Following years of disruption, employees now expect trust and flexibility in their roles and are relying on their employers to use technology to enhance their workplace culture and experience. With organisations continuing to grapple with the effects of a tech talent
shortage, the need for the rollout of seamless systems that enable collaboration has become essential.

Hybrid and remote working is here to stay due to its benefits for employees and
organisations, with VMWare reporting that only 5% of worldwide organisations have declined to adopt permanent policies for remote work. Some organisations may be making the headlines for their unwillingness to give their workers flexibility, but will this cost them in the talent race? What do companies need to be doing to bolster the employee experience both inside and outside of the workplace to keep teams happy and businesses thriving?

Robust collaboration is key to business progression
Many organisations that previously kept digital transformation at arm’s length have now
embraced it, with the need for robust collaboration and communication tools necessary for progression. Whether workers are in the office or at home, technology solutions must create an equitable and engaging employee experience.

This is where the need to update traditional communication and collaboration tools comes in, allowing companies to utilise new technologies and enable team members to work seamlessly together. It may seem obvious, but an increased level of collaboration allows businesses to more effectively address challenges and opportunities, as well as improve response times when it comes to changes in the market or customers’ needs. It also gives teams access to valuable resources and expertise that was not previously available, further enhancing their ability to complete tasks quickly.

In fact, a report from Zippia shows that companies can reduce employee turnover rates by 50% through promoting communication and collaboration. However, according to Microsoft’s latest survey on business trends, 59% say their collaboration tools are not aligned with how their teams prefer to work, highlighting that there’s still more businesses can be doing.

Embracing digital transformation for greater collaboration helps businesses stay competitive in fast-paced and constantly evolving business environments. By leveraging technology to facilitate collaboration and communication, such as using instant messaging and video call software, businesses can operate more efficiently, enabling them to achieve their goals while saving time and money on travel and face-to-face meetings. While streamlining the systems is still a work in progress, they are already making a huge difference to teams globally.

Culture and productivity go hand in hand
Employers will need to ensure that corporate culture continues to work for virtual teams. By providing the right resources for example, ad hoc communications between colleagues can take place, something that is instrumental in preventing isolation and maintaining good working relationships.

Strong relationships among teams equals better productivity and efficiency, something that benefits not only the business but the employees themselves. Recent Zippia statistics have revealed that 47% of staff would prefer to stay in a company if they can ‘work with a great team’, and interestingly people who collaborate via digital collaboration tools are up to 17% more satisfied with their job and workplace culture than those who don’t.

In line with new expectations, businesses across all industries are now expected to provide a cultural vision, which recognises that those in different roles will want and need different things. For example, some staff rely on being on-site, while there are other team members who might work entirely remotely. Post pandemic, organisations are acknowledging that there has been a need to backtrack in order to progress, with employees now having more of a voice than ever before in order to feel supported regardless of their location.

And after high levels of silos, it’s important to prevent companies from operating in isolation. When looking back at traditional ways of working, it’s easy to overlook the new needs team members have, especially those working remotely.

The workplace has evolved, and workers today won’t stay in a business if they feel
unappreciated, something that was highlighted by Gartner, with recent research finding that while 82% of employees say it’s important for their organisation to see them as a person, only 45% believe their employer sees them that way.

Bolstering workforces with new talent
While remote working allows employers to cast their net wider than ever before, support for home working is essential to both nurture and attract talent. This is also true for those seeking work, as employees can now apply for roles across a significantly expanded geographical radius, increasing access to new opportunities.

By taking on new talent that can provide a fresh outlook, companies can look to implement innovative ways of working, different experiences and new perspectives for more solutions-based ideas. Encouragingly, we are also seeing more women join the tech industry than ever before, dispelling gender stereotypes and creating more diversity and inclusion at both a senior and grass-roots level.

Retention is a big challenge, and today’s workforce will no longer stay where they don’t feel valued. By prioritising additional support, businesses have the opportunity to bolster their workforces with diverse and talented individuals who bring with them fresh ideas and experience. In fact, companies that promote collaboration and communication at work have been linked to reducing employee turnover rates by 50%

Making time for team members either ensures loyalty and relationships are built, not only on a professional level but on a personal one, and by focusing on the key hallmarks of continuous digital transformation, companies can stay ahead of the competition and continue to thrive in today’s rapidly changing business landscape.