In episode 308 of Workplace Innovator, host Mike Petrusky speaks with Erik Zink, Vice President of Strategy, and Sarah Kilmartin, Director of Customer Insight at Eptura. They discuss how industry leaders are approaching their digital and workplace transformation journeys. Erik and Sarah also announce the launch of Eptura’s new workplace consulting services to help customers realize the full potential of their worktech investments.
Agenda
- Changes in the market and the role of technology in enabling employee collaboration
- Challenges organizations face along the digital journey
- Role of the Eptura’s Workplace Index report and new consulting services
What you need to know: Workplace takeaways
Takeaway 1: Digital transformation requires a holistic view of the workplace and a focus on people as well as process
Leaders need to remember the human aspect of digital transformation.
“All this focus on tech is really important, but we also need to remember we’re dealing with people and the role of collaboration within that transformational journey is kind of front and center,” explains Kilmartin. She encourages organizations still figuring out their digital transformation strategies to start with an understanding of their own unique cultures and objectives.
Adds Zink: Successful digital transformation requires alignment around the strategy at an organizational level, and a clear understanding of the value the transformation will bring. “Change management, understanding best practices and realizing the value are all key parts of any large transformational program.”
He also highlights the risk of disillusionment if transformations are not handled well, and the importance of having executive sponsorship for any transformational initiatives.
Takeaway 2: The value of work tech tools and initiatives can be measured in different ways, depending on an organization’s overall goals and objectives
Organizations are using their spaces and work tech solutions to create advantages in areas like employee retention, productivity, and brand image.
“Companies that are investing in worktech, and they are across the board, they’re seeing this as a moment really to use their spaces and use these solutions to create a competitive advantage,” explains Zink. So, companies need a holistic view beyond just the software, he says, one that also carefully considers the people, processes, strategies, and policies.
It’s important to look at both short-term value and longer-term return on investment (ROI). Kilmartin explain trends she’s noticed: “The further along the transformational journey, the more an organization was focused on an ROI around employees. Earlier on in that journey, it was around a shorter-term ROI, which could simply be reporting on metrics around occupancy and utilization and understanding how your space is being used.”
Takeaway 3: Collaboration is key to a successful hybrid work program and digital transformation journey
Companies need ways of enabling employees to collaborate, which means having the right technology and data.
“If there’s one thing and you look at one thing only, it’s enabling employees to collaborate and having the right technology to do that and access to the right data.”
She points out that over 50% of leaders attributed between 3 and 8% of incremental revenue to a successful hybrid work program and employees’ ability to collaborate and connect with each other, which shows the quantifiable value that effective collaboration can bring to an organization, and the role of work tech tools in facilitating it.
Workplace management insights
- Many organizations are still in the early stages of their digital transformation journeys due to rapidly changing technology and tension between how employees want to work and how organizations want them to work.
- Companies that are investing in worktech are using their spaces and solutions to create a competitive advantage in areas like employee retention, productivity, and brand image.
- The need for a holistic view of the built environment and the asset lifecycle is crucial for successful digital transformation.
- Organizations need to think bigger and ask if their systems are providing the right data for decision-making.
- Connection and collaboration are key focuses in successful workplace transformations.
Listen to the full podcast here.
Go deeper. Dive into more episodes of Eptura’s Workplace Innovator podcast.
By Jonathan Davis
Jonathan writes about asset management, maintenance software, and SaaS solutions in his role as a digital content creator at Eptura. He covers trends across industries, including fleet, manufacturing, healthcare, and hospitality, with a focus on delivering thought leadership with actionable insights. Earlier in his career, he wrote textbooks, edited NPC dialogue for video games, and taught English as a foreign language. He holds a master's degree in journalism.
