving the workplace experience. However, technology that doesn’t solve the pain points the team has can be a drag on their overall experience. See how people interact in person and recreate virtually. What workarounds have they implemented? Poll the team for solutions. Use free trials to test solutions quickly. Prototype the experiences you want. – Alexander Kwapis,
advertisement11. FIND WAYS TO DELIVER INFORMATION EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
Nothing is more frustrating or wastes a day faster than being unable to find a critical document when you need it! In fact, Starmind estimates the average person loses 100 minutes daily searching for information. The best workplace experiences use smart information management and automation technologies to deliver information to the right person at the right time. – Christina Robbins, Digitech Systems
12. BUILD YOUR TECH ARSENAL FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
Building from the inside out is ideal not only for business growth and clients but also for the team, and that requires not only offering opportunities but also supplying training. Today’s workplace technology offers workers anything from VR simulations to customized training software and skill tests accessible in tandem with a team member’s current duties. – Larry Brinker Jr., BRINKER
13. FIND A BALANCE.
Striking the right balance in technology use in the workplace is key. Sometimes having too much technology (especially in multicultural and multi-generational work environments) can be draining to employee energy and time, even to company resources. Invest in technology that can foster work-life balance and professional development opportunities as much as those about productivity and efficiency. – Fatima Al-Dosari, Qatar America Institute for Culture
14. LEVERAGE TOOLS THAT BOOST MORALE.
By incorporating Slack-based employee engagement tools like Hey Taco or Donut, leaders can create a more engaging and supportive workplace. These platforms foster a culture of recognition and positivity. It’s an effective way to boost morale and encourage team bonding, making the workplace experience more enjoyable and rewarding for everyone. – Danielle Wiley, Sway Group LLC
15. DON’T OVERAUTOMATE WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNICATION.
Curate, curate, curate. The right productivity and communication tools can be great but over-automating leads to unwanted results. Working from home is great but creates enough distance between people without technology intermediating interactions even further. Example: Pick up the phone and have a chat. Hear the tone of voice that no Slack message can convey. It can offset our physical distance. – Esther Kestenbaum Prozan, Flowspace, Inc.
16. TAKE A MULTIFACETED APPROACH.
Company leaders can improve workplace experience with technology by implementing collaborative tools, using project management software, adopting cloud-based solutions for flexible work, investing in employee training platforms, utilizing data analytics for personalization, prioritizing cybersecurity, and regularly updating tech based on feedback. – Pranav Arora, JMTD Holdings
17. LEVERAGE TECH IN ENGAGEMENT, CULTURE, AND HIRING.
Leaders can integrate technology for effective team engagement, cultural cultivation, and mindful hiring. This involves using project management and communication tools for collaboration, digital platforms for reinforcing company culture, and data-driven tools for objective hiring aligned with company values and stages. This holistic approach fosters a dynamic, cohesive, and efficient workplace. – Andreas Pettersson, Arcules
18. FOCUS ON CREATING A LEARNING CULTURE.
Invest in learning platforms that allow employees to tailor their career paths. Additionally, encourage your employees to create internal groups where they can share knowledge, provide mentorship, and learn from each other. This creates a learning culture that strengthens collaboration across teams and functions and facilitates knowledge-sharing. – Gergo Vari, Lensa
19. MAKE COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION YOUR TOP PRIORITIES.
The best way to build a better workplace experience is to leverage communication and collaboration tools. Clear communication is the bedrock of any business and not only makes work easier but also makes for a fun and pleasant work environment. We use tools like Slack and Asana in our business and they make our work easier and effective. – Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner
20. ACCOUNT FOR THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF THE WORKPLACE.
Integrate technologies like IoT for environmental control, AI for personalized experiences, and advanced communication tools for seamless collaboration. This tech-driven approach fosters a flexible and engaging environment, catering to the diverse needs and preferences of the workforce, ultimately leading to increased satisfaction and productivity. – Britton Bloch, Navy Federal
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