Most organizations today acknowledge that employee engagement can prove to be a serious game-changer for their businesses. This is because engaged employees perform their work and contribute to the organization’s success to the best of their abilities. Hence it is not surprising that organizations are looking to use technology to improve employee engagement.
Even though every organization approaches employee engagement differently, most find it extremely challenging. This is because the factors that impact employee engagement are as diverse as the employees themselves. This often causes the organizations to flounder while coming up with effective engagement strategies.
Most progressive-minded organizations open to adopting new tools and strategies to get better engagement results. In this context, the use of technology has for improving employee engagement has become quite popular for most organizations. This tools offer real-time solutions and scientifically proven engagement methodologies that match the specific and dynamic needs of the organization.
From application program interfaces (APIs) to gamification, new technologies provide organizations with a wide choice of exciting and smart options. These programs ensure increased social networking and interaction among employees for higher workforce productivity.
However, as Chris McGrath from Tangowork has rightly said, “Just putting the right technology in place is not enough for organizations for getting better engagement results.”
Discussed below are a few effective ways that organizations can use technology to improve Employee Engagement:
1. Implement the strategy of bringing your own device (BYOD)
Allowing the employee to bring their own device to work help in winning the hearts and minds of employees.
60% of organizations today, prevent employees from bringing their own devices to work and even if they do, it is only under stringent restrictions.
This strategy is based on the belief that the use of their own devices can put their businesses at risk. However, such organizations tend to overlook the following facts about BYOD:
– 81% of employees use at least one personal technology tool on the job.
– 30% of these employees admit that they generally disobey a policy banning the use of their own devices at work.
– 69% of the employees are interested in BYOD to create/use their own custom apps at work.
Its is quite clear that implementing BYOD can enhance the overall satisfaction level of employees and thus drive engagement.
2. Promote social media usage at the workplace
Promoting the use of social media in the workplace is another way of integrating technology to drive engagement. In addition to strengthening relationships between employees and their co-workers and superiors, social media can help them gain valuable information.
They can use their profiles for creating brand awareness and business promotion activities. In fact, when employees are entrusted to help build social media presence of their corporate brand, they naturally feel happy. Since employee happiness and satisfaction directly impact their engagement levels, it justifies the decision to allow social media usage at work.
3. Invest in technologies that provide on-job relaxation
It is quite common for even the most dedicated and motivated employees to feel tired and depressed at work sometimes. So, technologies that can restore energy levels of employees in a fun and interesting way, can help enhance their efficiencies.
Providing employees with suitable options to have fun at work and reduce stress levels is the key to driving engagement. Hence, organizations can opt for various gamification techniques to help employees beat deadlines or complete mundane assignments like playing games.
4. Make use of performance management tools
Additionally, organizations can take advantage of various performance management tools and software to set business goals and review employee performance. These tools make use of various methodologies including quizzes and polls to access the performance of individual employees.
Managers can then use this information to restructure the tasks being assigned to employees to enhance their efficiency and performance. It can also improve communication between the management and the employees.
As technology and workforce environments continue to evolve, organizations need to use technology to improve employee engagement. This will help in promoting innovation and creativity besides enhancing overall performance and reputation of organizations.
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