Number crunchers at Ricoh Europe have discovered a gap between the perceptions of employers and employees of what technology investments are supporting an improved workplace experience.
Knowledge of a disconnect over digital transformation implementations should allow that selling technology to challenge the narrative and provoke questions about what a successful tech deployment looks like.
Ricoh research found that almost three-quarters of employers claim they put enhancing staff workplace processes at the heart of any design, but only slightly above half of the employees felt that happened.
This risks that the IT will not produce the desired results, with just above a third of those workers quizzed stating that new technology being rolled out across the business would not affect their work.
Ricoh Europe CEO Nicola Downing said: “Businesses are working hard to ensure they invest in the tools and technologies that will futureproof growth and help them remain competitive. But our research suggests they’re failing to connect with employees on the processes and services that will make working easier, more efficient and, in many cases, more enjoyable.”
“Decision-makers can’t afford to delay. Without an optimal working environment, employees may start to look for pastures new,” he added. “People need to be at the centre of any workplace transformation, with their needs and pain points listened to and actively addressed. This is vital to talent attraction and retention, boosting collaboration productivity and ensuring a sense of fulfilment through work across the organisation.”
Ricoh found that a third of European businesses did not use productivity and project management software, automation or hybrid meeting technology.
The slow uptake of those technologies was happening despite calls from staff for them to be deployed, underlining the gap between bosses and workers perceived priorities.
