With a vast number of businesses pivoting to a remote workforce because of the pandemic, a new focus will be being placed on how efficiency and business productivity can continue. With hybrid working models and remote working anticipated to continue in the long-term, digital business processes that may have been hastily implemented in the midst of the pandemic will need refining.
Business apps in particular have been a lifeline for organisations that have needed to communicate, share and support their staff whilst working away from the office or site over the past 18 months. But, as hybrid working models and remote working continues, how can businesses ensure that its enterprise apps are fit for purpose and continue to support the jobs of its employee’s post-pandemic?
Ask for employees’ opinions.
If businesses are wanting to introduce digital processes that help their employees to do their jobs, getting their perspective is essential.
For example, a business may be wanting to find a way to effectively record customer feedback or orders and, as its employees will be involved in collecting this information, ensuring their opinions are considered, will ensure the process is effective and meets their expectations. End users may have suggestions such as particular digital categories that would be useful to have within a business app or other useful recommendations. Therefore, working alongside members of the workforce and understanding how digital processes can be used to make their lives easier will be of great benefit to both senior management teams, and employees alike.
Ensure employee-apps are effective.
Employee-facing apps have become a key characteristic of an organisation’s digital workplace. Over 91% of businesses use employee-facing apps to effectively capture data, share information with other team members and even use these platforms to minimise spending and enhance operational productivity.
However, despite these benefits, many business apps are not tailored enough to employees’ needs. In our recent research, we found that over 88% of CIOs have received complaints from staff regarding the business’s enterprise mobile apps, which suggests that there is something about these apps that is not working or requires improvement.
To repair this, it may be worthwhile to either hire external support from an app developer or invest in a platform that requires no previous app development skills. More than a third of businesses do not have the in-house skills or expertise required to develop mobile apps for their employees, so simplifying this process with an app that can be built with out any coding experience could be a more attractive option.
Communicate the benefits
To ensure employees support the business’s digital efforts, communicating how the app is helping productivity, how it is assisting in achieving company financial goals, or addressing how much time it is saving, will be an effective measure. Employees will be able to see just how much the app is helping their day-to-day working lives and demonstrating this through constant communication and physical evidence of its success will ensure that employees continue to see the benefits.
Now, as businesses are starting to return to the office, and on-site visits and customer contact slowly start to resume, companies should be looking to digitise its processes to boost employee productivity and efficiency.
Employee-facing apps are a good solution and ensuring employees’ opinions are heard, that these apps are used to help them with their working days and that employees understand the benefits of their use, are measures that all businesses should be taking in a post-COVID world.