How can technology enhance productivity and performance at work?

According to figures from the CIPD, more than two-fifths of employers said that home working had increased productivity by the end of 2021. As organisations continue to refine their hybrid policies, and invest in tech to support their hybrid workers, it’s likely this proportion will rise further.

Productivity and performance go hand-in-hand. Away from the distractions of the office, many people say they can get their work done quicker – and, of course, it doesn’t usually cost the organisation a penny extra.

Our study with the University of Nottingham shows how people have adapted to new ways of working.

One respondent discussed their journey from being a hybrid working-sceptic who “found it a bit of a struggle to separate my home and work life” and “found it hard to log off at a reasonable time”, to someone who sees the new way of working as a positive that enables them to do more “personal development” in quieter times.

Not everyone has benefited from hybrid working though. Those living in cramped, noisy or generally unsuitable accommodation may find they’re more productive in the office. Others might prefer to have a clear distinction between home and work, or find they thrive when they’re bouncing ideas around with colleagues in-person. With hybrid working, they can choose which setting suits them best.

Technology: a barrier or enabler for improving employee engagement?

Nobody can work effectively if they’re forced to use outdated business software that doesn’t function well outside the office or has to look for documents stored in various places. Poor productivity can lead to long hours and burnout. In fact, over two-thirds of our survey respondents said their personal life often suffers because of work.

However, when technology meets employees’ needs, 64% of respondents said their productivity and performance soars. A further 62% said it gave them control over their schedule, and 62% said it sparked new ideas. From time management and video conferencing tools to industry and role-specific software, technology helps people to be smarter in everything they do.

Three ways business technology can improve employee engagement

1. Everything in one place

It doesn’t matter where people are working – having everything in one place helps to save time and reduce frustration, while driving up productivity and performance. By removing labour-intensive admin and making it easier for people to do their job well, they’re less likely to take their work (metaphorically) home with them. Instead, everything can be completed within their contracted hours, which should restore their work-life balance and improve their wellbeing.

Access Workspace was developed with this goal in mind. With everything via a single sign-on platform, people can find everything they need quickly, including tasks and documents, in one place, without logging into multiple systems, nor having to email colleagues endlessly for information. With everyone working on one system, and using the same data, it’s easier to collaborate and build strong relationships, even if teams don’t see each other in person every day.

2. Improve employee engagement

Whatever their role, and wherever they are on the career ladder, everyone benefits from ongoing training and development. Building skills and knowledge helps people to do their job confidently, efficiently and to a high standard, making work more rewarding for them. It also enables them to move to the next level if they want to, or side-step into a different role, boosting employee engagement.

With a range of online learning tools and training resources, people can fit training into their working day, rather than adding to it, and complement the informal learning opportunities they have in the office.

3. Make wellbeing a priority

Investing in wellbeing is critical in today’s world, as we saw in our earlier blog How to reduce stress in a hybrid workplace.

The UK is currently experiencing what many have dubbed a ‘mental health crisis’ during and since the pandemic. Anxiety around job security, finances, lockdowns and the virus itself were common – and now the rising cost of living is taking its toll on many. The usual problems people face (relationships, family, health, financial etc) haven’t gone away either: around 46% of our survey respondents said their work suffers because of their personal life.

Good employers understand how technology impacts employee wellbeing, and use it to create a supportive environment, equipping managers with the skills to understand mental health and providing resources for people to take control of their wellbeing.

By using technology to free people up from excessive admin, managers also have more time to arrange one-to-ones, mentoring and team meetings (both virtual and in-person). As well as providing an outlet for people to raise concerns or vent their frustrations, it could help them to spot more worrying signs that someone’s in distress.

Using technology to improve the workplace

Most people want to complete their tasks to a high standard in the time given and finish work on time, so they can spend their weekends and evenings with friends and family and enjoy their hobbies. All this helps them to feel refreshed, and ready to work well the following day. Technology makes this achievable since it streamlines workflows and makes information available at the time when it’s needed. At its best, it can enhance workplace cultures – with a focus on wellbeing, efficiency and continuous learning, all of which help to drive productivity in a healthy way.

You might be interested in reading:

A hybrid working nation: How it's working out | The Access Group

Using Technology to Support Staff During the Cost-of-Living Crisis (theaccessgroup.com)

Combatting Employee Resignation with Learning and Development (theaccessgroup.com)