Teem
June 2nd, 2021

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13 Workplace Analytics Every IT Leader Should Track

One of the biggest drivers of workplace technology investments in the past 12 months has been the ever-growing need to adapt to working remotely. The unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that many businesses had to pivot to a remote work structure quickly. Many of them didn’t have the technology to facilitate such a drastic change in such a brief time period, which resulted in a reduction in productivity and output.

Because of this, the conversation surrounding workplace technology has been pushed to the forefront. Many experts predict that a hybrid approach combining in-person and remote work will remain around even after the pandemic is over. To enable seamless collaboration among employees everywhere, companies recognize the need to invest in workplace technology like never before.

The importance of workplace technology

If you’re an IT leader, you already know advances in workplace technology have resulted in more efficient, productive teams. However, your leadership team may still need a bit more convincing, especially if your company has experienced budget cuts in the past year. New technology also encourages innovation and creativity by giving employees extra time to solve strategic problems rather than getting bogged with business processes that can be automated.

The best workplace technology helps employees and teams perform work more consistently and collaborate effortlessly. These benefits can result in increased profits. Research by author Jacob Morgan found companies that heavily invested in technology that improved employee experience earned more than four times the average profit than those that didn’t.

What are the biggest workplace technology drivers?

Because technology is constantly evolving, IT leaders everywhere recognize the need to keep up. The pandemic has exposed significant flaws in companies’ workplace technology solution stacks, prompting them to accelerate digital transformation. With most returning to the office in the next month or two if they haven’t already, business leaders are looking to the IT department to implement solutions that protect employees and give them peace of mind.

They’re also looking for solutions that help their workforce be more productive anywhere. That includes:

  • Supporting remote/on-site work (71%)
  • Communicating important information to employees (70%)
  • Creating a positive employee experience (69%)
  • Helping employees stay productive (65%)
  • Adjusting spaces to ensure physical distancing (62%)
  • Improving collaboration (58%)
  • Managing outside visitors (56%)
  • Managing contact tracing (51%)

When it comes to their own personal priorities, IT leaders told us they are most concerned about:

  • Staying within their budget (28%)
  • Managing their workload (22%)
  • Keeping data secure (21%)

Workplace technology considerations

Many companies have implemented so many new applications and software licenses over the years, they don’t know which ones employees are still using. As a result, they waste thousands of dollars on licenses that aren’t necessary or don’t integrate well with the systems they already use.

That’s why IT leaders told us ease of use is the No. 1 factor they consider before purchasing something. Intuitive technology increases user adoption rates and reduces how often employees contact you with questions and troubleshooting requests.

When asked what they would most like to change about their existing technology, 30% said they wish it was easier for employees to use. Another 30% said they wanted smoother integration with their existing workplace software.

Other important technology considerations include:

  • Ease of installation (38%)
  • Security (37%)
  • Cloud capabilities (30%)
  • Price (26%)
  • Mobile app capabilities (22%)
  • Data reporting features (20%)
  • Unlimited provider support (17%)
  • Scalability (10%)

Barriers to investing in tech

Some of the most significant barriers that you might face when investing in new tech solutions will involve budget. A whopping 42% of respondents to our survey said that they decided not to invest in technology because they did not have the budget for it. It can be difficult to convince business leaders of the importance and practicality of workplace technology, especially if they’re worried that employees won’t be open to using that technology.

Other barriers include:

  • Security (14%)
  • Lack of buy-in from employees (10%)
  • Long implementation process (10%)
  • Not integrating with existing solutions (9%)

Prioritizing workplace technology solutions

Finding the right technology to introduce to your workplace after the events of the past 12 months isn’t always an easy process. You need to narrow it down to a practical, functional choice that seamlessly integrates your existing technology. Your employees also need to find it easy to use, and it needs to assist you with transitioning employees back to the office in the new workplace environment. All of these criteria can often make it even harder to embrace change.

When it comes to getting your executive team on board, it’s all about finding the right angle and building a strong business case. For more results from our IT leaders’ survey and recommendations for getting buy-in, download the full report today.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Teem

Teem by iOFFICE provides enterprises with space scheduling and management, workplace analytics, building, and campus wayfinding, and visitor management to help cultivate workplaces that fuel productivity, efficiency, and creativity.

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