There can be no dispute that frontline workers are the heartbeat of large organisations across a multitude of industries. In fact, the global working population is made up of over 2.7 billion frontline workers, making up 80% of the world’s workforce. Yet, this sector of employees has historically been neglected when it comes to engagement in the workplace. Whether it be internal communication, digitising critical business processes, learning, or any other automated process that might simplify the lives of these employees, frontline workers, to date, have been side-lined, leading to poor engagement, and lowered overall job satisfaction.

  • Access to IT Resources

One reason for this is technology or lack of access to it. According to research carried out by Tribe, 83% of frontline employees do not have corporate email addresses and 45% do not have company intranet access. Often far from head office, in remote areas with almost no access to desktop or laptop computers, it is little wonder that 74% of those questioned in a study felt that they were missing company news, information and updates.

Couple this with the fact that, according to the Harvard Business Review, only 43% of executives believe that their existing IT resources adequately support frontline workers it can come as no great shock that frontline employee engagement has waned to the point that “64% of frontline workers are so dissatisfied with their work environment that they have considered quitting their job.”

With little to no access to head office or the HR department, frontline employees struggle with even the most basic functions. Communication with HQ is often haphazard, not to mention communication with other sites and colleagues. Many sites where these frontline employees are posted operate using antiquated systems, for example, paper-based payslip and leave applications, and logging safety incidents manually. All of which goes a long way to contributing to a poor sense of connection and engagement.

  • Workplace Training

In further research, a survey of over 1,000 part-time and full-time employed frontline workers revealed that nearly one-third of those questioned did not receive any formal workplace training; 81% of respondents felt that training would make them feel more engaged at work, and 76% of those surveyed felt that the chance to carry out skills-development training in the future would make their employer more appealing.

  • The Cost of Disengagement

When you consider that “a disengaged employee can cost a company anywhere from $3,400 to $10,000 a year in salary,” there is little wonder that, more and more, organisations are seeing the need to focus on employee engagement as part of a long-term strategy to improve retention. An engaged frontline workforce is also a connected one, and according to the Global Human Capital Trends 2020 survey, a staggering 93% of respondents said that “a sense of belonging drives organisational performance.”

So, how do organisations connect with and engage their employees in a meaningful way that has a long-lasting positive impact? One way is to implement a customised digital employee experience solution. A digital employee experience solution empowers those on the frontline by connecting them directly with their employers.

  • Providing the Right Technology

Organisations can ascertain and meet the specific needs of those on the frontline by providing a single, integrated, mobile platform that not only improves the way they do their jobs but also the way they experience the companies for which they work. A platform that can be accessed with ease from the convenience of a smart or feature mobile phone, either via app, USSD or mobi site, such as the Wyzetalk solution, means no frontline employee need never be out of reach again.

Frontline employees require the ability to be able to access their payslips digitally, check their leave balance, and apply for leave all from the convenience of a mobile phone; where employees can log health and safety issues, access useful tips and monitor progress via shareable dashboards; where employees can connect with each other, provide invaluable feedback to management. These features are all available as part of the Wyze talk solution.

  • Introduce Learning Systems

Employees can learn on the go, accessing necessary material to improve their knowledge and understanding, upskilling themselves, improving their ability to perform better. This all goes a long way to fostering better engagement, improving productivity, and improving employee morale.

With Wyzetalk’s Learning Solutions, for example, organisations can ensure that their employees are always up to date with the latest training and learning materials.

Induction Training

  • Onboard new employees fast and efficiently. Training modules can be accessed, and should the minimum scores not be achieved, employees are required to retake the assessment. Results can be work-flowed to the necessary managers instantly.

Micro-Learning

  • Using Wyzetalk’s Micro-Learning, modules can be completed at any time, anywhere from any mobile device, removing the need for physical classroom-style learning. Each employee can have a tailored learning journey, depending on the department and their previous progress. Employees can manage their own learning process and receive instantaneous feedback on each answer as they go. In addition, managers are able to track progress and get activity reports.
  • An on-the-go learning program enables employees to access training modules from their mobile devices where their progress and scores can be tracked and the results digitised, negating the need for classes to be carried in person. You can also use gamification to make the learning process more fun, boosting the level of engagement for employees.

By introducing a mobile employee experience solution, businesses are not only giving their frontline employees the tools they need to succeed, but they are also fostering a sense of engagement, belonging and buy-in, as well as boosting levels of employee productivity

To find out how the Wyzetalk solution can assist your workers on the frontline, talk to an Expert today.