The present time looks like the best time to empower frontline workers with new technology and paper digital tools. There are about two billion of them, about 80 percent of the world’s workforce, who are faced with constant challenges. On the brighter side, now is the time to implement new and better strategies and solutions that help build the frontline for long-term success by prioritizing their well-being and maximizing their productivity.
The frontline technology revolution has come. On one side, it is empowering and exciting; on the other, it is not that easy to navigate.
What is Digital Transformation
Some companies still transmit all their communication through static channels that are not really measurable. In addition to that, employees lose a lot of their time looking for certain information.
This is where digital transformation comes in. There are four stages of digital transformation that an organization needs to undergo. A centralized channel that will prioritize connecting the entire workforce, will be the first thing to do. Then comes the digitalization of important materials, automation through integrations, and chatbots to save time and optimization of data in order to improve processes.
Implementation of digital transformation will ensure employees’ safety, improve employee engagement, employees will remain flexible during crises and employees will always be empowered with important information.
Technology can reduce stress and system friction
Many frontline workers are now looking forward to new job opportunities that technology creates, and it is one of the things that could help them reduce work-related stress along with better pay and vacation time.
The frontline continuously faces certain constraints from labor shortages and supply chain disruptions, and technology can be the solution to this problem since it can save them time, help them communicate better, and maximize their efficiency when completing repetitive tasks.
Companies with the majority of frontline employees want a digital workplace to centralize communication, so a frontline centralized platform that houses all the tools they use on a daily basis is to be used. One of the mobile-friendly communication tools like these is Blink. Blink website is that one-stop that makes it easier to access information when you are actually on the front line or in person with a customer.
Prioritize and modernize training
Maybe the biggest issue today is that a lot of frontline workers still think that the company they work for has not provided them with the training needed to do their job effectively. Frontline workers now have the job to adapt to digital tools on site, with no formal training or practice.
They are eager for training and companies will need to prioritize training initiatives and ensure it is accessible for everyone in the organization.
Frontline workers are the face of your business, so it’s highly important that they are empowered and equipped with the optimal tools. Tools used to onboard new teammates, ranked as the second most important technology to help frontline workers with workplace stress, are especially important as staffing continues to fluctuate.
A company culture that includes frontline
There’s a distinct difference between successful companies, and those that are not, and that difference is called company culture. Company culture has an important impact not only on business performance, but also on motivating, retaining, and attracting the best people to an organization.
There are different technology solutions that can help in bridging that culture and communication gaps—allowing leadership to share messages, company updates, and kudos to the frontline while empowering frontline workers to share thoughts and ideas back.
Enabling Evolution of the Frontline with AR
Augmented reality (AR) means that virtual objects can be overlaid in real-time, while in a real-world environment. What augmented reality can do is bring digital information directly into that work environment so that front-line workers can easily access and visually perceive information as they are actually doing their job.
Always Be Open To Change
Making your digitalization strategy successful will hinge on your ability to accept change. When change becomes embedded and proven your frontline team will wonder how they managed before the new connected way of working. But don’t be afraid to take some risk, embrace it and learn from them, this isn’t just about digitizing existing processes, it’s about creating entirely new processes to solve a problem.
What future holds for frontline
If the frontline becomes strong then the bottom line will be fine. The right technology can take off some daily burdens from the frontline workforce, ranging from team scheduling and onboarding to automating tasks and managing appointments. The solutions we choose and consider to be the right choices can, on one side, maximize frontline workers’ productivity. On the other side, they can also enable a consistent sense of culture that leads to stronger retention, better customer interactions, and deeper alignment with company missions.
When we talk about the future of the frontline workforce over the next 10 to 15 years, we can say that more emphasis will be put on tech-based solutions, new methods of hiring, and automation for monotonous tasks.
