How to Overcome the HR Obstacles to a Digital Workplace

The future of the workplace is already here and businesses are moving fast to adapt. Corporations have begun to fully accept the digital age, and employees are gradually brushing off the actions and practices of the past. In today’s competitive market, implementing a digital workplace is not just a trendy decision – it’s a smart business investment.

Businesses today rely heavily on their digitised systems and processes to ensure maximum productivity and flexibility. Their digital workplaces help employees stay connected, mobile, and safe through the use of intranet software and other new technologies.

Employees stay connected using intranet software and other new digital workplace tech

However quickly technology may evolve to change the workplace, there is no doubt that humans will always remain at the very core of it all. And as the acting bridge between your corporation and the outside world, the HR department must be pro-active when making the leap to a digital workplace.

But as a department that plays such a crucial role within the business, there may be many concerns to piece together before the transition can actually begin. And so no matter how long the list of benefits may be, setting up a new digital workplace will present its own unique challenges.

HR obstacles to a digital workplace and how to overcome them

A well-designed digital workplace will give way to increased connectivity and better employee engagement. It supplies the technologies and business applications that employees need to be productive and complete their tasks successfully. And while such advantages are what every corporation wants to have, you’ll need to consider how to overcome the potential obstacles before opting for a full digital transformation.

1. Lack of inter-departmental communication

Setting up a digital workplace requires a team effort. And all the high-tech equipment and intranet software in the world won’t do any good if you can’t get the departments, particularly HR and IT, to communicate with each other. Both of these departments must understand the plan and take the initiative to communicate frequently in order to share information.

Bring your HR and IT teams together to help overcome intranet obstacles

The digital transformation process can be streamlined by recruiting the help of team members from various departments. They can come up with plans to delegate tasks that help move the process along and monitor it. By working together, the IT department in particular can focus on the technological aspects of the transformation, whilst the HR department can focus its efforts on other matters, such as how the system will facilitate communication, speed up annual leave requests, and so on

2. Old internal technology

Outdated technology in workplaces can lead to nothing but wasted time, energy and resources. Make the transition to your digital workplace smooth and effective by investing in new technology that allows employees to get things done. And most new employees joining the workforce today are nothing if not thoroughly tech-savvy. They are comfortable with mastering new technologies and can perform well in today’s digital world.

Old technology holding you back..? Time for an upgrade.

Update your company technologies to enable employees to speed things up by sharing knowledge easily. Intranet software is something you should definitely consider investing in – it keeps your employees connected no matter where they’re working from while securing all of your business data in one place. It also allows you to carefully monitor all business activities, minimise potential problems and save a lot of time. Besides the core business software, there are many other technologies that employees would benefit from. These include instant messaging software, employee portals, HR software, social media apps and email.

3. Difficulty adapting to change

Most younger employees would likely cooperate with your decision to create a digital workplace. They would be able to adapt quickly to new systems and technologies, making their work life more enjoyable and productive.

But it’s not unusual to encounter many reluctant employees as well. These employees could be feeling overwhelmed by being demanded to change the routines and processes that they have followed throughout their careers. They find it difficult to leave behind the daily tasks and technologies that they are so used to and start exploring new territory. Any change would require them to undergo new training, tackle new types of problems and let go of old working patterns.

However, setting up a properly functioning digital workplace demands the cooperation of all employees, and so it is important for the HR department to be tactful when dealing with any fears that employees may feel towards these changes. Ensure that the transformation process happens smoothly by informing them of the reasons for the change. You can allow them to feel included and valued by keeping them updated on new developments during every step of the way. And lastly, inspire them with all the benefits that the company and its employees would gain through a digital transformation, and motivate them to be a valuable part of that journey.