Communication solutions for deskless workers should be easy right?
Our phones chime away to themselves with notification after notification. From emails and Slack channels through to WhatsApp group chats and Instagram DMs, there’s an overwhelming amount of communication tools at our fingertips.
Yet, even with all these tools, frontline workers are still being let down by poor communication.
Here’s what the workers have to say about it:
- 37% say their employer doesn’t listen to feedback
- 62% believe they can’t speak to their managers about scheduling issues that impact their personal lives
- 70% feel uncomfortable about discussing a pay rise with management
- Only 13% use an app to switch or change shifts
80% of the global workforce is deskless, but only 1% of software venture funding goes to innovations for deskless technologies. That means many deskless workers lack an effective communication tool like companies employing office workers use.
And, more often than not, the reality is a mess. Hybrid internal systems will evolve over time in the form of things like WhatsApp group chats and these quickly become grossly inefficient and not fit for purpose.
So what’s the solution for communicating with deskless workers?
Let’s take a look at ways we can improve communication with deskless workers.
1. Use admin-busting tech
Picture the scene… it’s an hour before you’re about to open, and you get a call from a member of staff saying they’re sick and can’t work. What are you going to do? While in 2010 it might have seemed sensible to pick up the phone to search for a replacement, there are more efficient ways of doing it now.
A WFM solution makes the process smoother. When the scenario above happens, you open up the shift through an app, and employees who match the criteria and are available will be notified and can fill the open shift. Not only does It save time, but only the employees who actually can work will be notified.
But it doesn’t stop there.
The same app can be used for messaging with your employees, gathering everything in one place. It’s maximum results for minimum hassle - both for you and your employees.
“There is no doubt in my mind that there is a link between employee engagement and how technology has enabled people to manage their schedules and communicate with their managers.”
Chief of HR, Transportation,
Total Economic Impact™ of Quinyx Report
Having task management integrated with your WFM suite is another time saver. Your employees can see what their key tasks are for that day before they leave for work - and it’s all in the same place as everything else they use to manage their work life.
From a management perspective, you can easily plan recurring tasks for your whole organization, improve efficiency by creating workflows for your employees, and enable your managers to track these to ensure important daily tasks are being completed.
At a time when everyone is being challenged to do more with less, this is a true game-changer. But, like we saw above, only 13% of frontline workers have access to an app that can do this.
By giving your deskless workers a single, dedicated app which has everything they need to run their work lives smoothly and effectively you’ll revolutionize your communication and transform your employee experience.
2. Keep your finger on the pulse
It’s always important to check on how your staff is feeling and offer two-way communication.
Great employee experience is doing everything you can to help your frontline workers turn up and bring their best selves to work. That’s why, with employee power rising, forward-thinking organizations are focussing on improving culture and communication at work which is creating greater demand for software that serves people.
Measuring satisfaction, understanding key improvement areas, and acting upon them have a positive effect on the level of employee engagement. This leads to higher productivity, reduced employee turnover, increased profitability, and increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Pulse surveys are a great solution to measure employee engagement. They allow you to get live feedback from your workforce, drive engagement across your organization and identify trends and challenges in your workforce before problems arrive.
3. Reward and recognize
On the same note, great communication is a prerequisite to better recognition. Reward and recognize your deskless workforce and you’ll have happier, more engaged, and more productive employees - alongside a more profitable business.
It might seem like the tip of the iceberg but it’s a big step forward in improving recognition and engagement in the workplace.
In short, better communication in the workplace helps you do more with less, creates a better employee experience and, ultimately, benefits your customers and your business. Happy employees are more productive, take fewer sick days, provide better customer service, and are more engaged.
Download the report State of the Deskless Workforce for more insight and analysis!
