Most organizations today acknowledge that employee engagement can prove to be a serious game-changer for their businesses. 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.
Most progressive-minded organizations are open to adopting new tools and strategies to get better results for employee engagement.
These 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 to get better engagement results.”
Here are a few effective ways that organizations can use technology to improve Employee Engagement:
Allowing the employee to bring their device to work helps 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 custom apps at work.
It is quite clear that implementing BYOD can enhance the overall satisfaction level of employees and thus drive engagement.
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 also use their profiles to create brand awareness and business promotion activities.
When employees are entrusted to help build the 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.
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 the 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.
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 the overall performance and reputation of organizations.
Lead author: Sagar Chaudhuri, the Co-Founder and CEO of HiFives. He is an HR Tech Evangelist with over 25 years of experience in the corporate world and entrepreneurship. In the past, Sagar has worked in companies such as Genpact, Infosys, and ICICI Bank, in leadership roles. He has an engineering degree from IIT Kharagpur and an MBA from IIM Lucknow. Connect on LinkedIn
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