The benefits digital brings to an organisation, and to the people working within it, were made clear by the employees surveyed
Nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) of UK employees believe that digital technology is vital to the future success of their organisation.
That’s according to a Fujitsu study, Digital Inside Out, which has revealed significant disconnect between the needs of a digital-savvy working population and the digital services UK employers are currently providing. Worryingly, only 45 per cent of employees feel they are provided with access to the technology services and applications they need to do their job sufficiently and 29 per cent state that their ability to do their job is being hindered due to poor digital services.
The benefits digital brings to an organisation, and to the people working within it, were made clear by the employees surveyed. The three advantages being: the ability to work remotely (57 per cent), real time access to information (50 per cent) and saving time (46 per cent); all of which boost productivity and efficiency – something businesses clearly cannot afford to hinder.
The research presents a clear picture of a digitally-positive workforce, with 67 per cent agreeing their organisation should invest more in technology services and applications in the next two years. However, there are barriers organisations need to overcome when delivering digital. Only 55 per cent of employees believe they get the most value from the technology services and applications available to them with the main barriers being a lack of training (50 per cent), a lack of awareness of what services are available (42 per cent) and too little time, with 33 per cent agreeing it is often quicker to bypass technology.
“Today’s employees are well informed and understand the benefits digital can bring to them in the workplace,” said Michael Keegan, CEO, Fujitsu UK & Ireland. “Outside of the workplace, they have constant access to high-quality consumer digital services and they therefore have expectations that the digital services they use for work should match this. Employees are comfortable with using digital services but this enthusiasm will only thrive and prove a tool for business growth if it is matched by a continued focus on quality, effectiveness and crucially, training in the workplace.”
The industry sectors where employees wanted their organisation to invest in technology services and applications the most were central government (65 per cent), utilities service (57 per cent) and local government (53 per cent). Employees also pointed to these sectors as those where their job is being hindered by the technology services and applications available to them; central government (43 per cent), utilities services (38 per cent) and local government (31 per cent).
Despite the need to more rapidly adopt digital in the workplace, overall satisfaction is slowly increasing. Satisfaction with the technology services and applications employees have now compared to two years ago has jumped 13 per cent – from 29 per cent to 42 per cent, while dissatisfaction decreased from 14 per cent to 11 per cent during the same period.
“There is no question that digital has had a significant impact on business,” continued Keegan. “The rapid adoption of technology by consumers has led to organisations creating and delivering digital services to their customers at a rapid pace. This research suggests that employees have been left behind in the race to deliver digital. Now is the time for these organisations to integrate their digital offering front and back of house to capitalise on the opportunities available. When staff are as enabled as their customers, organisations will truly reap the financial and efficiency rewards of a digital first business.”
