Technology has played a larger role in the business world, but in the wake of the global pandemic, technology has become even more important in employee engagement. With remote work becoming more common and employees demanding more flexibility and autonomy, technology can help bridge the gap and keep employees connected and engaged.
Despite the utility of technology, many business leaders don’t know where to start when integrating technology into their employee engagement initiatives. In my experience, here are a few options that have proved effective:
1. Communication and Collaboration Tools
Effective communication and collaboration are essential to employee engagement, and there a variety of tech tools to facilitate both. Email, instant messaging, video conferencing, and collaboration platforms like Webex, Slack, and Microsoft Teams allow employees to connect with one another regardless of their location. These software platforms help break down barriers and foster a sense of community among remote or distributed teams.
2. Gamification
Gamification is a technique that uses game-like elements to engage and motivate employees. It involves setting up challenges, creating leaderboards, and rewarding employees for their achievements. Gamification can be applied to a variety of activities, from onboarding and training to sales and customer service. By using technology to create a gamified experience, companies can make work more fun and engaging, leading to improved employee satisfaction and performance.
3. Learning Management Systems
Continuous learning is an essential part of employee engagement, and technology provides a way to deliver training and development opportunities to employees. Learning management systems (LMS) are software applications that allow companies to deliver, track, and manage training programs. LMS can be used to deliver a wide range of training, from compliance and safety to leadership and soft skills. By investing in an LMS, companies can provide employees with the tools and resources they need to develop new skills and advance their careers. This also helps organizations retain staff by offering upskilling opportunities and other related career path options to team members.
4. Mobile Apps
Mobile technology has revolutionized the way we work, and mobile apps provide a way to engage employees on the go. Mobile apps can be used to deliver important information, provide access to company resources, and facilitate communication and collaboration. For example, a company might use a mobile app to deliver news updates, share training materials, or allow employees to access HR services. By providing employees with access to company information and resources on their mobile devices, companies can improve engagement and productivity. Lastly, any of the other suggestions listed may also be delivered via a mobile app which provides additional flexibility for employees. Organizations will need to review and determine the security requirements around these mobile options.
5. Employee Feedback Tools
Employee feedback is critical to employee engagement, and technology provides a way to gather feedback quickly and easily. These kinds of tools allow companies to collect feedback from employees on a regular basis, using surveys, polls, and more to allow leaders to find out what their employees think about the organization and leadership. By gathering feedback from employees, companies can identify areas where they need to improve and take action to address employee concerns.
I believe technology can certainly provide a variety of options that can help engage employees in the digital age. Prior to implementing any new tool, business leaders should review the needs of their organization and assess their requirements before moving to any of these platforms.
By leveraging communication tools, gamification, learning management systems, mobile apps, and employee feedback tools, companies can create a culture of engagement that fosters productivity, innovation, and success. As companies continue to embrace technology, they can use it to build stronger, more connected, and more engaged teams.
If you’re looking to implement a new tool for your team to use and not sure where to start, contact us.