Firms not offering staff the technology they need, claims report

More than half (55 percent) of UK employees believe they do not have access to all the technology needed to do their jobs, according to research by Fujitsu. The study, Digital Inside Out, was based in a survey of just over 1,400 UK based employees and claims to reveal a significant disconnect between the needs of a digital-savvy working population and the digital services UK employers are currently providing. According to the report, 73 percent of UK employees believe that digital is vital to the future success of their organisation. However despite this, only 45 percent of employees feel they are provided with access to the technology services and applications they need to do their job sufficiently and 29 percent state that their ability to do their job is being hindered due to poor digital services. The report argues that the mismatch can be very costly for organisations.

The benefits digital brings to an organisation, and to the people working within it, were made clear by the employees surveyed. The three advantages being: the ability to work remotely (57 percent), real time access to information (50 percent) and saving time (46 percent); all of which boost productivity and efficiency – something businesses clearly cannot afford to hinder. The research presents a clear picture of a digitally-positive workforce, with 67 percent agreeing their organisation should invest more in technology services and applications in the next two years.

However there are barriers organisations need to overcome when delivering digital. Only 55 percent of employees believe they get the most value from the technology services and applications available to them with the main barriers being a lack of training (50 percent), a lack of awareness of what services are available (42 percent) and too little time, with 33 percent agreeing it is often quicker to bypass technology.

“Today’s employees are well informed and understand the benefits digital can bring to them in the workplace,” commented Michael Keegan, CEO, Fujitsu UK & Ireland. “Outside of the workplace, they have constant access to high-quality consumer digital services and they therefore have expectations that the digital services they use for work should match this. Employees are comfortable with using digital services but this enthusiasm will only thrive and prove a tool for business growth if it is matched by a continued focus on quality, effectiveness and crucially, training in the workplace.”

The industry sectors where employees wanted their organisation to invest in technology services and applications the most were central government (65 percent), utilities service (57 percent) and local government (53 percent). Employees also pointed to these sectors as those where their job is being hindered by the technology services and applications available to them; central government (43 percent), utilities services (38 percent) and local government (31 percent).

Despite the need to more rapidly adopt digital in the workplace, overall satisfaction is slowly increasing. Satisfaction with the technology services and applications employees have now compared to two years ago has jumped 13 percent – from 29 percent to 42 percent, while dissatisfaction decreased from 14 percent to 11 percent during the same period. “There is no question that digital has had a significant impact on business,” continued Keegan. “The rapid adoption of technology by consumers has led to organisations creating and delivering digital services to their customers at a rapid pace.

This research claims that employees have been left behind in the race to deliver digital. Now is the time for these organisations to integrate their digital offering front and back of house to capitalise on the opportunities available. When staff are as enabled as their customers, organisations will truly reap the financial and efficiency rewards of a digital first business”.