Empower Frontline Workers With a Comprehensive Digital Workplace Platform
Frontline workers represent approximately 70% of the U.S. workforce. But only 14% of organizations believe their frontline employees are digitally equipped to do their jobs effectively.
Why are digital resources so sparse among hourly employees?
Frontline workers, from grocery and retail employees to nurses, have to switch between disparate applications to perform everyday functions like task management, scheduling and communication. Time they could otherwise spend helping customers and patients is wasted figuring out disconnected technology platforms.
Collaboration and communication through digital tools is just as important for frontline workers as it is for their desk-based counterparts. Yet frontline workers’ digital tools lag behind. Empowering your frontline employees with a digital workplace platform can equip them with the digital tools they need, in one place, and help build complete workforce orchestration.
The digital needs of frontline workers remain on the backburner
Frontline workers significantly impact an organization’s success through their interactions with customers and patients. But their digital needs are often overlooked. They lack the necessary tools to efficiently communicate, manage scheduling and complete job training.
The use of siloed applications and platforms is both cumbersome to manage and can contribute to lost productivity, employee disengagement and burnout. And frontline employees are just as susceptible to burnout as desk-based workers.
Not only do frontline workers manage disjointed applications, but 70% of businesses still communicate scheduling with physical charts. This method is an inconvenience for employees who need access to scheduling information at home, and it doesn’t allow for last-minute scheduling changes.
If frontline workers could access their digital needs while on the job — in one place — they could work more efficiently and avoid the frustrations associated with outdated technology and practices. What once lived in the back office of stores and break rooms can now live in employees’ pockets on a single app. Although adjusting to new workplace technology requires a little effort, it can ultimately save time and money — all while increasing employee engagement and productivity.
Benefits of a digital workplace platform
With a digital workplace platform, managers and employees can access their digital tools in a single place. This technology simplifies communication between employees and managers and can optimize operations. Let’s take a look at some of the ways this technology can help your frontline employees and your entire organization.
1. Employees gain control over their economic well-being
Employees are motivated to further their careers — training resources should always be accessible to help them do so. You can provide engaging materials like videos, quizzes and even a system for employees to earn badges when they complete different trainings.
With a digital workplace platform, communication and training exist together so employees can communicate to get the support they need while completing training — all on their mobile devices.
Employees and managers also have access to scheduling from anywhere through a digital workplace platform. Employees can post shifts they can no longer work or pick up more shifts if they are looking to make extra cash. An added bonus is that scheduling is automatically compliant with government and internal regulations, which helps avoid the risk of labor law violations. These digital capabilities can reduce stress for employees and managers who would typically have to track down coworkers to cover shifts and enable easier last-minute changes to scheduling.
In addition, digital workplace platforms can incorporate financial capabilities, like advance pay solutions that let employees access earned income ahead of payday with no additional fees. These tools give employees the flexibility they need to take control of their work experience and their finances.
2. Tasks, audit, and site walks become more efficient
Inefficient or ineffective task management can compromise your organization’s compliance with health and safety regulations, and increase risk for customers and patients. For example, if clothing racks are disorganized because an employee doesn’t follow proper protocols, customers might grow frustrated and take their business elsewhere. Or if proper signage isn’t properly displayed around the business, you could fall out of compliance.
It’s crucial that businesses efficiently assign tasks to those with the proper knowledge to complete them. Otherwise, you’ll waste resources by assigning employees to tasks they don’t know how to do. It’s also critical to ensure that important tasks aren’t ignored and can carry over from shift to shift. Task management should exist alongside training resources and communication to ensure tasks are completed with utmost quality.
For example, if a retail employee sets up a mannequin and knows how to properly arrange most of it — except for one small detail — they can watch a quick training video while completing the task. You can maximize efficiency and savings while improving processes when these typically siloed applications are in one place.
3. Cost savings add up over the long term
A digital workplace enables frontline workers to be more productive and efficient. But what is the payoff for this technology? The small technology investment leads to outsized cost reductions over time.
A study by WorkJam and Forrester found that customers who used a digital workplace platform received an ROI of more than 400% in just three years and payback on the upfront investment in less than six months.
A digital workplace helps you save time and money through staff optimization. You can reduce unnecessary overtime, save managers time spent on scheduling, and even reduce the cost of paper and other supplies. And when it comes to training and compliance, you can digitally track mandatory compliance-related training or readings to avoid unplanned expenses.
A mix of these factors reduce costs for your organization. But one of the biggest advantages is that a digital workplace platform encourages employees to communicate and stay engaged. More engaged employees are less likely to experience burnout, reducing employee turnover. Frontline workers’ engagement is a crucial investment because much of your business’ success depends on their performance and well-being.
Equip frontline workers with the right digital tools
More and more business leaders are discovering the value digital workplace platforms can provide to their organizations. Why? Because in today’s competitive employee landscape, these digital tools are providing frontline workers with the right technology, in one place, to improve productivity, engagement and optimize operations.
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