Hardwood Floors April/May 2017

TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

efficiencies that likely cost nearly as much as the investment and they appreciate the use of modern systems and applications, increasing engagement and retention. 9. Virtual Training Committing to employee development has long been shown to increase engagement, and the latest trend in development is virtual/video-based training. Offering virtual training allows employees to learn where and when they want to, increasing their self-worth and their value to your business. 10. People Systems Companies large and small are utilizing technology-based HR systems for recruitment, performance management, feedback, engagement, and culture management. An easy way to see if these applications are right for your company is with cloud- based and inexpensive software such as awesomeboss.com, tinypulse.com, or kudosnow.com. Final Thoughts When planning for new technologies, be sure to include employees from all generations in decisions to ensure all technology abilities are evaluated and instantly increase engagement – simply because you asked their opinion. Remember that technology only aids in increasing engagement. A focus on developing the workforce into a flexible and adaptive culture open to new ideas, new working conditions, and new technologies is essential for success. True engagement can’t be purchased, but it can be fostered and even encouraged through these technologies. Jodi O’Toole is Director of IT and Web Development at the National Wood Flooring Association in St. Louis. She can be reached at jodi.otoole@nwfa.org.

Policy setting can alleviate most concerns in this area. Instant messaging has shown to be a convenient and inexpensive way to increase communication and efficiencies within and between teams of workers. Less email, fewer interruptions, and greater collaboration ability are the wins here. Millennials communicate. Pew Research Center states that 90 percent of Millennials use social media compared to only 51 percent of Boomers. I’m not referring to Facebook specifically; stay abreast of which social media channel is the most popular among your employees and marketing departments and use that with them. The best part is when your employees engage with the company; it can also boost business! Reminder: Create a social media policy for your business to avoid conflicts. 4. Add New and Fun Tech to the Workplace This can be as simple as adding a TV and game system to the lunchroom or as advanced as adding the latest wallpaper thickness flat-panel TV to your conference room. Your employees will see your investment in technology as an investment in them. 5. Allow Remote Working Field employees already work remotely; how about office staff too? Remote working is not just a craze; it has come to be an expected working arrangement by the younger generations. Recruiting new and younger workers will become more challenging without this flexibility. Keys to success: Aligning technology with the needs of remote working, setting policies, and observing personal time. 3. Use Social Media Social media is not a fad; it is how

6. Employ Wearables From Fitbit to Google Glass, wearables may be the most important emerging technology to explore. Did you know Fitbit has a division devoted to working with companies?They partner with many wellness vendors and are offering devices at reduced cost for staff, keeping them fit and engaged. Headsets and smart glasses are improving warehousing and distribution efficiencies and accuracy. The Analyst firmTractica forecasts that shipment of wearables to enterprise and industrial industries will grow from 2.3 million in 2015 to 66.4 million in 2021. 7. Allow Employees to Bring Their Own Mobile Devices A new trend in business increases employee engagement by allowing employees to use their mobile device. Remember to create a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy that provides Providing company-owned devices is still a great option. Recommendations would be to ensure you have an acceptable use policy and investigate which business applications could integrate with these devices. From customer orders to accepting mobile payments, hours of paperwork can be saved and time to payment reduced – benefits that your employees feel directly. 8. Upgrade Systems Plan to invest in a new technology annually such as a new phone system or upgrade in business applications such as accounting systems, office software, or cloud-based timeclocks. Annual investments spread the technology budget across multiple years instead of for major overhauls. Employees can realize accountability and security, plus reduces liability for both your business and the employee.

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