“Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.” – Richard Branson.
To know me is to know I love sharing stories about the many things my father would drill into my brain, and one that always comes back to me is the idea that IT is not there to care about the new shiny tools but to create a robust and positive experience for the company’s employees, the end-users. This results in achieving the promise of IT that employees can do their jobs better, faster, and with a smile on their faces. Zero employees wake up excited to use the new technology you just rolled out. They wake up worrying about the spreadsheet (Excel / Sheets) they must create, the video calls (Zoom / Teams) they must have, and the fact they will be heading to the airport for another trip ‘somewhere.’ Hence, creating a stellar employee experience that results in more productive employees should be IT’s number one goal.
In today’s fast-paced, post-COVID digital world, the employee experience is undergoing a significant transformation. As businesses are increasingly forced to adopt a “work-from-anywhere” model, there’s an even greater emphasis on ensuring that remote work environments are as efficient and effective as physical office settings. This shift has given rise to the prominence of the Digital Employee Experience (DEX), the idea of optimizing digital tools and platforms to enhance the overall work experience for employees.
Below are just a few reasons why Digital Employee Experience (DEX) should be a top priority for any business moving forward:
1. The Evolution of the Digital Workplace
The concept of the “workplace” has changed dramatically over the past decade and post-COVID. With more employees working remotely, cross-company collaboration, and a new generation of end-users entering the workforce, there’s a growing dependency on digital tools and platforms. Unified Communications and virtual collaboration platforms have become integral to an employee’s workday, ensuring teams can communicate and collaborate effectively from any location. A seamless employee experience ensures that irrespective of where an employee is. They have the tools and resources to be productive at the highest levels.
2. Driving Employee Engagement and Retention
In the age of “work from anywhere,” and with the changing face of the workplace, a positive employee experience can make the difference between an empowered or frustrated employee. Employees who feel supported by their employer and IT are likelier to be engaged, satisfied, and loyal to their company. Conversely, a kludgy or ineffective experience can lead to feelings of isolation and may push top talent to look elsewhere. Finding great employees is always tricky; businesses must keep them, not drive them away.
3. Operational Efficiency
A robust digital employee experience solution reduces technical problems and compatibility issues, leading to fewer helpdesk tickets. For IT and engineering teams, this means more time to dedicate to strategic projects and less time spent on troubleshooting.
4. A Catalyst for Innovation
Prioritizing employee experience often involves deep collaborations with end-users, providing insights into how systems can be refined or reimagined. IT is at the forefront of these innovations, developing solutions that improve the experience and contribute to the company’s digital evolution, resulting in a potential competitive advantage.
5. Security and Compliance in a Remote World
A robust employee experience ensures that remote employees use secure and approved tools. When employees turn to “Shadow IT” due to ineffective or draconian IT, it poses potential security risks. A focus on employee experience ensures that the provided tools are efficient and compliant with security standards, regardless of where employees work.
6. Adapting to the Future of Work
Emerging technologies such as unified communications, AI, machine learning, and augmented reality are shaping the future of work. As workplaces become more digital and remote, IT plays a pivotal role in integrating these technologies. Prioritizing employee experience ensures these integrations are user-friendly and value-driven.
In Conclusion
Gone are the days of telling employees what to do. We have ushered in a new era of listening to provide a stellar work experience, resulting in the above benefits and more.
Digital Employee Experience (DEX) reflects our evolving work culture, especially in the new normal. IT and IT Professionals have a central role in shaping this experience. By focusing on DEX, they enhance all employees’ day-to-day lives and position their companies for success in the digital, hybrid world we find ourselves in moving forward.
That said, I challenge you to come with ControlUp on this journey to create a better employee experience, resulting in business value and happy employees who want to do the best work of their lives! It’s there for the choosing if you so desire.
Learn more, https://www.controlup.com
Categories: Blog