Companies that invest in a better digital experience in the everyday lives of their employees have a better chance of retaining talents and being considered an attractive workplace among employees. It shows a study by the leading developer of enterprise software VMware on the use of technology in the workplace and its impact on businesses. The study is based on 3,600 interviews with employees mainly in Europe.
Two-thirds of surveyed employees (66%) included in the survey say that flexibility with digital tools is an important factor when looking for a new job or accepting a job. In addition, 70% of respondents indicate that their current employer should, in their opinion, have a greater focus on digital tools in the workplace.
HR and IT need to work better together
It is essential for companies to reap the rewards of a more digital workplace that HR and IT departments work better together to improve the digital experience for their employees. The survey shows that as many as 49% of employees do not know whether to go to the HR or IT department if they have questions about the use of workplace technologies.
87% believe that HR and IT should work more closely together, and 8 out of 10 respondents feel that HR should be given more responsibility in improving the digital experience in the workplace.
Growth companies are digital jobs
The study also shows that companies with high growth rates make more digital tools available to their employees than companies with low or no growth, for example in the form of access to devices, applications and technologies. Compared to growing businesses, companies with low or no growth are significantly less likely to let their employees work from their own devices (76% vs. 36%), give them access to productivity-enhancing applications (93% vs. 68%), and offer cross-device applications for employees’ most central tasks, but not including emails (93% vs. 47%).
“Often, technology becomes the focal point of the discussion on digital transformation while ignoring the most important element of a successful strategy – attracting and retaining the greatest talent. In order to compete for the best employees, it is important that companies prioritize the employee experience, including both technology, work style and culture, “said Kristine Fajl Steidel, Vice President in the field of End User Computing at VMware.
Greater pride in the workplace
A better digital experience for employees can also affect the general attitude towards the workplace. Respondents whose workplace gives them the opportunity to work both at home and at work are more likely to indicate that they are proud of their workplace – than those who work in companies that do not offer this opportunity (71% against 27%). They are also more likely to believe that their workplace has a progressive culture (73% vs. 25%), is one of the best jobs in the market (71% versus 27%), and offers good work-life balance (70%). versus 29%).
Traditional values that have traditionally influenced the choice of workplace are, for example, job security, a good salary and internal benefits. However, considerations about how, where and with what unit you work from have become more important when making a choice – especially for young people in the labor market.
One third of respondents who are not satisfied with their digital experience see the biggest barrier as the company’s lack of understanding of what employees are really looking for and need. In addition, almost two-thirds of employees (61%) feel that they have nothing to say when it comes to their digital work tools. In contrast, 83% of IT decision-makers themselves believe that they are listening to employees at this point.
“Managers who are committed to improving employee experiences are embracing the concept that we at VMware call” digital workspace. “Here, a digital platform is the driving force behind the digital workplace, which is extremely important for both current and future employees at with the improvement of other key business results, “said Kristine Fajl Steidel.
About the study
The study is based on 3,600 interviews with employees of organizations in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) conducted in spring 2019. The breakdown is as follows: ordinary employees (1,800), IT managers (900) and HR managers (900). Everyone uses computers or another digital device for work purposes.
The number of respondents by country is: England (600), Germany (600), France (600), Italy (200), Netherlands (200), Russia (200), Poland (200), Norway (200), Sweden ( 200), Spain (200), UAE (200) and Saudi Arabia (200). The employees are from different areas in both the public and private sectors.
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