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The digital workplace and the rise of the frontline worker
In the past few years, digital workplace and digital employee experience have become more important than ever. We all use multiple tools and systems for professional and personal lives, and navigate through huge amounts of information and data daily.
Relationships between colleagues, companies and employees are now hybrid, with communications and collaboration becoming increasingly digital.
For many companies, the digital employee experience has become the primary employee experience, people’s main connection to the company and the colleagues they work with.
LOW PRODUCTIVITY AND stress
Companies say that employees are their most valuable asset, but the digital employee experience often doesn’t correlate with this claim. We see many clients investing in customer facing digital assets, yet many employees must persist with poor collaboration tools, complex and old-fashioned systems, and uninspiring internal communications that lead to reduced productivity, stress, and low retention.
Frontline workers, such as warehouse, construction, or shop workers, who usually don’t have computers as their primary working tools, usually suffer the most from insufficient digital workplace tools. This results in poor employee experience and low productivity.
FRONTLINE WORKERS HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FOR YEARS
Even though frontline workers represent the core business of many companies, they have been neglected for years when it comes to the digital workplace.
New tools and systems have been developed and launched with only office workers in mind. A common argument has been that frontline workers are not interested in internal communications or company digital tools and don’t have a reliance on them.
The main reason for neglecting frontline workers often comes down to money, as buying licenses and devices for employees outside of corporate headquarters is a significant investment. Companies put minimal effort into understanding daily pain points of frontline workers when it comes to digital tools and communications, knowledge sharing, and collaboration. It is easier to plan and execute internal communications and trainings for new tools for the office workers. Luckily though, the tide is starting to turn.
BUILDING A COMMON CULTURE
During the Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen the importance and rise of frontline workers. The people who have not been able to work from home have ensured our society continues to operate and function during the crisis. Companies have realized they have to be able to communicate outside of their corporate headquarters and make sure important information reaches their workers, especially those on the front line. It has also become clear that the digital employee experience should be inclusive and build a common culture amongst all employees, no matter where they are or their role.
Now is the time to invest in an inclusive digital workplace and employee experience for everyone. Offering well-functioning and up-to-date digital tools for internal communications and collaboration will increase productivity and contribute to strong company culture and belonging. Undoubtedly, a great digital employee experience will lead to happier employees committed to company success.
Hanna Karppi
Head of Digital Worklife Strategy
Nexer
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Are you curious to know more about Nexer and retail in general? Read more about the future of retail and how Nexer can help you connect all your retail systems into one “Digital Ecosystem for Retail”.