Are productivity tools helping or hindering employees?

Technology implemented to keep employees engaged and productive is frustrating and slowing them down, new research from Citrix reveals.

In response to the global pandemic, companies have given their workforce the tools they need to work remotely, and research shows it has increased their engagement and productivity. However, these gains are on the brink of being wiped out, the study shows.

The study reveals that employees feel they've been given too many tools and not enough efficient ways to execute, and it's hindering their ability to get things done.

The number of tools employees are required to use to do their jobs has significantly increased, as has the complexity they are creating in the workplace.

According to the study, 64% of workers are using more communication and collaboration tools than they were prior to the pandemic, and 71% say they have made work more complex.

The study also highlights that work styles have fundamentally changed. Nearly 90% of the survey respondents say they want the flexibility to continue to work at home and in the office post pandemic.

Almost 90% of participants in the survey say their companies use digital workspace software platforms to facilitate hybrid/distributed working, and they are delivering results.

72% of employees say they have improved productivity, and 77% indicate they have aided collaboration.

According to Citrix, savvy organisations recognise this and see digital workspaces as a way to deliver it.

Citrix states, with digital workspaces companies can:

Unify work: Whether at home, on plane or in an office, employees have consistent and reliable access to all the resources they need to be productive across any work channel, device or location

Secure work: Contextual access and app security ensure applications and information remain secure, no matter where work happens.

Simplify work: Intelligence capabilities like machine learning, virtual assistants and simplified workflows personalise, guide, and automate the work experience so employees can work free from noise and perform at their best.

Citrix executive vice president of business strategy, Tim Minahan says, "Employees are frustrated, and to keep them engaged and performing at their best, companies need to eliminate the friction and noise from work and deliver technology that adapts to their work styles rather than forcing them to learn new ways of doing things.

He says, "In creating a layer between employees and the technology that frustrates them, companies can empower them to efficiently engage with the apps they need to execute work and achieve their goals.

Minahan concludes, "Regardless of their physical location, employees need to be empowered with tools that provide a consistent, secure and reliable experience and allow them to work the way they work best.

"As companies organise around new, hybrid work models, they need to rethink the role of technology and how they apply it across their organisations so that employees, rather than being frustrated, are empowered to succeed.