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Addressing Pain Points in the Digital Workplace
Technology leaders and CIOs play a crucial role in the ever-evolving world of hybrid work. As businesses adapt to fast-changing demands, technology becomes essential in dealing with these challenges. This digital transformation has expanded the responsibilities of all business leaders, presenting opportunities to drive progressive digital-first programs. However, not all digital initiatives have been without flaws.
A recent study conducted by Adobe, surveying 4,500 technology leaders and workers, revealed that poor technologies are significantly impacting productivity. Approximately 87% of employees and 89% of tech leaders acknowledge the negative impact of inadequate technologies on company productivity. In fact, more than half of tech leaders, 58% to be precise, claimed that poor technology is “killing” their company’s productivity, resulting in a loss of two to four hours per day.
As a technology leader, feedback like this is critical for improving operations. The beauty of technology lies in its constant evolution, always presenting better solutions and processes to build the most efficient digital-first workplace. Let’s explore three pain points that continue to hinder workplace productivity.
Pain Point 1: Paper-Based Processes
Despite the efforts to create a paperless office, over half of technology leaders report that at least half of their company’s work is still paper-based. Thirty years ago, Adobe introduced the PDF to eliminate the reliance on paper documents and simplify information exchange. Unfortunately, many companies continue to struggle with paper-based workflows, hindering efficiency and data extraction. Collaborating with a mix of digital and paper documents, managing paper documents, and printing them negatively impact employee productivity. A joint study by Adobe, Microsoft, and Forbes found that improving digital workflows can unlock new business opportunities by harnessing crucial data previously lost on paper documents. Digitization of mission-critical workflows remains a necessity for businesses to enhance efficiency, resiliency, and revenue prospects.
Pain Point 2: Digital Literacy
Having the technology alone is not enough; it is equally important to provide employees with the necessary tools and training to foster a digitally-savvy workplace. Although three-quarters of leaders consider their workforce’s digital literacy to be good, employees themselves feel less confident, with only 62% agreeing. While leaders boast of having top digital experts within their organizations, only 15% of employees share the same sentiment. Even with advancements like generative AI, employees still struggle with basic tasks, such as scheduling calendar invites or converting documents to PDFs. This lack of digital literacy hampers productivity and prevents employees from taking full advantage of technological advancements.
Pain Point 3: Bad Technology
It may seem obvious, but poor technology is one of the biggest challenges affecting workplace productivity. A staggering 87% of employees and 89% of tech leaders agree that inadequate technologies are hindering their companies’ productivity. While the market offers various advanced technologies, employees consistently consider the lack of automation as the number one productivity killer. In addition to decreased productivity, poor work technologies also impact employee morale. Approximately 20% of employees complain to their bosses about subpar technologies, and some consider leaving their jobs or “quietly quitting” as a result. As technology forms the backbone of organizations, leveraging good technology is crucial for reducing friction and remaining competitive.
Addressing Pain Points for Improved Productivity
For businesses to address these pain points, it is essential to engage with employees and identify specific processes or programs that hinder productivity. By investing in solutions to address these gaps, leaders can create more confident and productive employees, leading to overall business success. Two success stories demonstrate the significant impact of addressing pain points:
1. The Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council digitized its e-signature workflows using Acrobat Sign, resulting in faster and more efficient services for its residents and businesses. The digitization also benefited internal maintenance teams, reducing processing times for essential documentation and enhancing job satisfaction.
2. RSM Australia, a professional services firm, streamlined its processes by adopting the all-in-one solution Acrobat Sign. Within just 30 days of implementation, RSM processed 6,000 e-signature transactions and is projected to handle over 70,000 business documents annually, improving collaboration, reducing inefficiencies, and allowing employees to focus on building critical relationships.
Deployment of new solutions is essential for success. By providing training, change management support, and data-backed reasoning for transitions, organizations can encourage better adoption and use of new technologies across their workforce. A robust adoption strategy helps accelerate the benefits of technologies like e-signature solutions, resulting in significant time savings and improved efficiency, as seen in the case of Regeneron, a biotechnology company.
Embracing a Digital-First Workplace
The digital-first workplace is not a destination but an ever-evolving goal. As technology leaders, it is vital to continuously evolve and ensure that the workforce keeps pace. This involves evaluating current technology, equipping employees with the necessary resources, and fostering a digital-first culture. Adobe offers solutions like Acrobat, which streamline workflows by integrating with popular apps like Microsoft and Salesforce. Powered by artificial intelligence, Adobe Sensei enhances document creation and offers features such as Liquid Mode that improve the mobile PDF viewing experience.
Improving the digital workplace leads to satisfied customers and overall business success. With engaging employees, investing in appropriate technology, and providing the necessary tools and training, organizations can overcome pain points, enhance productivity, and stay at the forefront of the digital revolution.
