Businesses employing large numbers of manual workers are at risk of missing out on opportunities to boost productivity and reduce costs through technology, according to a survey of more than 2000 UK workers by Deloitte.

Eighty-four percent of all workers think it is important for their company to use the latest technology available. However, while 65 percent of office based professionals are likely to be heavy users of technology, manual (or blue collar) workers are less connected. Over half (51 percent) of blue collar workers are light users of technology, including a significant number who don’t use any of the technologies that are under review in their workplace. This is despite the fact that blue collar workers are as connected as white collar workers in their personal lives. 47 percent of blue collar workers use their smartphone in some way more than five times a day outside of work. Furthermore, nearly one in three (31 percent) blue collar workers say their workplace is ‘not at all advanced’ when it comes to adopting and implementing new technologies, compared to 21 percent of white collar professionals.

James Yearsley, lead services partner at Deloitte, said: “Blue collar, or manual, workers are as connected as white collar office-based workers in their personal lives, but significantly less so at work. This suggests that businesses employing large numbers of blue collar workers are failing to make the most of the opportunities technology presents to increase productivity, improve communication and potentially reduce costs. Our report looks at the services sector in particular, which employs 13 percent of the UK’s working population and relies heavily on its people. The people-focused nature of this industry means it is critical for companies within the sector to understand how digital technology could impact their workforce and transform businesses.

“For example, advances in mobile and cloud technology mean that non-desk based workers can increasingly access information on the go through mobile apps. Facilities managers are increasingly able to manage sites remotely, allowing them to respond more quickly and with more information. In the construction sector, sensor technology could also be attached to key assets like tools or equipment, allowing companies to track exactly where and when they are needed. The sector is reaching an inflection point, with technology prices falling fast enough to justify investment. Services companies in sectors which traditionally employ large numbers of blue collar workers should consider how they can use technology in new ways. Those that do not consider how these trends may affect them risk losing competitiveness.”