Smart technologies are turning our offices more digital than they have ever been. The workforce technology combined with smart workforce strategies helps you use smart technologies in the office, which now deeply influences how you experience work, regardless of whether you are a fully remote or hybrid worker.

That vibrant energy with noises from loud phone conversations, live customer visits, coworkers chatting, printing machine and other machine sounds that used to annoy office workers has almost diminished from the office atmosphere nowadays. Now, outdated software and unreliable communication technologies are becoming a major source of annoyance in many hybrid workplaces. Despite that, remote and hybrid workplaces have proven to be worth the investment during the tumultuous years of COVID-19 and thereon.

Although finding and putting in place the technology needed for a remote or hybrid workplace to perform well may have been difficult at first, the biggest obstacle businesses faced during the shift was internal. The pandemic had a negative impact on company culture for many traditional companies, and many of them still feel that a remote work environment defies a strong culture. Can technology save a company's culture if it was a major factor in keeping them going throughout the pandemic? Let's explore.

How Technology Helps Build a Workplace Culture

Connection and values are the two main components of company culture. Through fostering interpersonal connections and empowering companies to implement their values, technology contributes to the solution of both sides of the issue.

Communication and Collaboration

We can now communicate with colleagues anywhere in the world instantly and continuously. Open communication across borders is made possible by email, instant messaging, and sophisticated communication technologies. Not only is it simpler to communicate with one another, but working and collaborating with people who speak languages other than our own is also straightforward.

But there is a Problem...

The problem with communication technologies like email, chat, and text messaging is that they are all asynchronous, which means that, unlike face-to-face interactions, the dialogue is one-sided and doesn't flow naturally. These technologies function similarly to classic walkie-talkies—push to speak, release to listen—at least in the ways that many businesses utilize them. Other than conveying specific information, they are ineffective ways. Two-way discussions are necessary for spontaneous, casual interactions, which are a major cultural contributor.

Companies are Improving Techs to Enable More Engaging Experiences

Real-time communication is the bond that holds people together and makes them function as a team. Thus, it should come as no surprise that platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom have been introducing new features and functionalities for the past two years, giving companies the ability to collaborate and communicate, which is crucial in a remote or hybrid workplace.

In a remote or hybrid scenario, having video communication technology available is essential since it engages users more than audio alone. It not only fosters companionship but also lessens feelings of loneliness. Video platforms can act as a virtual water cooler by encouraging casual conversations and experience sharing.

For what is to come, the majority of workers do not anticipate having all or a portion of their jobs automated. However, in addition to having the necessary knowledge and abilities to operate with modern technologies efficiently, they also need to be ready for potential future changes.

How Workplace Technology Should be Used Also Needs to be Communicated

Initiating meaningful conversations among employees over workplace technology usage not only gives them a platform to voice their concerns but also increases their self-assurance in their capacity to adjust to changing circumstances.

People could have ideas about how technology could be successfully deployed, as well as misconceptions about how technology would affect their employment functions. Organizations risk not realizing the full potential benefits of new workplace technologies if they do not implement change management and communication plans.

"In a recent interaction with CEO Insights magazine, Zubin Zack, Managing Director- South Asia, Middle East & Africa, O.C. Tanner revealed that, “Companies actively seek guidance on effectively appreciating, recognizing, and fostering a positive work environment”.

Mental Health and Well-being of Employees

Particularly, risks of preserving health and wellness have been brought to light by working from home during the lockdown. Although video conferencing tools facilitate teamwork, overuse can result in digital fatigue, which affects motivation and output. In addition to experiencing physical issues as a result of excessive screen time or inadequate desk supplies at home, some people are also feeling alone since they don't spend time with others in person.

Great technology allows businesses to support employee mental health and wellness initiatives in addition to providing a flawless user experience.

Technology Must Also Fulfill People’s Needs

Workplace technology has to evolve with its users if it is to continue being productive. This implies that HR and IT, the departments that typically had opposing seats at the boardroom table, must move closer. The CHRO can more readily match employee demands with the appropriate technologies by collaborating with the CIO and other technology partners. They can also leverage tech to better equip people and understand their needs.

Technology Recognition Programs Improve Engagement and Efficiency

Companies are using nudges and AI-powered tools to identify patterns in employee behavior and recognition. This research assists in identifying the need for program optimization education, as well as active recognition behaviors and unused recognition points. AI nudges play a critical role in improving program efficiency and engagement, which in turn leads to increased employee engagement and recognition program utilization, according to Zack.

Zack adds, “Actionable insights enabled HR administrators and leaders to tailor interventions for better participation and higher redemptions, both at the team and individual levels.”

Overall, digitization's impact on recognition has been profound, enabling the program's progress by integrating AI, analytics, and targeted strategies.