Are We Experiencing Great Software?
If you ask, “Are we experiencing great software” in most companies, you will likely receive a chuckle or two. After all, how many different kinds of software do you use at the place where you work? The eLeaP People Success Platform, which includes a continuous performance management system, provides organizations with powerful options to attract and retain high-caliber team members.
Suppose you can list them and what they do, kudos! Pinpointing what each software does and the reasoning behind why we need all the options we have is a question that makes most employees shrug their shoulders.
As the current technological revolution propels us further into the future, we are witnessing an increasing amount of new technology incorporated into our day-to-day lives. In other words, the multitude of software we use daily will not likely decrease soon.
The Daily “Are We Experiencing Great Software” Dilemma
The way we interact with technology at work is rapidly becoming more central. There is a proliferation of new technology companies offering answers to problems your company was not even aware it had.
On the surface, this may appear to be a positive thing. The reality is that it can quickly become a problem if you are unaware of how to handle it or select the appropriate management software.
You’ve already made your first error if you haven’t considered how the use of software influences the experience that employees have working for your company. Your employees’ software should naturally integrate into their routines and be customized to meet their individual requirements.
Actively listening to what your teams have to say is the first thing you need to do in order to discover where these frequent problems are. By providing a forum in which your staff members may air their grievances. You will encourage greater openness and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges your workforce faces regularly.
Are Your Employees Negatively Impacted by Software They Don’t Need?
In order to acquire a deeper grasp of the effects that the right or wrong software may have on employee experience, G2 surveyed more than 1,600 people for its State of Software 2019 report.
The findings indicated much of what we already know. Software now plays a more significant part in our pleasure as employees and people since it is more integrated into our lives than ever.
We can launch and grow businesses or get a raise with the appropriate tools. The improper software can waste our time, frustrate us, and even tempt us to leave a company.
The survey found that more than half of all workers are dissatisfied with their working conditions due to the software they are required to utilize. The quality of the work that your workers produce and the amount of investment that they have in your business will both suffer when they do not feel motivated in their work and when they are unhappy.
And as if that wasn’t unsettling enough, consider that 1/4 of employees have stated that the software they are using has caused them to consider leaving their job. Additionally, 1/8 of employees left a previous job because of unsuitable software.
You read that right. The poor quality of your software is not only causing your employees to be less productive at their jobs but also driving some of them to look for employment elsewhere.
This might be problematic, especially if you work in a specialized field that has a limited number of direct competitors.
With turnover at an all-time high in many industries. It can cost you more than you anticipate to replace staff who leave behind valuable information and industry knowledge.
You cannot allow poor software selections to send your team running into the arms of your rivals because you cannot afford to do so.
Negative Employee Experiences Hurt Your Bottom Line
You may think you know how to identify a disengaged employee. Still, in reality, it’s much more complicated than it sounds. Employee disengagement is one of the leading causes of employee turnover.
Those workers who aren’t leaving their jobs are staying but aren’t putting in the effort they should be at their jobs.
Is it possible for your company to achieve its full potential when the employees upon whom its success is dependent do not even feel like coming to work?
A negative experience for an employee is at the root of the problem. Which is employee disengagement, which is one of the most significant dangers to the overall health of your company. There will come a time when even your top performers might not be able to take it anymore.
They might decide that it is simpler to find a new job rather than fight back against poor decisions, such as software that isn’t user-friendly or missing necessary functionality.
The high turnover rate of your employees is costing you more than simply time. High employee turnover affects morale and the longevity and stability of other employees. You know what can occur if you’ve ever witnessed a mass resignation. If employees get wind of the negativity, it can spread like wildfire.
A poor employee experience will not only cause you to lose your best performers, but it will also cause you to lose money since turnover costs can crush a budget.
It is not uncommon for the time, effort, and financial cost required to replace individuals who willingly quit their jobs to be greater than the cost of simply purchasing better software.
Insufficient Software Can Cost Your Company Money
The trendy new software intended to simplify your life but that everyone stopped using after the first couple of months is something that every firm possesses. Or, perhaps you transitioned to new software but forgot to cancel your contract with the previous software business before you started using the latest software.
According to a study conducted by 1E, over four years, US businesses squandered $30 billion on software never used. The study examined information on over 1,800 software programs installed on 3.6 million computers in 129 businesses. It further found that each desktop had nearly $300 worth of subpar software.
Now consider all the software your business uses and the question at the beginning of this article. Can you list every platform? Most businesses don’t only buy subpar software; they also don’t even use it.
Another issue with subpar software that affects workers? Duplicate software. Every industry has workers who use numerous programs that perform the same function.
Data from the G2 State of Software happiness report reveals that 62% of employees have experienced negative feelings about the software used at work. Additionally, 95% of employees agreed that using the appropriate software can make them more productive.
Employees believe that employing the appropriate software makes them more productive at a rate of 95%.
Discuss Software Issues With Your Employees
Your staff members are the individuals who utilize this program daily. Have a conversation and ask them what they like best about the current program. You should also ask them what tools would make their tasks easier and what they wish they had known about specific software before they bought it.
What is the single most crucial point to keep in mind? You are required to see this through. Your staff members anticipate that you will consider their recommendations and implement improvements based on those recommendations.
Demonstrate that you have been paying attention and are willing to grow from your experiences. Do not give them false optimism that you will fix the things that are frustrating them. In that case, it will make the situation even more difficult.
Take the Time to Focus on Finding the Right Software
The millions of user evaluations published by genuine customers online every day are now the most potent tool you have at your disposal right now. Utilize the knowledge that is freely and widely available. Beyond discussing new software with your team, do research and read reviews as well.
However, the most important thing you can do to locate the software that will work best for your team is to chat with the team members. Since they are the ones who will be required to make use of the application that you choose in the end. They must have some input into the decision-making process.
You have to have faith that your workers know what they require from you and allow them the opportunity to convey this. It is essential to consider feedback from your team, especially when it comes to their day-to-day activities.
Summary
Technology is a gift, and when used properly, it has the potential to improve the working experience of every individual at your firm. Suppose you insist on making your workers use faulty or outmoded software. In that case, you are doing nothing but adding to the frustration they are already feeling.
If you haven’t asked the “are we experiencing great software” question, take a serious look at the software solutions your firm has been using within the past two years. You should make exploring this issue a priority in the next quarter. You might be surprised by what you find out.
Put what you discover into action. You will not only be able to save money but also demonstrate to your workers that you care about how they feel while on the job.