Driving forward learning and development in the workplace through innovative technology
By Mike Bradbury, Chief Technology Officer, Jugo
The new world of work is drastically different to the way it was 5 years ago. With multiple lockdowns forcing offices around the globe to close their doors in response to the pandemic, businesses had to adapt quickly. Companies embraced remote working to stay connected and survive during such uncertainty – made possible by the capabilities of communication technology.
Despite Covid-19 restrictions now being a thing of the past, many businesses are choosing to maintain a hybrid working model to meet new employee expectations around workplace freedom. In fact, 71% of employees now want to work a hybrid or remote schedule of their choice.
While hybrid working enables flexibility, virtual meetings, events and training sessions can often limit engagement. Despite 66% of office workers claiming they have not experienced any negative side effects from hybrid work, it’s been revealed that just 5% of employers typically see every employee participate in virtual meetings. In fact, many employees opt to keep their cameras switched off and microphones on mute.
Because of this, employers are seeking ways to meet employee’s work style demands, while also ensuring maximum engagement and team productivity is maintained. To achieve this, businesses need to understand exactly what causes virtual workers to become distracted and implement the right solutions to combat these issues.
The right technologies can boost employee engagement
Many employees enjoy the perks of hybrid working, such as less time spent commuting and a better work/life balance. However, it’s been found that their main drawbacks include feeling disconnected from their team, not having enough face-to-face interaction and having too many distractions at home. All of these can result in a lack of focus, which can negatively impact the quality of business output.
New, immersive technologies can improve the level of collaboration between employees during hybrid meetings, encouraging participation and ensuring everyone is given a voice. Innovative platforms, such as Jugo for example, enable users to leverage chat functions, launch poll questions and even participate in live audience Q&As with speakers on stage. Incorporating these interactive elements into the structure of team meetings can be essential when stimulating ideas and preventing loss of interest.
The future of work will rely on employees being able to work at a highly productive level, regardless of their location. Businesses that offer a truly engaging experience – one that breaks away from stagnant video calls and embraces different methods of virtual communication – will stay one step ahead of the curve and, in turn, outshine their competitors.
Opportunities for improved training and career development
In addition to enhancing day-to-day communication and meeting engagement, there is huge opportunity for workplaces to leverage immersive technology to improve virtual learning. According to Udemy, six in ten (61%) employees say that promoting learning opportunities within the workforce is the best way to stave off boredom. That said, some traditional forms of workplace training can be lengthy and mundane, meaning employees attend sessions just to tick a box, rather than actively engaging and developing their skills. By providing innovative technologies and resources for learning, such as cloud-based video streaming applications or interactive collaboration platforms, organisations can ensure employees are always motivated and willing to learn.
Immersive platforms can also offer a larger range of course opportunities that are accessible from anywhere, meaning a greater percentage of employees will be able to focus on their learning and development.
This same technology can also help to bridge the digital skills shortage – currently being faced by the UK and many other countries around the world. 50% of employees are predicted to require reskilling by 2025 to keep up with the changing demands of the job market. This is particularly an issue in the technology industry, where there are consistent new advancements. Because of this, it’s crucial that businesses have the best training tools to ensure their staff are equipped with the skills they need. In the age of hybrid work, creating meaningful connections and engagement in the virtual classroom is crucial.
Meetings employee needs in today’s hybrid working world
Given that organisations with a high level of engagement report 22% higher productivity, it is in businesses’ best interests to invest in the right platforms that help keep employees switched on and ready to learn. This way, organisations can benefit from a supercharged learning environment that also meets the needs of today’s hybrid working world.
Uma Rajagopal has been managing the posting of content for multiple platforms since 2021, including Global Banking & Finance Review, Asset Digest, Biz Dispatch, Blockchain Tribune, Business Express, Brands Journal, Companies Digest, Economy Standard, Entrepreneur Tribune, Finance Digest, Fintech Herald, Global Islamic Finance Magazine, International Releases, Online World News, Luxury Adviser, Palmbay Herald, Startup Observer, Technology Dispatch, Trading Herald, and Wealth Tribune. Her role ensures that content is published accurately and efficiently across these diverse publications.